Black Jack Game Choices
 Surrender
This is not very common & we have not seen it at any online casinos. However just in case here is what it is and what to do. If the casino has a surrender rule, then this allows you abandon your hand (“fold”) for the cost of half of your bet. You can only do this right at the beginning before you have made any other decisions.
There are particular strategy variations where there is a surrender option, however in general you do not surrender in that many circumstances.
Hit/Stick
The terminology for taking another card can vary from hit, draw, card,
For taking no more cards this can be called stick, stay, stand
You can stick on any total (although you’d be foolish to stick on 11 or less as you can only improve your hand)
You can hit on any total under 21 although clearly the closer to 21 you are the more chance that this extra card will make you go bust
Doubling / Double Down
Doubling or doubling down is also sometimes known as buying a card.
  Essentially this allows you to double your stake & take another card. However you are then not able to take any more cards. You can only double in your first play of the hand (i.e. when you have 2 cards).
According to the rules you are allowed to double for any amount between the minimum bet and the level of your stake, but there are no instances when it is advantageous to do anything other than double your stake or no double at all. In addition there is rarely the facility to do anything other than double your stake in an online casino.
This is common say if you are dealt a total of 11 & given that the most likely next card is 10 you have a reasonable expectation of 21. If you get 21 then things are looking great, however if you get a 2 leaving you on 13 you are stuck on 13 with double your stake, desperately praying that the dealer will go bust.
While not without its risk, the ability to double is one of your key advantages, and when used wisely it will win you money, however you are not going to win on every double by any means.
The decision of whether to double, like all the other decisions depends on what your cards total & what the dealers visible card is. This is highlighted in the strategy article.
Different casinos have different rules for when you are allowed to double. All only allow you to double from 2 cards, however many restrict this to only when your two cards total 9, 10 or 11 whereas others may let you double on any 2 card total.
Splitting 
A pair is defined as two cards the same. They don’t have to be the same suit, but they do need to be the same type such that you can split two Kings but not say a Queen and a Jack (although some casinos may allow this). However splitting two tens (which make 20!) is never a good strategy as you are breaking up a very nice hand.
When you are dealt a pair you have the option of splitting these & forming two separate hands, both initially with just the one card. To do this you need to add an additional and equal stake for the additional hand created. You then play both these hands separately & in turn from right to left, not moving to the second hand until you have finished talking all the cards you need on the first.
Each separate hand plays just the same as the first hand meaning you may get the opportunity to double or even split again from one or more of the hands.
Some casinos may vary the rules on how many times you can re-split if the opportunity presents itself. This can be limited to 3 splits (leaving 4 hands). In addition for Aces the rules are be different.
When you split aces you are often allowed only one card on it, if you get a 10 this does not count as a blackjack, just 21, and if you draw an Ace on a split Ace you may not be allowed to split again.
The restrictions are due to the fact that splitting Aces is a very good move for you hence casinos like to restrict it. If a casino has looser rules here then this is to your advantage.
The full details of when to split are in a separate table in the strategy guide.
Insurance 
When the dealers visible card is an ace he will offer you the opportunity to insure against a blackjack. This is done by you placing a side bet on the dealer getting a blackjack. You can bet up to half you stake on the table and the payout is 2 to 1 if the dealer gets a blackjack (but your original bet loses of course). If the dealer doesn’t get a blackjack you lose that bet, but your original bet and hand are obviously in better shape.
Because the odds paid are 2 to 1 but the chance of a blackjack is 4 in 13 (4 ten cards out of 13 possible cards) then this is a poor bet & should NEVER be taken in an online blackjack environment where there is no card counting.
Another variation on this is where the dealer has an Ace and you already have a blackjack. You therefore know that if the dealer also gets a blackjack you will “push”, otherwise you will win 1.5 times your stake. The dealer can offer you “even money”, i.e. to pay your blackjack at just 1 times your stake now, irrespective of whether the dealer gets the blackjack. While it sounds different the odds are the same as the insurance bet & you should never take the even money.
More advice on hand choices and best plays in our Blackjack Tips and Strategy article.
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