This is how a casino blackjack table appears from the top:
The large circles represent the seats, which can accommodate one to seven players. The small rectangles represent the marked areas on the table where players place their bets. There is usually a limit sign posted on the table, which states the minimum and maximum bets allowed. Table minimums may run from $1 to $100, and maximums may run from $25 to $10,000. $5 minimum tables are most common, and some states, such as Colorado, have $5 maximums. Some casinos, but not all, also post the rule variations for their games on the table.

SOFT HAND:
Any hand in which an ace can be counted as 11, without busting, is a soft hand.

Example: You hold an ace and a 7, totaling a soft 18. Another example: You hold an ace, a 9, and an 8, which is a hard 18. In this case, if you counted the ace as 11, your total would be 28, a bust. It's important that you be able to read your hand's total value, hard or soft, quickly and effortlessly. When you begin to learn winning strategies, you'll find that hard and soft hands require different decisions. (Remember, any hand with no aces is always considered a hard hand.)

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