Players Options
After you learn the basics - the card values and some general rules for the game, it is time to learn about some additional options for the players of Blackjack; Doubling Down, Splitting, Doubling and Splitting, Surrender, Early surrender, Insurance and Five-card Charlie.
You already know the basics - first all the players put their bets - the dealer deal two cards to each player, including himself. The players' cards are faced up, and one of the dealer's cards is still hidden. There are all kinds of possible outcomes. The best thing that can happen to you is to get Blackjack in those two cards, but there are different options for all the other possible situations.
Main Options
- Doubling Down option is a situation when the player wants to double his initial bet - in this case he has to take one additional card, but one only, and in case he wins, the winning is 2:1 of a doubled bet.
- When the player get 2 cards of a same value, two face cards, or even one face card and ten, he can split his hand. He has to bet the same amount on the second hand. In some casinos you can split your hands again if you get another pair indefinitely, and in some casinos this is a limited option. Anyway, even if you get 21 in any of split hands, it won't be a Blackjack, but you can still win the game. In some casinos you can double down split hands.
- Surrender is another option for players - when the dealer doesn't have Blackjack, the player can surrender, and get back half of his bet. If he surrenders before the dealer checks his cards, it's Early Surrender.
- We said before that players could see only one dealer's card. If this is an Ace, players can buy Insurance, and in case the dealer has Blackjack, the players with the insurance paid get 2:1 to insurance bet, up to ½ of the initial bet. It isn't some sort of insurance against losing, more like another bet, this time on the dealer's Blackjack. The option is quite popular among players, although the experts don't share their enthusiasm.
- Five -card Charlie is a winning hand with 2:1 payout, if it isn't split hand, if the dealer didn't get Blackjack and if the casino where you are playing rewards it. So many 'ifs', and it isn't easy to get it, either. You have to collect five cards without being busted.
