Brushing Up on Your Blackjack Skills December 21 2007 Before you belly up to the Blackjack table in the Rowdy Rooster or King's Arm, you'll want to make sure your game knowledge and skills are up to par. Here's some important information you'll need if you want to leave the tavern with more booty than you walked in with. Your Main Objective While Playing Blackjack: Beat the dealer with a hand that does not exceed 21 points. If you go over 21 points, you lose. ACE: 1 point or 11 points (whichever you need most) FACE CARDS (KING, QUEEN, JACK): 10 points NUMBER CARDS (2-10): Number on card corresponds to the point value of the card (i.e. a 3 card = 3 points) For players new to Blackjack, here's how the game works: Once you sit down at the table, you'll be asked to place your bid The dealer will deal out 2 cards to everyone at the table and will turn 1 of his cards face up for all players to see At this point you have several options, which are displayed as buttons at the bottom of your screen: Bid: Put more gold into the pot (which other players must match) Stay: Keep your current cards and do nothing Hit: Ask the dealer for another card Split: If the first 2 cards you are dealt are of equal value (i.e. 2 Jacks, 2 Fives), you can 'split' them and play them as two separate hands Double Down: Allows you to double your initial bet and receive ONE additional card (this can only be done with a 2 card hand, before another card has been drawn) Swap Card: If you have a cheat card, you can swap out cards in your hand with ones up your sleeve (cheat cards are earned by completing special quests) Leave: You always have the option to quit the game and leave the table Here are some tips that are useful for both new and experienced players: Never split your 4s, 5s, 10s, Jacks, Queens, or Kings Always split your Aces and 8s Split 9s if the dealer is showing 9 or less Split 2s, 3s, and 7s if the dealer has 7 or less Split 6s if the dealer has 6 or less Always count the Ace as an 11, unless it will put you over 21 (then count it as a 1) If the dealer is showing a 10, you should always hit until you have at least 17 Hit on any hand below 17 when the dealer shows an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, or 8 Double-down if your cards add up to more than the dealer's up-card (the card the dealer has face up) -- otherwise, hit on the hand. Stand on any hand above 11 when the dealer shows a 4, 5, or 6 Current News  |  News Archive