The Rankings of Poker Hands

To start playing poker you’re going to have to know the difference between your flushes and your straight flushes. Below are the rankings of Poker hands as used in most forms of Poker.

Royal Flush

The best possible hand in Poker. Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit.

Straight Flush

Any five-card sequence in the same suit (e.g.: 8, 9, 10, Jack and Queen of clubs; or 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of diamonds).

Four of a Kind

All four cards of the same value (e.g.: 8, 8, 8, 8; or Queen, Queen, Queen, Queen).

Full House

Three of a kind combined with a pair (e.g.: 10, 10, 10 with 6, 6; or King, King, King with 5, 5).

Flush

Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence (e.g.: 4, 5, 7, 10 and King of spades).

Straight

Five cards in sequence, but not in the same suit (e.g.: 7 of clubs, 8 of clubs, 9 of diamonds, 10 of spades and Jack of diamonds).

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same value (e.g.: 3, 3, 3; or Jack, Jack, Jack).

Two Pairs

Two separate pairs (e.g.: 2, 2, Queen, Queen).

Pair

Two cards of the same value (e.g.: 7, 7).

High Card

If a Poker hand contains none of the above combinations, it's valued by the highest card in it.

 

^ Back to Top ^                                                                            Texas Hold'Em Poker

Texas Hold'em Poker is a community card game with four betting rounds.

Game Play

1. One player acts as dealer. This position is called the button and it rotates clockwise after every hand.
2. The two players to the left of the dealer are the small blind and the big blind, respectively. They are the only players who have money in the pot before the cards are dealt. The size of the blinds are pre-determined
3. The dealer deals two cards face down to every player starting with the person immediately to left of him/her. The two cards dealt are the hole cards.
4. The first betting round begins with the player sitting immediately to the left of the big blind, and continues clockwise. Each player has the choice to fold, check, call or raise. The betting is complete when all players that have not folded have bet the same amount.
5. When the first betting round is completed, three community cards are flipped face up on the table. This is called the flop.
6. The second round of betting begins with the first remaining player seated to the left of the button. The betting resumes, clockwise as before.
7. When the second round of betting is finished, a fourth community card is flipped face up on the table. This is called the turn.
8. The third round of betting commences with the first remaining player sitting to the left of the button. The betting moves clockwise, with the bets doubling on the turn.
9. When the third round of betting is over, a fifth community card is flipped face up on the table. This is called the river.

The fourth round of betting starts with the first remaining player seated to the left of the button. The betting continues to move clockwise. When the remaining players have all bet equal amounts these players must show their hands. The player with highest ranking hand wins the pot .

^ Back to Top ^                                                                                         Punto Banco

Punto Banco

This popular European game is a version of Baccarat and is widely played in casinos and online.

In this game of chance, either the bank ('banco') or player (punto) hand will win. Betting on the banco pays out 19-20; whereas the punto hand pays out even money. Also possible is that it will be a tie or 'egalite' between the two hands, paying out 8-1.
 
Play then begins, and if you are playing on a larger table, a player may draw the cards. On smaller tables the dealer will draw the two sets of two cards.

The object is to bet on one of two hands of cards, guessing which will come closest to a count of 9.

The value of each hand is then added up. Tens, kings, queens and jacks count as zero, aces count as one, and all other cards count as their face value. If the card total exceeds 9, the last digit counts as the value of the hand. For example, 6 + 7 = 13, which becomes 3. If the value is under 5, a third card is dealt, and again of the total is above ten, the last digit is taken as the final total. The hand closest to 9 wins as do the players that bet on that hand.

^ Back to Top ^                                                                                                  Omaha

Omaha

As with the popular Texas Hold’em this a community poker game.

Texas Hold’em and Omaha are similar games. There are two major differences between Texas Hold'em and Omaha. First of all, in Omaha each player receives four hole cards rather than two. Second of all, one must use two ( exactly two) of the four hole cards, along with three ( exactly three) of the cards on the board (the community cards), to make a hand. In Hold'em you do not have to use either of your hole cards. Other than these two differences the game is played in very much the same way. So to learn to play Omaha, read our rules for Texas Hold’em and apply the two rules above.

