How To Play Blackjack – A Guide to Blackjack for New Zealand Players

Blackjack is the most popular casino table game currently in New Zealand and it’s not difficult to see why. Blackjack NZ is one of the few casino games that allow player decision making, which makes them feel more in control. If you get to know the game you can limit the house advantage to below 1%.

The secret to learning the art of this style is to know when to hit, stand, split pairs or double your bet. If you learn how to play the game properly, your casino budget will go much further next time you play.

Basic Blackjack Rules

The game is played with either 1 or more decks of standard playing cards of 52 each. The number of decks used at each table, be it online or at a land based casino, is dependent on the rules of that specific casino.

All the cards from 2 to 10 are all worth their individual face values. The Jack, King and Queen cards all hold a value of 10 each and the Ace can either count as 11 or 1, depending on the player’s choice. The aim of Blackjack is for the players to draw cards with a value of 21 or as close as possible to it, without exceeding 21.

Ultimately you play against the dealer, which means in order for you to win; you have to achieve a hand value of more than the dealer, but not exceeding 21.

The rules of most tables are that the dealer must draw at 16 and stand at 17. This means that when a dealer has a hand of 16, he must take a card. Should he have a hand of 17, he cannot under any circumstances take another card.

Blackjack Buzz Words

If you want to get into the Blackjack game, either at a land based casino or online, you have to know what certain online blackjack NZ buzzwords mean in order to make informed decisions whilst playing the game.

Hit: If a player hits, it means he requested another card from the dealer. Should you exceed 21 after you received another card, you will have “busted”, thus automatically losing your bet.

Stand: If you decide to stand, this means you opted not to draw another card. If you want to signal the dealer not to hand you another card, hold your palm up like you would when you indicate to someone to stop.

Double Down: Players have the option to double their original bets. The trick to this is that you may only receive one more card form the dealer. Players normally double when they have a total of 10 or 11, opposed to a very low hand from the dealer. The reckoning here is that no matter what card you draw, you cannot bust, and since the dealer has a very low value set of cards, he will have to keep drawing cards which might likely land up getting him “busted”.

Split: Players also have the option of splitting out two cards of the same value into another hand. In doing so you have to then place the same amount of money as a bet in the new hand.