How to play blackjack By Kharma[156342] Anyone who says blackjack on TC is unfair and "a big meanie pants" needs to learn how to properly play blackjack. Let me give you a few pointers.
First You don't always hit on 12s-16s. If you are holding one of those hands at the start and the dealer is showing a 3,4,5, or 6 - many times it is best to NOT HIT. You are banking that the dealer has a ten hidden and he will bust. Many hands are won for players this way. The dealer has to hit on 16 or lower - rules of blackjack. Sometimes you hold low to let him bust. Puts the odds in your favor.  Secondly, you don't always split. The biggest mistake ppl make is splitting Tens. DON'T DO THAT. 20 is a solid hand. Splitting tens is a horrible move and will get your ass kicked if you are sitting at a table full of ppl that know how to play - trying to get the dealer to bust. Thirdly, Doubling down is a privilege, not a right. Use it sparingly. Doubling down needs to be done with two things in mind. According to your hand and the dealer's hand.
Example: You have 11. The dealer has a 6. This is the perfect time to "double down". You will get one and only one card - hoping that it is a ten. But if it is not a ten, have no fear. Say you get a 2 - thus making your hand 13 now. The dealer has a 6. You hope he has a ten hidden - giving him 16. He must, by rule, hit 16. Your 13 hand could win when/if he busts.
Now say he has a ten or an ace showing. You have 11. Some would say double down - personally I would not. That is preference. Bit more chance that he won't have 20 or blackjack and take twice your money. In that case, I prefer to go with a standard hit. Never,ever,ever double down with a 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 showing to the dealer's 10 or ace. That is bad odds. In general, if you are new, don't even think of doubling down unless you have 11 and the dealer is showing a 5 or 6. Note: The dealer, by rule, must always hit on a hand of 16 or less. When he shows a 5 or 6, you are hoping he has a ten hidden. In this case you are hoping the dealer will "bust". When the dealer shows a 5 or a 6, it may be best to not hit your 12-16 hand. Just hope he busts. Fourth(ly?�), If you have ace,ace, or 7,7 or 8,8 - Then split them. If you have 2,2 or 3,3 this may be good to split (preference) and definitely if the dealer is showing 3-6 (hoping he will bust). You can hope for a ten on the 7s,8s or Aces or try to build on low hands like 2s and 3s or Aces if you weren't lucky enough to get a ten with that Ace. Fifthly, Be smart on your wager. First say "hey there Billy....how much can you AFFORD to lose today?" Set a number and divide that by 75 (or 90 if you voted). Only wager that each time.
Don't be greedy and bet more than you can afford. Lastly - Do Not Blame Ched For Your Ignorance. Another comment of noteworthiness There are "soft" and "hard" hands:
Ace, 5 is called a "soft" 16. Ace, 4 "soft" 15 etc. Soft because you have the option to hit again because an ace is either 1 or 11. You can safely hit on a "soft" hand b/c it is not necessarily locked in.
A "hard" 16 is anything that make up 16 that doesn't have an ace. The difference between hard and soft is the ace adding ability to play with the hand a bit more. If you had a "soft" 16 (ace, 5) you would be more inclined to hit hoping for another ace (1), a two, 3, 4 or 5. But even a ten would give you 16 - leaving you no worse off than you started. Soft hands can add a bit more "luck" to your side.
Play them accordingly.
Additional notes by Kh4nN (and -Phoenix) hey, ya might want to add (to your 21 tutorial) that Ched has implemented the "Charlie rule" for this game... 5 cards under or at 21 wins automatically. See his response here. Thanks guys! Very true. I myself "lost" to a hand of 17 while holding 20. Since the dealer used 5 cards to add to anything that didn't bust - he won. Thus 5 card Charlie �
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Blackjack tutorial