To show how these subtle differences can make a huge impact, below is an example.

Example

The board: 10s-7h-2s-3s-Qs

In Hold'em: those players holding a Spade now have a flush. Any player holding the As now holds the nuts (the best possible hand with the cards available), the Ks will give the second nuts, and so forth.

In Omaha: any player holding a flush must have at least two Hearts amongst his hole cards. You do not hold a flush if your hand contains only one Heart. Any As-xs-x-x combination of hole cards will be the nut hand.

^ Back to Top ^                                                                                  Casino Blackjack

Casino Blackjack (also known as 21)

Casino Blackjack is a very popular game in casinos and even more popular to be played over the net.

The aim of the game is to get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over it. In casino Blackjack all other players at the table other than yourself and the dealer are irrelevant.

Terms

• BLACKJACK - If the player's first two cards are an ace and a 10 or face card, he wins. However, if the dealer also has a blackjack, it is a standoff, as are all ties or pushes. A winning blackjack pays the player 3 to 2.

• HIT or STAND - Hit means to draw another card (which the player signifies by tapping the table behind his cards). Stand means no more cards (which the player signals by placing his cards under his wager or moving his hand in a horizontal direction). If the player hits and busts (goes over 21), he immediately turns his cards over and his wager is lost.

• DOUBLE DOWN - The player is allowed to double the bet on his first two cards and draw one additional card only to improve his hand.

• SPLITTING PAIRS - If the first two cards a player is dealt are a pair, he may split them into two separate hands, bet the same amount on each and then play them separately. Aces receive only one additional card. After splitting, A-10 counts as 21 and not as blackjack

Game Rules

• The player must place a wager before any cards are dealt. He does this by placing his bet in the designated space in front of his table position.
• Face cards (kings, queens and jacks) count as 10, ace counts as one or 11 (as the player chooses) and all other cards are counted at their face value
• The dealer then deals two cards to each of the players, and two to himself (one of the dealer's cards is dealt face up and one is dealt facing down).
• The player after he is dealt his cards decides which course of action to take from the above list.
• If, when he decides to stand (if not bust) his hand is greater than that of the dealer, he wins and the house loses.

.

INSURANCE - If the dealer's up card is an ace, the player may take insurance, a bet not exceeding one-half his original bet. If the dealer's down card is a 10 or any face card, the player wins 2 to 1. Any other card means a win for the dealer.

SURRENDER - Where permitted, a player may give up his first two cards and lose only one-half his original bet.

^ Back to Top ^                                                                                           Spanish 21

Learn how to play Spanish 21 and find the best online casinos offering Spanish 21!

Important note about online casinos on this page: Every online casino listed here offers Spanish 21, however many casinos listed call the game match play 21, and there may be some very subtle differences in the game when compared to the Spanish 21 played in land based casinos.

Spanish 21 (aka match play 21) is generally listed with Spanish 21

Learn how to play Spanish 21 and find the best online casinos offering Spanish 21!

Important note about online casinos on this page: Every online casino listed here offers Spanish 21, however many casinos listed call the game match play 21, and there may be some very subtle differences in the game when compared to the Spanish 21 played in land based casinos.

Spanish 21 (aka match play 21) is generally listed with the other blackjack games at each online casino. The reason for this is so that they do not infringe on the copyrights of the creator of this exciting game! So enjoy Spanish 21, but remember that it may be called match play 21 at these online casinos!

What Is Spanish 21?

Spanish 21 is a table game that has been growing in popularity over recent years and can now be found in most land-based and online casinos. It was introduced to Las Vegas casinos about 7 years ago and it is not uncommon to see 1-2 tables in almost every casino. It is rather new to online casinos, and it is not offered everywhere yet.

How Is Spanish 21 Played?

