Blackjack

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! | Rules |Tips | You Win! | Blackjack Terms and Lingo

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.

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.

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

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

Blackjack Terms and Lingo

Term	Definition
Bust	A hand in blackjack that goes over twenty-one. 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.