The lucky ladies in a game of blackjack are the ones who can stay alive for as long as possible and make the most advantageous bets. Blackjack is a casino game that relies on chance, so it’s important for players to understand the odds in order to make the best choices. The basic principle of blackjack is to reduce the number of cards in your hand from 21 down to as few as possible by playing different combinations of cards. However, if you are dealt a card that makes you exceed 21, you must turn over your entire hand, regardless of what other cards are left in your deck. When playing blackjack, it’s important to keep track of both your point total and the Dealer’s up/down count. The point total is simply the sum of all your face values (1 through 10) minus the Dealer’s point total (which is 11). The up/down count is a running tally of how many hands (from your original 21) have been played since you first sat down at the table. The Dealer stands on one side of the table and each player sits opposite him or her. When it’s your turn to deal, you place two hands face down on the table in front of you, one on top of the other. After you’ve dealt all six hands, the Dealer reveals his or her up/down count and points total and sets them both aside.
When it’s your turn to play, you pick up one hand (the uppermost one) and look at its face value (1 through 10); then you decide whether or not to ante (put money into the pot before playing). You can either ante automatically (by pushing any amount of chips into the pot) or ante selectively (by putting more money into the pot only if certain cards are revealed). If you elect not to ante, then turn over two cards from your hand – one face up and one face down – and put them back on top of your stack. If either card reveals a Blackjack (a card with a value between 1 and 10), then you win the hand without having to put any more money into the pot. In general, if you have an even hand (2s through 10s), then both cards should be equal in value and neither should reveal a Blackjack; if you have an odd hand (1 through 5), then either card might reveal a Blackjack and you’ll have to put more money into the pot. If either card doesn’t reveal a Blackjack, then you lose whatever amount of chips was already in the pot when that card was turned over. It’s also possible to win with an even hand by beating the Dealer; this happens when he or she puts more money into the pot after everyone has already put in their maximum bet (usually $5 or $10). To do this, you need at least two different cards that add up to 13 or higher; for example, if you’re dealt 5s and 6s together, those would be high enough for a win. But no matter what cards are revealed, always be sure to look at both hands before putting any more money into the pot – just in case!.
