When it comes to playing blackjack, one of the most common questions is whether the cards are faced down or up. The answer is that it depends on the specific variation of the game being played. In this article, we’ll discuss the different types of blackjack and how they differ in terms of card placement.
Face Down Blackjack
The most commonly played variation of blackjack is face down blackjack, also known as hole card blackjack. In this version of the game, players are dealt two cards each, with one card face up and one card face down. The dealer also receives two cards – one face up and one face down.
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The objective of face down blackjack is to have a hand that totals 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over. Players can hit (take another card), stand (keep their current hand), double down (double their bet and receive one more card), or split (if they have two cards of the same value). Once all players have completed their turn, the dealer reveals their face-down card and must hit until they reach a total of 17 or higher.
Face down blackjack is popular because it adds an element of suspense to the game – players don’t know what the dealer’s facedown card is until the end of each round.
Face Up Blackjack
In contrast to face down blackjack, face up blackjack is a variation where all cards are dealt facing upwards. This means that both the player’s and dealer’s cards are visible from start to finish.
In this version, players must make their decision based on what they can see on both their own and the dealer’s cards. There’s less suspense involved since there are no hidden cards, but it requires a different strategy than playing with hole cards. For example, players should stand on a hand of 12 or higher if the dealer has a weak up card.
Double Exposure Blackjack
Double exposure blackjack is another variation where all cards are dealt face up, but with a catch – both the dealer’s cards are exposed from the beginning. This means that players can make their decision based on all four cards they can see, which can give them an advantage over the dealer.
To counteract this advantage, there are several rule variations in double exposure blackjack. For instance, if both player and dealer have a natural blackjack (an ace and a ten-value card), the player loses. Additionally, some casinos may require the dealer to hit on soft 17 instead of standing.
Conclusion
In summary, whether or not cards are faced down in blackjack depends on the variation being played. Face down blackjack is the most common version and adds an element of suspense to each round.
Face up blackjack requires a different strategy since all cards are visible from start to finish. Double exposure blackjack provides players with an advantage since they can see both of the dealer’s cards, but there are additional rules to balance this advantage out.
- So next time you’re playing blackjack, be sure to check which version of the game you’re playing!
