Blackjack is a game of strategy and luck, but more important than either of those factors is the ability to have fun with your friends. There are many things you can do to make a table more enjoyable for everyone, from setting up a betting box that shows the minimum and maximum bets, to having plenty of 50-cent chips on hand to allow players to place their bets with less money. The minimum bet per hand is usually printed or shown on a placard at the Blackjack table and varies from casino to casino, but it’s usually between $5 and $10. Players may also make a side wager known as insurance. This is a wager that pays 2 to 1 and bets on the fact that the dealer’s up card will be a 10. If it does, your original bet loses but you win the insurance bet. If the dealer does not have a 10 and you don’t take insurance, your original bet stays in play and the game continues as usual.
The dealer is a vital part of the Blackjack experience. They should always be courteous, friendly and helpful. They should be able to answer any questions you have about the rules of the game and how to play. The dealer is the only person at the table who can affect how much you will win or lose, so it’s important to treat them with respect.
Once each player has placed their bets, the dealer will deal each player two cards. Then they will ask if the player wants to hit, stand, split or double down. During this time the dealer should also let any player who has a pair of matching cards know that they can split them by putting their chips down in an area away from the original betting box.
If a player has an Ace and a ten valued card they have Blackjack (or a “natural”) which beats all hands except another Blackjack. A Blackjack is paid 3 to 2, or sometimes up to 50% more than any other hand.
Some casinos began paying 6 to 5 on Blackjacks in 2003, and this has been widely decried by longtime players as a negative change to the game. In addition to the reduced payout, if the dealer has blackjack and you do not it is a push (tie) and your bet is swept.
A player may also choose to increase their original bet by up to 2 times if they feel confident that they will beat the dealer’s total. However, there are only 2 good reasons to do this: 1. If you believe that the dealer will bust. 2. If you have a hand that is likely to beat the dealer’s total, such as an Ace and a 9 valued card. Never try to double down when the dealer has a 10, as this is very unwise.