Poker Winner Blog

Begging the Game

After making their initial bets by placing chips in the boxes marked on the table, the players are dealt two cards face up. The dealer also receives two cards, only one of which is revealed (the up card). The dealer’s other card (the hole card) remains face down.

After assessing the value of their hand, players can choose from several options — depending on the value of their own hand and the dealer’s up card — to enable them to beat the dealer without going over 21.

Options for play: Some of the actions a player can take are shown in the illustration above.

* Stand (Green chip) Take no further cards

* Hit (Purple chip) Take one or more cards to improve their score. The procedure for asking for another card varies. In the USA it is common practice to tap the table to hit (take another card) and to wave your hand (or move it horizontally) to pass (not accept another card). In the UK the dealer will ask each player in turn if he or she wants another card, and the player simply replies ‘yes’ or `no’. In the event of a dispute or misunderstanding, players should refer to the inspector.

* Split (Red chips) Normally occurs when the first two cards are the same (for example two 9s). The player splits the hand by placing an additional bet on the line of the box. With aces, only one more card may be dealt to each hand but on any other split, players can draw as many cards as required. Some casinos allow a split hand to be resplit. Splits can only score 21, not blackjack.

* Double (Blue chips) Under certain conditions players may double their bet by increasing it to twice the initial stake. Despite the name, players do not have to double the initial stake, but may make an additional bet up to the total value of the initial bet.

Doubling is usually restricted to the first two cards dealt and players are then allowed only one further card to each hand. The double bet is made by placing chips behind the original bet after the first two cards are dealt to a player’s hand. Winning bets are paid at odds of evens. The rules for doubling vary in different casinos and players should enquire before making this type of bet. After a player doubles, a third card is dealt and its value is added to the first two cards. Doubling is also known as buying another card.

If a player’s score exceeds 21 at any time, he or she loses and the dealer clears the cards away. Even if the dealer’s hand exceeds 21, the player still loses, but this is not counted as a stand off (a tie between the dealer and a player) .

Players stand (take no more cards) when they are satisfied they have sufficient cards to beat the dealer’s eventual score. When all the players have indicated that they are standing, the dealer plays his or her hand by revealing the down card (also called the hole card).

The casino has set rules that determine the action to be taken by the dealer based on the total of the two cards. If the dealer’s cards add up to 17 or over, he or she must stand. With a score of 16 or less, the dealer must take additional cards until the total exceeds 16. If the dealer’s score goes above 21, the house loses (goes bust) and the players‘ winning bets are paid out.

If the dealer’s score is below 21, players with higher scores win and are paid out. If the score is a stand off (a tie) on blackjack or any other total, the bet is not lost and the player’s original stake is returned.

When a player is dealt blackjack and it is obvious that the dealer cannot make blackjack (the dealers up card is any value from 2-9), the player’s winnings are paid out and his or her cards are removed before any further cards are dealt to the other players.

However if the dealer’s up card is an ace or any card with a value of 10, the player with blackjack waits until all the other players‘ hands are played. This is necessary because the dealer may have blackjack and therefore tie with the player. The outcome for the player with blackjack will only be determined when the dealer’s down card is revealed.

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