Spanish 21 is played with a 48 card deck. The 10s have been removed from the game, however, the casino has added some little bonuses for players to offset part of the added house advantage.

When playing Spanish 21, the rules are similar to Blackjack; however, the following enhanced rules apply:

• Player's 21 always wins over the dealer's 21.
• Player's Blackjack always wins over the dealer's Blackjack. (Pays out 3:2).
• Outside of 21 and Blackjack, all other ties are pushed.
• Player can double down on any number of cards, even after splits.
• Player is allowed to split pairs, including aces, up to four hands.
• After receiving the first two cards, the player is allowed to surrender, for which they would only lose half their bet. However, surrendering when the dealer has Blackjack is not permitted.
• Dealer hits on a soft 17.
• The player can perform a double down rescue; where you're able to surrender the original bet, and save the double down bet.

Special Spanish 21 Bonuses:

• 5 card 21 pays 3:2
• 6 card 21 pays 2:1
• 7 card or more 21 pays 3:1
• A 21 consisting of a 6,7, and 8 (mixed suits) pays 3:2
• A 21 consisting of a 6,7, and 8 (matching suits) pays 2:1A 21 consisting of a 6,7, and 8 (all spades) pays 3:1
• A 21 consisting of three 7's (mixed suits) pays 3:2
• A 21 consisting of three 7's (matching suits) pays 2:1
• A 21 consisting of three 7's (all spades) pays 3:1

There is also a super bonus that pays the player if dealt three 7's and the dealer's face up card is also a 7.

^ Back to Top ^                                                                                              Blackjack

1.0: Casino Basics

1.1: Choosing a table

Before playing the game, you'll need to find an appropriate table at which to play. If you're a newcomer to this process, there are a few items to keep in mind. You'll want to pay attention to several details about each table that you approach. The most important item is the sign declaring betting limits. Both the minimum and the maximum allowable bets should be clearly posted on a sign on the table-top. Look around to find a table that suits your bet sizes. Often, you'll find that the lower limit ($3 or $5) tables are quite crowded. In most casinos, the signs are color-coded to match the minimum bets posted on them: Red for $5, Green for $25, and Black for $100 minimum tables. Next, you'll want to make sure that the table you have selected is actually for blackjack, and not another of the various table games offered at the casino. Blackjack tables will almost certainly have the phrase "Blackjack pays 3 to 2" printed on the table felt. The next item to observe is the type of game being dealt. Beginners are usually better off playing the "shoe" games where 6 or 8 decks are used. The advantage for beginners in this game is that all of the player's cards are dealt face-up in front of each player, and the dealer can help with playing questions and decisions. Notice: Once you become proficient at the game, you might want to switch to a game with fewer decks. The casino's advantage is lower with fewer decks in play. But for now, let's stick with the multi-deck games for the ease-of-play advantage.

1.2: Buying chips

Once you are seated at a table, you'll need to purchase some chips from the dealer for your bets. Wait for a break in the action, and place your cash out in front of you on the table felt. (Some casinos might make you wait until the dealer shuffles to join the game.) An appropriate buy-in amount is anywhere from 10 to 20 times your average bet. If you are a $5 bettor, this means a buy-in of $50-$100 is typical. Don't try to hand your cash to the dealer. For security reasons, he can't take anything from your hands. Simply lay the cash on the table; he'll pick it up and change it for an equal value of playing chips. You won't be getting any change back either. He'll change the entire amount, push the chips across the table to you, and then drop the cash into a slot in the table top. Chip colors are fairly standardized in the casino industry, with red chips representing $5, green chips representing $25, and black chips representing $100. You'll also see $1 value chips (usually white) or $1 tokens (silver) on the table as well. Some casinos also use a $2.50 chip that is usually pink in color. Chip colors above the $100 denomination vary widely, with purple a common choice for $500 chips. Take a quick look at the chips to make sure that you know the values, and that you were given the correct amount for your cash. If you have any questions, just ask the dealer. Part of his job is to help players learn the game.

