Blackjack is such a popular game that it makes sense that there will be
several variations of the game. Most of the major "types" of blackjack can be
fielded under the Las Vegas rules umbrella.
Las Vegas rules gets its name because the blackjack played under these rules
is what is played in Downtown Las Vegas. This is the home of the modern land
based casinos and if you are a regular at online casinos you will see that Las
Vegas is one of the most popular themes.
Las Vegas has always had a way of capturing the imagination, with its bright
lights, plush hotels and high stakes. It therefore makes sense that one of the
most popular casino games would model its rules on how they play it in "Sin
City".
There are several ways to tell whether the type of blackjack you are playing
falls under the Las Vegas rules:
- After you are dealt your first two cards face-up, you will be allowed
the option of "doubling down" if you so wish.
- The dealer has to hit another card on a soft 17 meaning that the
dealer's total of 17 has an Ace in it that counts as 11.
- You will be allowed to re-split - this means that if you decide to split
a pair of cards and you hit another card of the same face value then you are
allowed to split yet again.
- You are able to take insurance on your cards, meaning that you can place
a side bet (equal to half your bet) if the dealer has an Ace which pays out
2:1 if the dealer's second card is K/Q/J/10.
- You will not be allowed to split a pair of Aces.
- You will also not be allowed to double your bet after splitting.
Many online casinos follow these rules as these are the most popular and the
most basic rules. If you are familiar with these rules then you should have no
problem in adapting your blackjack style to any of the other variations of the
game.
Another slight variation of Las Vegas rules is the Las Vegas "strip" rules.
These rules make the dealer stand on 17, irrespective if it is a hard 17 or a
soft 17. This increases your odds of winning ever so slightly. However, this
does not always work in your favour because if you, for example, stand on 16
then you still have the chance of the dealer going bust if he/she has to hit on
a soft 17.
