The goal of blackjack is to aquire cards so that the total value equals 21 or as close to 21 without going over 21. You may play alone against the dealer or with others who will also play against the dealer. You are all individuals and the money you bet does not affect the money that another person bets. You will place your initial bet in front of you prior to a round of cards being dealt. The dealer will then give ever paying player 2 cards going around the table in a clockwise direction. The dealer will also give himself 2 cards and one of these will be placed face up. Kings, Queens, Jacks, and 10’s are all valued at ten points while the remaining cards are at their numberd value. An Ace may be valued at either 1 or 11 at the players discretion.
I’ve got BlackJack

Blackjack occurs when a player holds an Ace and another face card worth 10 points. This is generally a winning hand but if te dealer also has blackjack ther will be what is referred to as a push where no money is won or lost. Winning with BlackJack pays out at the rate of 3:2
Hittin and Standin

When you want another card you are requesting a hit. This can often be conveyed to the dealer by tapping the table or a distinct nod. Be very clear in your communication as once a card is dealt if cannot be placed back into the deck. You’re generally going to want to take as many cards as safely possible while trying to get to 21 or close to 21. Once you feel you can no longer accept any more cards you are choosing to stand which may be conveyed to the dealer by shaking your head ‘no’ or waving your hand in a blocking fashion over your cards. Should your cards total more than 21, you’ve gone bust and lost your bet to the dealer.
Going Down with the Double Down

If your first two cards are a pair you have the option ot splitting them by offering a duplicate bet. You’ll then be dealt a matching card for each part of the pair and you’ll play these hands in a separate manner. If your pair are Aces you will only have the ability to accept one card each. Any Aces received after you’ve split the original pair cannot be counted towards an official BlackJack.
I Give Up

Depending upon the locale, you may have the option to surrender. This can be done after viewing your first two cards and allos you to pull back half of your original bet for not playing your hand.

Aides to US Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist said on September 5th that he is still trying to find a way to pass a bill to outlaw most forms of Internet gambling in the USA. But he offered no guarantee a deal could be struck before lawmakers recess at the end of September.

Frist would like to bring up the bill under unanimous consent, a process by which leaders from both parties agree to bring a bill to a vote on the Senate floor, the aides told reporters.

Outwardly there has been little movement on the bill. A similar version has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives. But efforts to move the Senate bill ran into opposition earlier in the summer from lobbyists representing casino owners and horse- and dog-racing interests.

The bill would prohibit most forms of Internet gambling (oddly enough except for horseracing and lotteries). It would make it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make payments to online gambling sites.

Supporters of a crackdown on Internet gambling say legislation is needed to clarify that a 1961 federal law banning interstate telephone betting also covers an array of online gambling.

Investors in British-based gaming companies such as BETonSPORTS Plc, Partygaming Plc and 888 Holdings Plc are closely watching the U.S. legislation.

The Republican-backed measure has been criticized by some as an election-year appeal to the party’s conservative base. Frist, of Tennessee, is widely seen as a potential presidential candidate. Last week, Frist appeared at a congressional field hearing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa — the state that holds the first presidential nominating contest in 2008 — to hear concerns about Internet gambling. However, congressional aides have said some Republican senators have placed holds on the bill, and that Democratic senators may eventually do so as well depending on how talks proceed. Any member of the Senate may place a secret “hold” on legislation, which prevents it from being brought up for a vote until concerns about the measure are resolved.

Please see related Current Affairs Article- Preserve Online Poker for US Players at http://www.pokerpages.com/articles/archives/current-affairs-0002.htm