1.3: Making a bet

On the table felt in front of your position, you'll find a circle or box for your bets. Before each hand begins, place your desired bet into the circle in one stack. If you are betting multiple denominations of chips, place the larger valued chips on the bottom of the stack, and the smaller value chips on top. Once the cards have been dealt, you aren't allowed to touch the bet in the circle. If you need to know how much you have bet for doubling or splitting (explained later), the dealer will count down the chips for you. Once the hand is over, the dealer will move around the table to each position in turn, paying winners and collecting the chips from losing hands. After the dealer has paid you, you can remove your chips from the circle, and place your next bet. If you want to let your winnings ride, you'll need to form one stack of chips from the two or more stacks on the table after the dealer pays you. Remember, big chips should be placed on the bottom.

1.4: Cashing in

When you're finished playing, you'll want to take your chips to the cashier to exchange them for cash. If you have groups of smaller denomination chips in front of you, the dealer will probably want to "color up" your chips. This simply means exchanging groups of smaller denomination chips for larger valued chips. Wait until the end of a hand, then simply push your chips out in front of you between the betting boxes, so it can't be confused for a bet. The dealer will count down the chips, and return to you a smaller stack of chips of equal value. You can take these to the cashier for cash, or to another table for more play.

2.0: Basics of Blackjack

2.1: Premise of the game

The basic premise of the game is that you want to have a hand value that is closer to 21 than that of the dealer, without going over 21. Other players at the table are of no concern. Your hand is strictly played out against the hand of the dealer. The rules of play for the dealer are strictly dictated, leaving no decisions up to the dealer. Therefore, there is not a problem with the dealer or any of the other players at the table seeing the cards in your hand. Indeed, if you're playing at a shoe game, the player cards are all dealt face up. In any event, when you're just learning to play, don't hesitate to show the dealer or other players your cards and ask questions.

2.2: Values of the cards

In blackjack, the cards are valued as follows:
An Ace can count as either 1 or 11, as demonstrated below.
The cards from 2 through 9 are valued as indicated.
The 10, Jack, Queen, and King are all valued at 10.

The suits of the cards do not have any meaning in the game. The value of a hand is simply the sum of the point counts of each card in the hand. For example, a hand containing (5,7,9) has the value of 21. The Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11. You need not specify which value the Ace has. It's assumed to always have the value that makes the best hand. An example will illustrate: Suppose that you have the beginning hand (Ace, 6). This hand can be either 7 or 17. If you stop there, it will be 17. Let's assume that you draw another card to the hand and now have (Ace, 6, 3). Your total hand is now 20, counting the Ace as 11. Let's backtrack and assume that you had instead drawn a third card which was an 8. The hand is now (Ace, 6, 8) which totals 15. Notice that now the Ace must be counted as only 1 to avoid going over 21.

A hand that contains an Ace is called a "soft" total if the Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11 without the total going over 21. For example (Ace, 6) is a soft 17. The description stems from the fact that the player can always draw another card to a soft total with no danger of "busting" by going over 21. The hand (Ace,6,10) on the other hand is a "hard" 17, since now the Ace must be counted as only 1, again because counting it as 11 would make the hand go over 21.

2.3: The deal of the cards

Once all the bets are made, the dealer will deal the cards to the players. He'll make two passes around the table starting at his left (your right) so that the players and the dealer have two cards each. (European and Australian players: See exception at the bottom of this section.) The dealer will flip one of his cards over, exposing its value.

In the shoe games, the players cards will be dealt face-up, and the players are not allowed to touch the cards. If you're just beginning, you'll probably want to start at the shoe game where you don't have to worry about handling the cards.

In the hand-held games, the player's cards are dealt face down, and the players pick up the cards. When handling the cards in a hand-held game, here are a few important things to remember.

• You are only allowed to touch the cards with one hand. If you're a poker player, this can take some effort to break old habits!
• You must keep the cards over the table.
• Any cards that the dealer subsequently deals to your hand must be left on the table, not added to the cards in your hand.

