For Those Who Know Blackjack

The goal in any game of blackjack is to have a hand that adds up higher than the dealer's without going over twenty-one. As long as you beat the dealer and don't go bust, you win. The amount you win in a traditional game depends on a few factors, namely how much you are betting and how you won.

Winning With a Blackjack

A natural blackjack is a two card twenty-one combination. This is also called an Ace and a "Face" since you need both and Ace card and a "face" card (King, Queen, or Jack) or a ten. The Ace can be worth eleven and all the face cards are worth ten. In a casino, a natural blackjack will win every time unless the dealer also has one in which case bets are returned and it is considered a "push." In online play, many casinos will reward you automatically when you have a blackjack.

Betting on Progressive Blackjack

At the beginning of each round, you lay down a bet on the game. If you win with any hand except a blackjack, you win double your money. If you win with a blackjack, you win 150% of your money. For example, a $100 bet would win back the $100, plus $150 from the house if you win with a natural blackjack. In progressive blackjack, however, you can also place a separate one credit side bet on the progressive jackpot. The progressive jackpot will always be displayed on the screen. It can range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands. It all depends on the last time someone hit the jackpot. Players all around the world are feeding this pot twenty-four hours a day.

Let's Split Up

In Blackjack, you can usually split a hand with a pair. This means that your original hand now becomes two independent hands with two separate chances to win. You can win them both, lose them both, or win one and lose one. For example, if you have a pair of Aces, your hand is starting out as twelve (Aces equal eleven or one). Twelve is not the best number to build on since your chances of getting a ten are fairly high. A twenty-two is a bust so two Aces is not the best hand. However, with splitting you can turn the odds around. Now you have two hands, each with an ace. The fairly high odds of getting a ten (or face) now work in you favor as either hand (or both) can become a blackjack.

Double Your Luck with Blackjack

If you have a hand that adds up to ten or eleven, you may want to double down. This means that you double your bet, you get just one more card, and the round will be over. If you won, you just doubled your double bet - four times you initial wager! Word to the wise, only use this option if you have two good cards and are feeling lucky.