Blackjack is the most popular casino card game in the world. The name Blackjack arose when an American casino decided to popularise the game by paying a bonus to any player holding the ace of spades and either the jack of clubs or jack of spades. The object of the game is simple: obtain a total card count higher than that of the dealer without exceeding 21.
Let's Play!
Before receiving any cards, you must place a wager.
- Select a chip value of either $1, $5, $10, $25, or $100.
- Click the betting circle until the number of chips displayed equals the amount you wish to bet.
- To reduce your bet amount, right-click the betting circle to remove chips. Your bet will be reduced by the amount of the currently selected chip.
- Click Deal. You and the dealer will each be dealt two cards. Both of your cards will be face up, but only one of the dealer's cards will be face up.
- Review your cards.
- To receive another card, click Hit.
- If you are satisfied with your hand and wish to double your initial wager, click Double.
- If you receive two cards of equal value and wish to split them into two new hands of one card each, click Split.
- If you are satisfied with your hand and your wager, click Stand.
After you play your first game, you can place your original bet amount again by clicking the "Repeat Bet" button.
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Rules
Blackjack uses a six deck shoe.
The face cards - jack, queen and king, all have a value of 10, aces count as either 1 or 11, and the remaining cards are worth their face
value.
If your hand exceeds 21, you bust and automatically lose the hand. If you have the same card total as the dealer, from 17
and up, no one wins and you get your wager back in a push.
The dealer must stand on 17 and above and draw on 16 and below.
If the dealer's face-up card is an ace, you will be asked if you wish to buy insurance.
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Tips
Here are some tips and advice for playing Blackjack.
Should I hit or stand?
| If the dealer's face-up card is: |
Hit on: |
Stand on: |
| 3, 4, 5, or 6 |
11 and lower
Soft 17 and lower |
12 and higher
Soft 18 and higher |
| 7, 8, 9, 10, or ace |
16 and lower
Soft 17 and lower |
17 and higher
Soft 18 and higher |
Should I split?
| If the dealer's face-up card is: |
Split: |
| 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 | 2s, 3s, 8s, and aces |
| 8, 9, 10, or ace | 8s and aces |
Should I double?
| If your first two cards total: |
Double if the dealer's face-up card is: |
| 11 |
Anything except an ace |
| 10 |
Anything except a 10 or an ace |
| 9 |
2 to 8 |
| 7 or 8 |
3 to 6 |
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You Win!
If you get Blackjack (21), the payout is 3:2. If your hand beats the dealer's hand but does not equal 21, the payout is 1:1.
| Hand |
Who wins? |
|---|
| Dealer busts (hand exceeds 21) |
Player wins |
| Player's hand is closest to 21 |
Player wins |
| Player busts (hand exceeds 21) |
Dealer wins |
| Dealer's hand is closest to 21 |
Dealer wins |
| Hands are equal or a push is achieved |
No loss or gain |
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Blackjack Terms and Lingo
Bust
A hand in blackjack that goes over 21. If you bust you lose.
Double
Allows
you to double your initial wager. The bet is placed after the first two
cards are dealt. Only double your bet when you are reasonably sure you
will only need one more card to win. Your bet will be placed
automatically and you will be dealt one last card. Your hand will
always consist of only three cards when doubling. Also known as
doubling down.
Face-up card
The card in the dealer's hand that is face up for you to see before you play your hand. Also known as open card or up card.
Hard hand
Any hand that does not contain an ace or a hand that contains one or more aces that count as only one point.
Hit
To ask the dealer for another card.
Insurance
A
side bet that equals half of the original wager. Insurance gives you a
chance to protect yourself from the dealer's Blackjack. If the dealer's
card is an ace, there is the possibility of blackjack. When this
happens you will be asked whether you would like to buy insurance. If
you believe the dealer has blackjack, you can buy insurance to protect
yourself. If the dealer gets blackjack, the insurance will pay 2:1,
which equals your original bet. If you have insured yourself and the
dealer does not obtain blackjack, then you lose your insurance but
retain your original wager.
Natural
A two-card hand of 21 points, sometimes referred to as blackjack.
Push
A tie hand between you and the dealer, occurs when you and the dealer have unbusted hands with the same total points.
Soft hand
Any hand that contains an ace that can be counted as 11. For example, an ace and a 6 is called a soft 17.
Split
If
you are dealt two cards of identical value you can split them into two
new hands of one card each. Each hand would then be played out in turn.
You may only split a hand once. The wager placed on each new hand will
be equal to the original bet. You may double down on one or both of the
new hands. When aces are split, only one card will be dealt to each
hand. A split hand resulting in blackjack pays out a ratio of 1:1
rather than the normal 3:2.
Stand
Stand is to be satisfied with your hand and refuse another card.
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