Once the cards are dealt, play proceeds around the table, starting at the first seat to the dealer's left, also called first base. Each player in turn indicates to the dealer how he wishes to play the hand. The various player decisions are covered in their own section below. After each player has finished his hand, the dealer will complete his hand, and then pay or collect the player bets.

Now, the exception I mentioned: Some casinos, mostly in Europe, give the dealer only one card face up until all the players have finished their hands. The dealer then deals his second card, and finishes his hand. This is called the European No Hole Card rule. This can change a player's strategy if, and only if, the dealer collects all player bets in the event of a dealer blackjack. Some casinos that deal only one card at first to the dealer will refund any double-down or split bets if the dealer turns out to have a blackjack. This type of no hole card rule does not have any effect on the player's optimal strategy, and should not be described as European No Hole Card rules.

2.4: How the dealer plays his hand

The dealer must play his hand in a specific way, with no choices allowed. There are two popular rule variations that determine what totals the dealer must draw to. In any given casino, you can tell which rule is in effect by looking at the blackjack tabletop. It should be clearly labeled with one of these rules:

• "Dealer stands on all 17s": This is the most common rule. In this case, the dealer must continue to take cards ("hit") until his total is 17 or greater. An Ace in the dealer's hand is always counted as 11 if possible without the dealer going over 21. For example, (Ace,8) would be 19 and the dealer would stop drawing cards ("stand"). Also, (Ace,6) is 17 and again the dealer will stand. (Ace,5) is only 16, so the dealer would hit. He will continue to draw cards until the hand's value is 17 or more. For example, (Ace,5,7) is only 13 so he hits again. (Ace,5,7,5) makes 18 so he would stop ("stand") at that point.
• "Dealer hits soft 17": Some casinos use this rule variation instead. This rule is identical except for what happens when the dealer has a soft total of 17. Hands such as (Ace,6), (Ace,5,Ace), and (Ace, 2, 4) are all examples of soft 17. The dealer hits these hands, and stands on soft 18 or higher, or hard 17 or higher. When this rule is used, the house advantage against the players is slightly increased.

Again, the dealer has no choices to make in the play of his hand. He cannot split pairs, but must instead simply hit until he reaches at least 17 or busts by going over 21.

2.5: What is a Blackjack, or a natural?

A blackjack, or natural, is a total of 21 in your first two cards. A blackjack is therefore an Ace and any ten-valued card, with the additional requirement that these be your first two cards. If you split a pair of Aces for example, and then draw a ten-valued card on one of the Aces, this is not a blackjack, but rather a total of 21. The distinction is important, because a winning blackjack pays the player odds of 3 to 2. A bet of $10 wins $15 if the player makes a blackjack. A player blackjack beats any dealer total other than a dealer's blackjack, including a dealer's regular 21. If both a player and the dealer make blackjack, the hand is a tie or push.

The dealer will usually pay your winning blackjack bet immediately when it is your turn to play. In the face down games, this means that you should show the blackjack to the dealer at that time. Some casinos may postpone paying the blackjack until after the hand is over if the dealer has a 10 card up and has not checked for a dealer blackjack. Other casinos check under both 10 and Ace dealer upcards, and would therefore pay the blackjack immediately. Regardless, when you are dealt a blackjack, turn the cards face up, and smile. It only happens about once every 21 hands, but it accounts for a lot of the fun of the game.

3.0: The Player's Choices

3.1: Surrender

We start with one of the least common decisions, but it is appropriate to begin with surrender, because this decision must be made before any other choice about playing your hand. Not every game offers surrender, and those that do fall into two categories which bear expanation: Early vs Late.

Surrender offers you as a player the choice to fold your hand, at the cost of half of the original bet. You must make that decision prior to taking any other action on the hand. For example, once you draw a third card, or split, or double down, surrender is no longer an option.

