Blackjack
This is one of the rare casino games offered by Gtech-G2 software providers and allows the player to make decisions that put the house at a lesser advantage. All other games give the house an advantage but in blackjack, this advantage can be reduced to less than one percent.
For player playing this game, their objective is to reach 21 or as close to it as possible, without going over. Player are dealt two cards face-up while the dealer receives one up card and one down or hole card. A player`s hand is considered “soft” if there is an ace with the second card not a picture or a ten. A player that hasn`t been dealt an ace at all is said to have a “hard” hand.
After having received their two cards, players have several choices on how to proceed.
Hit: with the objective being to reach 21 or come close, when a player declares “hit” it means “give me another card”.
Stand: when a players says “stand” it means “I do not want any more cards” even so if a player has not reached 21. This might be the case if the involved player wants to let the dealer play his cards without him/her risking going over 21. This helps players avoid losing the chance to win the hand by going over 21.
Split: in any case a player is dealt a pair of cards with the same number, he/she may split the two hands thereby creating a second hand to play. The player then makes a bet on the new hand equal to the bet he made on the first hand. The player then plays each hand separately. He/she can “hit” one of the hand and “stand” on the other. There are however some variations on “splitting” depending on the casino`s rules. Some casinos allow players to create up to four separate hands by splitting. Players may be allowed to double any of the separate hands. All the same, most casinos allow the players to split aces only once even if they allow more splits for other cards.
Double down: this suggests doubling your bet. After a player “doubles” they receive one and simply one more card. Some casinos allows doubling only when two cards dealt up add up to 9, 10 or 11. Some casinos allow doubling on any two cards dealt.
Insurance: when the dealer has an ace showing and the first two cards have been dealt, the player, may buy insurance. Under this option, the player increases their bet by 50% before the dealer checks this hole card to see if he has blackjack. Before any other cards are dealt, the dealer checks to see if he has blackjack. If indeed he/she has it and has taken insurance, he/she wins the insurance bet which pays 2-1, and loses the original bet. In this way, the player breaks even on the hand.
On the other hand, if the player does not have blackjack he/she loses the insurance bet and the hand proceeds like any normal hand. Insurance is thus considered a poor choice because there is less than a 33% chance that the dealer will have a ten card in the hole.
Surrender: this means that the player may give up half their bet and retain their other half. This is a favourable option when the player feels their chances of winning the hand outright are small. Early surrender means the player may surrender before the dealer checks for blackjack. Late surrender on the other hand means the player may surrender after the dealer has checked for blackjack.
The player has chosen his course of play. The player either stands with 21 or less or will go over 21. When the player goes over 21 it is called a “bust” and the player loses immediately. The player loses in this case even if the dealer busts as well.
When it is the dealers turn to play he/she will turn over his hole card. The dealer takes cards until he has 17 or more. If he has 17-21 he stands. If he goes over 21 he busts and the remaining hands win. In some casinos the dealer may hit on soft 17 that is an ace and a six. In other casinos however, the dealer must stand on any 17. Never the less, if the dealer`s and the player`s point totals are the same the hand is a “push” which basically means a tie. Neither the player nor the house wins and the player gets his bet back.
It is however important to note that there are variations in the rules that increase or decrease the houses advantages.
