The Different Player Moves in Blackjack
In playing with blackjack, you need to be familiar with the different moves during the game and these moves are Hit, Stand, Doubling Down, Splitting, Insurance, and Even Money.
"Hit" and "Stand" are the most common moves found in blackjack. You are hitting when you choose to draw additional card to your current hand. You are standing when you choose to stop and will not draw any more additional card.
"Doubling Down" is a very profitable player move in blackjack. When you see an advantage and believe that the dealer's hand will be beaten by just adding one additional card to your current hand, then you can opt to double down. For example, your two original dealt cards are Five and Six and the up card of the dealer is Five, then you can choose to double down. This is the reason: there are more Ten-value cards than other card values in blackjack. You have a chance of getting a Ten, thus giving you a hand value of 21. In this case, the blackjack dealer will have a difficult time beating your 21 with a Five face up card.
When you double down in blackjack, you will also need to double your bet for your hand. If your original bet is $10, you need to add an additional $10 to enable you to double down. You can only double down in blackjack during your two-card hand and once you have already hit even just once, you are not allowed to double down anymore.
"Splitting" your current blackjack hand can be done is your initial two cards are of similar values. When you split your hand, you will now have two individual hands that will be played separately just like any other normal hand in blackjack. When splitting in blackjack, you must also place exactly the same amount of bet like that of your original bet for the second hand. There are casinos that allow resplitting of hands at least three times and there are others that don't. Splitting Aces is a very good blackjack move to do.
"Insurance" is a side bet in blackjack that is considered as the poor kind of bet. If the up card of the blackjack dealer is an Ace, an insurance bet is offered to the players. Insurance bets are up to half of the player's original bet. If the dealer has a blackjack, you will win your insurance bet and will be paid two to one. If the dealer doesn't have a blackjack, you lose your insurance bet and the blackjack game will pursue its normal play.
"Even Money" is also a side bet in blackjack and offered by the dealer if you have a blackjack and you will be paid even money for your blackjack hand no matter what is the face down card of the dealer.
The odds of insurance and even money are always in favor of the casino, so be cautious in taking the dealer's offer of these blackjack side bets.
To truly understand and taste the fun of blackjack if to get on the table and play the game.