The two varieties of surrender, early and late, differ only in the way a dealer blackjack is handled. In an early surrender game, a player may choose to surrender before the dealer checks his cards for a blackjack, offering a cheap way out even if the dealer turns out to have a blackjack. Because this offers a healthy advantage to the player, this version (early surrender) is rarely offered. The much more common variation is late surrender, where the dealer checks for blackjack first, and then only if he does not have blackjack will allow players to surrender their hands.

Surrender is a nice rule to have available for players who use it wisely. Unfortunately, many players surrender far too many hands. If you play in a game with surrender, use the Strategy Engine to determine when surrender is the appropriate play. To see how bad a hand must be to properly be surrendered, consider the following: To lose less with surrender, you must be only 25% likely to win the hand (ignoring pushes). That is, if you lose 75% of the time, and win only 25% of the time, your net loss is about 50% of your bets, equal to the amount you'll lose guaranteed by surrendering. So, learn to use the surrender option, but make sure you know when it is appropriate.

It's worth mentioning again that the vast majority of surrender is LATE surrender, after the dealer checks for BJ. Make sure you choose the right option over on the Strategy Engine. And if you do find a game that offers early surrender, drop me a note. Good opportunities like that are rare.

3.2: Hitting/Standing

The most common decision a player must make during the game is whether to draw another card to the hand ("hit"), or stop at the current total ("stand"). The method you use to indicate your decisions to the dealer depend on which kind of game you are playing.

In the face-up shoe game, you indicate that you want another card by tapping the table behind your cards with a finger. You'll be required to make the hand signals, rather than just announcing "hit" or "stand" to the dealer. This is to eliminate any confusion or ambiguity in what you choose, and also for the benefit of the ever-present surveillance cameras. If you go over 21, or "bust", the dealer will collect your bet, and remove your cards from the table immediately. When you decide to stand, just wave your hand in a horizontal motion over your cards.

In the face-down game, things are a little different. You'll hold the first two cards with one hand. To draw another card to your hand, simply scrape your cards across the table felt lightly. Watch another player at first to see how this works. The dealer will deal your additional cards on the table in front of your bet. Add them to your total hand value, but leave the actual cards on the table. If you go over 21, just toss the two cards in your hand face up on the table. The dealer will collect your bet, and discard your hand. When you decide to stand, you should tuck the two cards you are holding face-down under the chips that you have bet. This can be a bit tricky the first few times. Don't pick up the bet to place the cards underneath. Remember, once the cards are dealt, you can't touch the chips in the circle. Simply slide the corner of the cards under the chips.

The descriptions are a lot tougher than the actual play. Just pay attention to what other players are doing and you'll fit right in.

3.3: Doubling Down

Among the more profitable player options available is the choice to "double down". This can only be done with a two card hand, before another card has been drawn. Doubling down allows you to double your bet and receive one, and only one, additional card to the hand. A good example of a doubling opportunity is when you hold a total of 11, say a (6,5) against a dealer's upcard of 5. In this case, you have a good chance of winning the hand by drawing one additional card, so you might as well increase your bet in this advantageous situation. If you are playing in a face-down game, just toss the two cards face-up on the table in front of your bet. In either type of game, add an additional bet to the betting circle. Place the additional bet adjacent to the original bet, not on top of it. The dealer will deal one additional card to the hand. In the face-down game, he'll probably tuck it face-down under your bet, to be revealed later.

Players are allowed to double down for any amount up to the original bet amount, so you could double down "for less" if you wanted. Just remember that you do give up something for being allowed to increase your bet: the ability to draw more than one additional card. If the correct play is to double down, you should always double for the full amount if possible.

The question of when it is appropriate to double down is easily answered by using the

3.4: Splitting Pairs

When you are dealt a matching pair of cards (remember, ignore the suits), you have the ability to split the hand into two separate hands, and play them independently. Let's say you are dealt a pair of eights for a total of sixteen. Sixteen is the worst possible player hand, since it is unlikely to win as is, but is very likely to bust if you draw to it. Here's a great chance to improve a bad situation.

