Blackjack Rules And Terms Explained Part 2
In Blackjack Terms Part 1, we covered terminology such as Hit and Stand, Double Down and Split. In this second and final installment in the series, we will deal with (sorry!) the few remaining blackjack terms that might need some further explanation.
Insurance
This is a side bet offered to you when the dealer’s up card is an Ace, to insure you against the possibility of him holding Blackjack. The side bet will cost you half of your original wager.
If you pay for insurance and the dealer does have Blackjack, you are paid 2:1 on your insurance bet but your original bet on the hand is lost unless you have Blackjack also, in which case, the hand is a Push.
- Illustration 1 : You bet £200. You are dealt 20 and the dealer is showing an Ace. You take Insurance for £100. The dealer gets Blackjack and your insurance policy pays out £300, 2:1 plus your £100 insurance cover bet back. You lose your original £200 bet so are left with a net gain of £100.
- Illustration 2 : You bet £200. You are dealt 13 against the dealer’s Ace. You take Insurance costing £100. You get a face card for 23 and Bust. You lose £300 irrespective of whether the dealer has Blackjack or not.
- Illustration 3 : You bet £200. You get a pair of Kings for 20 against the dealer’s Ace. You pay £100 for Insurance cover again and Stand. The dealer ends up with 19 so you win the hand. Unfortunately, you lose your insurance cover bet so your net gain is only £100.
NEVER PAY FOR INSURANCE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. IT’S A SUCKER BETÂ WITH STATISTICALLY NEGATIVE VALUE
Blackjack
The ultimate and unbeatable hand, an Ace and a 10-value card as your first two cards. It can be matched but not beaten by a dealer Blackjack where the hand is a Push. Blackjack pays out 3:2 (apart from getting it on a split hand in some variants where it only pays the standard 1:1)
Push
A Push is declared when both player and dealer hold hands of an equal value. Your initial bet is returned and the next hand is dealt. Normally a relief to the player apart from the situation where your Blackjack hand is matched by the dealer!
Soft Hand
When the Ace in your hand takes on the value 11, the total hand value is said to be soft. Win with Ace-7 and you would be said to have won with a Soft 18.
Hole Card
This name applies to any card in any card game that is not visible, or face down. In blackjack, the dealer usually has two cards on the table, an Up Card that is visible to the player and a Hole Card that isn’t. The player’s actions are directed by what he believes the dealer might be holding in the hole.
Posted by CSI Team
