Blackjack Rules: Part 1 – Casino Basics

Choosing a table

If you are new to the game, there are a few items you should notice when looking for a game…

The most important item is the sign declaring betting limits. If you are reading this, you probably don’t want to sit down at a table that requires a $100 minimum bet! Both the minimum and the maximum allowable bets should be on a sign on the table-top. Look around to find a table that suits your bet sizes.

Make sure that the table you have selected is actually for blackjack, and not another of the many kinds of table games that casinos offer. Look on the table for the phrase “Blackjack pays 3 to 2“. Avoid any games that say “Blackjack pays 6 to 5” instead. (See 6 to 5 Blackjack? Just Say No!.)

Next, take a look at how the game is being dealt. There are two different dealing styles:

• Shoe games: The dealer distributes cards from a dealing shoe and the player cards are all dealt face-up. These games typically use 6 or 8 decks of cards.
• Hand-held games: The dealer holds the cards in his hand and usually deals the player cards face-down. These games typically use 1 or 2 decks of cards.

Beginners should start off playing the shoe games. The advantage in this style is that all of the players’ cards are dealt face-up, so the dealer and other players can easily help you with playing questions and decisions. Once you become proficient at the game, you may want to switch to a game with fewer decks since that lowers the casino’s advantage.

Buying Chips

To play the game, you will need to exchange some cash for chips from the dealer.

Wait for a break in the action, and place your cash out in front of you on the table felt.

A few points of etiquette apply here:

• Don’t try to hand your money to the dealer. For security reasons, he can’t take anything from your hands. Just lay it on the table instead.
• Don’t put it into the betting circle, as some casinos will allow cash bets, and the dealer may think you want to bet it all!
• Buy in for at least enough cash to play several hands. A typical $5 player might buy in for $40 or so.

The dealer will exchange the entire amount of cash for the equivalent in chips, and drop the cash into a box on the table.

Take a quick look at the chips to make sure you know the value of each color. Common chip colors are red for $5, green for $25, and black for $100.

If you have any questions, just ask the dealer. Part of his job is to help players learn the game.

Placing a Bet

Once you are ready to place a bet, wait for the current hand to be completed, then push your bet into the betting circle.

Your chips should be in one stack. If you are betting multiple denominations of chips, place the larger valued chips on the bottom of the stack, and the smaller value chips on top.

Once the cards have been dealt, you are not allowed to touch the bet in the circle. If you need to know how much you have bet for doubling or splitting (explained later), the dealer will count down the chips for you.

Once the hand is over, the dealer will move around the table to each position in turn, paying winning hands and collecting the chips from losing hands. After the dealer has paid you, you can remove your chips from the circle, and place your next bet.

If you want to let your winnings ride, you will need to form one stack of chips from the two or more stacks on the table after the dealer pays you. Remember, higher value chips should be placed on the bottom of the stack.

Cashing Your Chips

When you are ready to leave the table, you do not cash in your chips the same way you bought them. The dealer cannot give you cash for the chips at the table. To do that, you must take the chips to the casino cashier.

If you have a lot of low denomination chips in front of you at the table, you should trade them for the equivalent higher value chips instead. In between hands, just tell the dealer you want to “color up”, and he will have you push your chips into the middle of the table. He will count them down, and give you a smaller stack of chips that amount to the same value. This makes them easier to carry for you, and for the dealer it maintains his supply of smaller chips.

Now you can take those chips to another table for more play, or head to the casino cashier where you can exchange them for cash.

← Back to Blackjack Rules

Part 2 – Blackjack Basics →