If you are playing a hand-held game, toss the cards face-up in front of your bet just like a double down. Then, in either type of game, place a matching bet beside the original bet in the circle. Note that you must bet the same amount on a split, unlike a double-down, where you are allowed to double for less. The dealer will separate the two cards, and treat them as two independent hands. Let's say you draw a 3 on the first 8, for a total of 11. Many casinos will allow you to double down on that hand total of 11 at this point. When this is allowed, the rule is called "Double after Split", predictably enough. Regardless, you can play the first hand to completion, at which point the dealer will deal a second card to the second hand, and you can begin making play decisions on it.

If you get additional pairs (in the first two cards of a hand), most casinos will allow you to resplit, making yet another hand. The most common rule allows a player to split up to 3 times, making 4 separate hands, with 4 separate bets. If double after split is allowed, you could have up to 8 times your initial bet on the table if you chose! Some casinos restrict resplitting, and some allow unlimited splitting. Another fine point is that you are allowed to split any 10-valued cards, so you could split a (Jack, Queen) hand. However, this is usually a bad play: Keep the 20.

The other complication for pair splits concerns splitting Aces. Splitting Aces is a very strong player move, so the casino restricts you to drawing only one additional card on each Ace. Also, if you draw a ten-valued card on one of your split Aces, the hand is not considered a Blackjack, but is instead treated as a normal 21, and therefore does not collect 3:2 odds. Some casinos allow resplitting Aces if you draw another, while many do not allow resplitting Aces although they often do allow resplitting of any other pairs. With all these restrictions, you may wonder whether it makes sense to split Aces. The answer is a resounding YES. Always split pairs of Aces.

3.5: Insurance and Even Money

Insurance is perhaps the least understood of all the commonly available rules for Blackjack. This is not necessarily a bad thing because the insurance bet is normally a poor bet for the player, with a high house advantage. However, that's not always the case. So, here we go:

If the dealer turns an up-card of an Ace, he will offer "Insurance" to the players. Insurance bets can be made by betting up to half your original bet amount in the insurance betting stripe in front of your bet. The dealer will check to see if he has a 10-value card underneath his Ace, and if he does have Blackjack, your winning Insurance bet will be paid at odds of 2:1. You'll lose your original bet of course (unless you also have a Blackjack), so the net effect is that you break even (assuming you bet the full half bet for insurance.) This is why the bet is described as "insurance", since it seems to protect your original bet against a dealer blackjack. Of course, if the dealer does not have blackjack, you'll lose the insurance bet, and still have to play the original bet out.

In the simplest description, Insurance is a side-bet, where you are offered 2:1 odds that the dealer has a 10-valued card underneath ("in the hole"). A quick check of the odds yields this: In a single deck game, there are 16 ten-valued cards. Assuming that you don't see any other cards, including your own, the tens compose 16 out of 51 remaining cards after the dealer's Ace was removed. For the insurance bet to be a break-even bet, the hole card would have to be a ten 1 out of 3 times, but 16/51 is only 1 in 3.1875.

The situation is often thought to be different when you have a Blackjack. The dealer is likely to offer you "even money" instead of the insurance bet. This is just the same old insurance bet with a simplification thrown in. Let's ignore the "even money" name, and look at what happens when you insure a Blackjack. Let's say you bet $10, and have a Blackjack. You would normally collect $15 for this, unless the dealer also has a blackjack, in which case you push or tie.
Let's assume that the dealer has an Ace up, and you decide to take insurance for the full amount, or $5. Now, two things can happen:
1) The dealer has a Blackjack. I tie with the $10, but collect 2:1 on the $5 insurance bet for a total profit of $10.
2) The dealer does not have Blackjack. I lose the $5, but collect $15 for my BJ. Total profit, again $10.
In either case, once I make the insurance bet, I'm guaranteed a profit of $10, or even money for my original bet.
So, casinos allow me to eliminate the insurance bet altogether, and simply declare that I want even money for my blackjack when the dealer has an Ace showing.

