Casino 21, also known as Blackjack, is a popular card game played in casinos worldwide. It is a game of skill and strategy that requires players to beat the dealer by getting a hand total of 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over. In this article, we will discuss the rules of Casino 21 in detail.
Objective of the Game
The objective of Casino 21 is to beat the dealer by having a hand total of 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over. If the player's hand total exceeds 21, they lose the game. The dealer must also follow certain rules when playing the game.
Card Values
In Casino 21, cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value, while face cards (i.e. Jacks, Queens, and Kings) are worth 10 points each. The Ace can either be worth 1 or 11 points, depending on which value would be more advantageous for the player.
Gameplay
At the beginning of the game, the player places their bet in the designated area on the table. The dealer then deals two cards to each player and two cards to themselves, with one card facing up and one card facing down.
The player then has the option to "hit" or "stand." Hitting means the player requests another card from the dealer, while standing means the player is satisfied with their current hand total and does not want any more cards. The player can continue to hit until they reach a hand total of 21 or go over 21, in which case they lose the game.
Once all players have completed their turns, the dealer reveals their face-down card. If the dealer's hand total is less than 17, they must hit until their hand total is 17 or more. If the dealer's hand total is 17 or more, they must stand.
The winner of the game is the player with a hand total of 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over. If the player's hand total is the same as the dealer's, it is a "push" and the player's bet is returned to them.
Insurance
If the dealer's face-up card is an Ace, the player has the option to purchase insurance. Insurance is a side bet that pays 2:1 if the dealer's face-down card is worth 10 points (i.e. a face card or a 10). If the dealer's face-down card is not worth 10 points, the player loses their insurance bet.
Splitting Pairs
If the player's first two cards are a pair (i.e. two cards with the same value), they have the option to split the pair into two separate hands. The player must place an additional bet equal to their original bet to split the pair.
The player then plays each hand separately as if they were playing two separate games. The dealer deals one additional card to each hand, and the player can continue to hit or stand on each hand as they see fit.
Doubling Down
The player also has the option to double down on their first two cards. This means the player can double their original bet in exchange for receiving one additional card. The player must then stand on their hand, regardless of the card they receive.
It is important to note that not all casinos allow doubling down, and some only allow it on certain hands (i.e. a total of 9, 10, or 11).
Conclusion
Casino 21, also known as Blackjack, is a popular card game played in casinos worldwide. It is a game of skill and strategy that requires players to beat the dealer by getting a hand total of 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over. By understanding the rules of the game, players can increase their chances of winning and have a more enjoyable gaming experience.
