Learn About Blackjack

When the cards are dealt, each player has the following options available to them as they play their hand in turn.

Hit If you want an additional card, you indicate this to the dealer by lightly scraping your cards toward you. If you need another card, repeat the motion. This is the standard procedure when the cards are dealt face down. In a face-up game you indicate a hit by scratching or tapping the table with your fingers or pointing at your cards. Telling the dealer verbally that you want a hit will not work. You must give a hand signal to make the dealer respond. You can continue to receive cards as long as their total doesn't exceed 21.

Stand If the first two cards in a facedown game have a satisfactory total, you should slip the cards under the chips in the betting spot. It's important that you don't touch the bet directly. If you are playing in a face-up game and you want to stand, hold your hand, palm down, over your cards and move it sharply left to right in a "no"-type of motion.

Double down. After receiving the first two cards you can "double down." You must make an additional wager, no higher than the original bet, and you will receive only one additional card. All casinos allow doubling down on a two-card total of 11; most casinos include 10, though, and many will let you double-down on a total of 9. Some permit doubling down on any two-card hand. This is an excellent option for you - it means you can double on a soft hand (one that contains an ace, such as ace-S). Again, it's important to see what the dealer is showing. If the dealer has a busting hand (2 through 6 up-card), doubling on your ace-S is a great play because you cannot bust with this hand, but the dealer can. When playing a face-down game you must turn over your hand and add an additional bet. In a face-up game, just add the additional bet next to your original wager.

Pair splitting: When you are dealt two cards of the same point value, you are allowed to "split," or divide, them. The dealer will give you additional cards on each of the split pairs. In effect, you now have two separate hands. You must put up an equal bet on the new split hand. You stand or hit each new hand as needed. If you should receive another card of the same point value, most casinos will allow resplitting up to a total of four hands. Note that there is a special rule for splitting aces: most casinos will only give one card to each ace and move on regardless of its point value. If a lO-value card is received you will have 21, which is very nice. However, if it's a 4, resulting in a total of 15, you will not be allowed to hit again.

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