You're probably thinking that sounds like a pretty good deal. You're guaranteed a profit even if the dealer does have Blackjack. Just remember that the guaranteed profit comes at a price. You'll win more money in the long run by holding out for the $15, even though you'll sometimes end up empty-handed. Nonetheless, many players are adamant that they prefer to take even money when offered. Just be aware that you're costing yourself money when you make that choice.

The basic strategy player should simply never take the insurance bet, even the "even money" variety. Card counters on the other hand can often detect situations where more than one-third of the remaining cards are ten-valued, and the bet is then a profitable one. So, unless you know the bet is favorable, just ignore it.

^ Back to Top ^                                                                                               Baccarat

Playing Baccarat

The game starts with both player and banker getting two cards dealt face down each. The next decisions are dependent on the cards in the hands.

Should the player or banker have cards totaling 8 or 9, they turn the cards over immediately. If someone does this the other players must turn over as well. If you are playing on the web, baccarat cards are always face up. The 9 value wins over any lesser total, if neither player has a 9, then 8 wins over any lesser total. Tied 9's and 8's are a stand off. In this tie situation no money changes hands, unless the other players at the table can bet on ties.

If no one has a natural (that's what a total of 8 or 9 is called) then the play goes to the player. The player must stand (no draw) on a total of 6 or 7. If the player has a total of 5 or less, he must draw one card face up.

When the player completes these actions, it's the banker's turn. The banker stands on a total of 7. If the banker has a 6 or less, the banker's next move depends on the value of his two card total, and the value of the card that the player drew. The bankers or players moves are based on the following rules :

Baccarat rules

Player Rules Card Action 10, J, Q, K Draw card 1 Draw card 2 Draw card 3 Draw card 4 Draw card 5 Draw card 6 Stand 7 Stand 8 Turn Cards Over 9 Turn Cards Over

Dealer Rules Card Draws When Giving Does Not Draw When Giving 10, J, Q, K Draw card Draw card 1 Draw card Draw card 2 Draw card Draw card 3 0 (10, J, Q, K) - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 9 8 4 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 0 (10, J, Q, K)-1-8-9 5 4-5-6-7 0 (10, J, Q, K)-1-2-3-8-9 6 6-7 0 (10, J, Q, K)-1-2-3-4-5-8-9 7 Stand Stand 8 Turn Cards Over Turn Cards Over

Baccarat betting

Baccarat has great odds for the player. When the player's betting, the house has only a small edge. To balance this out, the house takes a commission, usually 5 percent, on winning bank bets. The bets are always made before any of the cards have been dealt. The banker plays against only one player at a time. Even so, everyone present can bet on each hand.

The baccarat table is large and can be intimidating to a first time player! Up to 14 players have been known to sit around the kidney shaped baccarat table, depending of course on the size of the table. Baccarat employs three dealers (croupiers in the case of Baccarat) at a time and they run the game together. The duties of the croupiers are as follows: two handle the bets and commissions, one handles the cards. Players may sit where they wish. Bets are always made in a specially marked area on the table that corresponds to each player's seat. Players can bet in three ways: you can bet on the bank, on a player's hand or on a tie. This is where it can turn into "every man for himself!" It's not at all uncommon to see players switch from betting on the bank to betting on a player's hand and back and forth. If you have a larger payoff, you should not bet on a tie. This bet is considered to be one of the worst bets in the casino.

Bets are made by placing your money on the table in your marked area on the wagering spot -- the one that corresponds to the player or players you are betting on. Each wager spot has a spot for the player and the bank. If you are betting on the player, you put your cash in the spot marked for the player. If you are betting on the bank, you put your cash in the spot marked for the bank. For example; you want to bet on the bank in spot 4, and the player in spot 6. Here's what you do: you put your cash in the area marked "bank" in spot 4, and the area marked "player" in spot 6. Simple really!!

Winning bets pay even money, except of course, the commission is subtracted. Sorry, house rules. Hands that are tied pay off 8 to 1, oh, and a bank or player bet is treated as a push. The good news is that the money for the push stays on the table for the next hand! Have fun.