Atlantic City Blackjack is a popular variation of traditional blackjack with specific rules and features that can influence your strategy. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to play Atlantic City Blackjack:
How to Play Atlantic City Blackjack
1. Understand the Basic Rules
Objective: The goal is to beat the dealer’s hand without exceeding 21.
Decks: Atlantic City Blackjack is typically played with 8 decks of cards.
Dealer Rules:
- The dealer must stand on all 17s (both hard and soft 17).
- The dealer peeks for blackjack when showing an Ace or a 10-value card.
2. Card Values
- Number Cards (2-10): Face value.
- Face Cards (J, Q, K): 10 points.
- Aces: 1 or 11 points, whichever benefits the hand more.
3. Gameplay Steps
- Place Your Bet: Place your initial bet in the betting circle.
- Receive Your Cards: You and the dealer each receive two cards. Your cards are dealt face up, and the dealer has one card face up and one card face down (the hole card).
- Dealer Checks for Blackjack: If the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace or a 10-value card, they will check for blackjack. If the dealer has blackjack, the game ends, and all bets are collected unless you also have blackjack, resulting in a push.
- Player Decisions:
- Hit: Take another card.
- Stand: Keep your current hand.
- Double Down: Double your bet and receive only one more card. This is typically allowed on any two initial cards.
- Split: If you have a pair, you can split them into two separate hands, doubling your bet. You can usually split up to three times, making four hands. Aces can be split only once, and you receive one card per Ace.
- Surrender: You can surrender your hand and forfeit half your bet if you believe you have a low chance of winning. This option is typically available only on the initial two cards.
4. Payouts
- Blackjack: Pays 3:2.
- Winning Hand: Pays 1:1.
- Insurance: If the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace, you can take insurance, a side bet that the dealer has blackjack. Insurance pays 2:1 but is generally not recommended due to its high house edge.
5. Basic Strategy
Hard Hands:
- 8 and Below: Hit.
- 9: Double down if the dealer shows 3-6, otherwise hit.
- 10: Double down if the dealer shows 2-9, otherwise hit.
- 11: Double down if the dealer shows 2-10, otherwise hit.
- 12-16: Stand if the dealer shows 2-6, otherwise hit.
- 17 and Above: Stand.
Soft Hands:
- 13-15: Double down if the dealer shows 4-6, otherwise hit.
- 16-18: Double down if the dealer shows 2-6, otherwise hit.
- 19: Double down if the dealer shows 6, otherwise stand.
- 20-21: Stand.
Pair Splitting:
- Aces and 8s: Always split.
- 2s and 3s: Split if the dealer shows 2-7, otherwise hit.
- 4s: Split if the dealer shows 5-6, otherwise hit.
- 5s: Double down if the dealer shows 2-9, otherwise hit.
- 6s: Split if the dealer shows 2-6, otherwise hit.
- 7s: Split if the dealer shows 2-7, otherwise hit.
- 9s: Split if the dealer shows 2-6 or 8-9, otherwise stand.
- 10s: Never split.
6. Advanced Strategy Tips
Surrender:
- Surrender a hard 16 (but not a pair of 8s) against a dealer’s 9, 10, or Ace.
- Surrender a hard 15 against a dealer’s 10.
Dealer Stands on Soft 17:
- Be more aggressive with doubling down on soft hands since the dealer cannot hit on soft 17.
7. Practice and Implementation
Using Strategy Charts:
- Utilize Atlantic City Blackjack strategy charts to guide your decisions. Practice with these charts to make the best possible decisions during gameplay.
Simulation Software:
- Use online blackjack simulators specific to Atlantic City rules to practice and refine your strategy.
Conclusion
Atlantic City Blackjack offers an exciting twist on traditional blackjack with unique rules that influence gameplay and strategy. By understanding the rules, following basic strategy, and practicing regularly, you can enhance your skills and increase your chances of winning.
