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 going over 21.

Let's Play! | Rules |Tips | You Win! | Blackjack Terms and Lingo

back to the topLet's Play!

You may play up to three hands at once.

To play Blackjack:

  1. Select a chip value of either $1, $5, $10, $25, or $100.
  2. Click the betting circle until the number of chips displayed equals the amount you wish to bet.
  3. 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.
  4. Click Deal.
    You and the dealer are each dealt two cards. Your cards are dealt face up. Only the dealer’s second card is dealt face up. If the dealer is dealt an ace face-up, you may buy insurance.
  5. Review your cards and then do one of the following:
    • Click Hit to have another card dealt to you.
    • Click Stand if you are satisfied with your hand and your wager.
    • Click Double if you are satisfied with your hand and wish to double your initial wager.
    • Click Split if you receive two cards of equal value and wish to split them into two new hands of one card each.

      After your betting decisions are made, the dealer plays out the round and calculates any winnings.
  1. To play another round, click Click to Continue.

To repeat your bet, click Repeat Bet.

back to the topRules

Blackjack uses a six deck shoe that is reshuffled after every hand.

If your hand is greater than the dealer’s, without going over 21, you win.

The face cards—jack, queen and king—all have a value of 10, aces have a value of 1 or 11, and the remaining cards are worth their face value.

If your hand exceeds 21, you bust and automatically lose. If you have the same card total as the dealer, there is no winner and your wager is returned. This is known as a push.

The dealer stands on 17 and above and draws on 16 and below.

If the dealer’s face-up card is an ace, you can buy insurance.

back to the topTips

The following are some Blackjack betting tips.

 

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

back to the topYou Win!

If you are dealt an ace and a card with a value of 10, you have Blackjack (21). The payout is 3:2.

For all other hands that beat the dealer’s hand, the payout is 1:1.

If you split and are dealt Blackjack (21), the payout is 1:1.

If the dealer is dealt a hand equal to yours, including Blackjack, it is a push. Your wager is returned to you.

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

 

back to the topBlackjack Terms and Lingo

Term Definition
Blackjack A two-card hand of 21 points.
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 three cards when doubling. This is 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. This is also known as the 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

If a dealer is dealt an ace face up, you may buy insurance. You are buying insurance against the dealer's odds of having blackjack. Insurance is a side bet that equals half your original wager.

If the dealer is dealt an ace face up and has blackjack, it is an automatic loss and the round ends. If you have placed an insurance bet, you are paid back at odds of 2:1. This payment equals your original bet.

If you have placed an insure bet and the dealer does not have blackjack, you lose your insurance bet, but retain your original wager and continue to play.

Natural A two-card hand of 21 points. This is known as blackjack.
Push A tie hand between you and the dealer. A push occurs when you and the dealer have unbusted hands with the same points total.
Soft hand Any hand that contains an ace that can be counted as 11. For example, an ace and a 6 is known as 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 new hand can then be played out in turn.

You may only split a hand once. The wager placed on each new hand is equal to the original bet. You may double down on one or both of your new hands. When aces are split, only one card is dealt to each new hand. A split hand resulting in blackjack pays out at 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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