Blackjack

The following is a description of our standard 3-hand blackjack game. Number of decks and availability of betting options (Surrender, Double, Split, Insurance) may vary for other blackjack games.

The basic object of Blackjack is to score as close to 21pts in a hand without going over (bust). Cards are scored by face value, with all face cards scoring 10pts, and Aces may count as either 11pts or 1pt. A two card hand scoring 21pts — an Ace with any 10-value card — is called a Blackjack, and pays 3:2.

The game is played with 6 decks of standard poker cards (52 cards each, no jokers nor wildcards). Player may play up to 3 hands at once. An ante wager is placed in the betting circle for each hand. Each hand is dealt two cards, player hands face up, dealer's first card is face down (hole card) and the second card face up.

The player may take one of the following actions on each hand dealt: hit, stand, double or surrender. If both cards are of the same value, the player may also split.

Hit: Hit to receive an additional card to improve your score, closer to 21pts. If you exceed 21pts you are BUST, and your hand is removed. If you have less than 21pts you may hit again, or Stand.

Stand: To stand is to accept your hand as it is. The actual object of Blackjack is not to get 21pts, but to beat the dealer. Therefore depending on the score of your hand, and the card the dealer is showing, you may prefer your hand versus risking going bust to improve.

Double: To double, you must place an additional wager equal to your ante. You receive only one additional card (you may not continue to hit), but you stand to win twice as much. This is typically done when you are dealt a hand that scores 11, as any 10-value card will improve your hand to 21, and you cannot go bust.

Surrender: If you dislike your hand, you may surrender it and receive half your ante back. Note, you cannot surrender a hand after you hit.

Split: If a hand is dealt two cards with the same face value, you may "split" them. To split, you must place an additional ante wager of equal amount for the second hand formed by the split. The two cards are seperated into two hands. The first hand is dealt a second card, and you have the option to hit, stand, or split again if is again the same face value. You may resplit up to 4 times (each time placing an equal ante wager). You may not double after splitting. When the first hand is stood, a second card is dealt to the second hand, and so forth.

Dealer Blackjack: After the cards are dealt, prior to any player actions, if the dealer has a 10-value card face up, he first checks his hole card for an Ace. If it is an Ace, the dealer has Blackjack and play ends. If the dealer has an Ace card face up, each player is offered the option of insurance against Blackjack. After each player accepts or declines insurance, the hole card is checked. If the dealer has Blackjack, play ends. Otherwise play begins from the hand on the right and progresses to the left, and ends with the dealer.

Insurance: When insurance is offered, you may place a wager equal to half your ante that the dealer does have Blackjack. If the dealer has Blackjack, the insurance pays 2:1. If the dealer does not have Blackjack, the insurance wager is lost and play resumes.

Player Blackjack: If the dealer did not have Blackjack, all player Blackjacks are paid 3:2 before play begins on any other player hands. If the dealer did have Blackjack, player Blackjack's push.

Dealer Hand: Once all player hands have been stood or busted, the dealer now plays if necessary (player has unbusted hands). Unlike the player, the dealer has no options but instead must play by specific rules that are independent of the player's hands. If the dealer has a total less than 17, the dealer is required to hit. If the dealer has a total more of 17 or more, the dealer must stand. In some game variations the dealer must hit on a soft 17 — that is a hand that totals 17 using an Ace valued as an 11.

Resolution: If the dealer busts, all player hands are paid. If the dealer stands, player hands higher than the dealer's win, equal to push, and lesser than lose.

Game information provided is meant to provide a concise and quick overview, it is not meant to convey the game rules in their entirety.

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