Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the most common games found around the world and is famous for being the game with the lowest house%, if the player knows how to play properly. While there is an element of luck involved, it is also a game of skill as, in certain situations, players decide whether to receive cards or not and also to make other decisions which can affect the result. All players play against the dealer.

Card Values

2 – 10 are face value, while Jack, Queen & King value is ‘10’. Ace can be counted as 1 or 11, depending on the other card(s) in the hand as well as the decision of the player and the dealer’s drawing rules.

Useful Terms

Blackjack

Blackjack is the best hand and consists of any ace and any ten-valued card in the initial two-card hand. When a Blackjack appears, whether for the Player or for the House, no other cards are drawn to that hand. Blackjack is an automatic winner, except against another Blackjack, which is a tie i.e. ‘push’ or ‘stand-off’.

Bust / Too Many

If drawing additional cards by either the Player or the House results in a card total exceeding 21, that hand has ‘too many’ and is considered to have ‘bust’. A bust Player hand loses automatically. If the Dealer busts, all remaining Players will 

Double

On any two-card hand, the Player may choose to ‘double’ their bet, thus allowing the Player the opportunity to win double. If the Player decides to ‘double’, they shall place an additional bet equal to and alongside their initial bet. One card only will be dealt automatically to that Player’s hand and the total announced.

Hit/Stand

Each Player shall decide whether to ‘hit’ i.e. draw an additional card(s), or to ‘stand’ i.e.  maintain their current hand. The House shall ‘hit’ to a total of 16 (soft or hard) and Stand on 17 or more.

 Insurance

If the exposed House card is an Ace, the Player will be offered the opportunity to buy Insurance i.e. bet that the Dealer will get a Blackjack. If the House obtains Blackjack, the insurance bet will win at payout odds of 2-1. If the House does not have Blackjack, the Insurance loses.

Surrender

After receiving their initial two cards, if the Player feels their hand is not strong and will probably lose, they may choose to ‘surrender’. In such case, the Player will lose half of their bet before any further cards have been drawn. Surrender cannot be taken against a Dealer’s ace.

Split

On any two-card hand, where both cards are the same value, the Player may decide to ‘split’ i.e. form an additional hand. Players can ‘split’ it into 2 different hands and the amount of bet to be placed in the new hand shall be the same with the original bet. The Dealer shall deal a second card to the first of the ‘split’ hands and shall complete the Player’s decision in respect of that hand before proceeding to deal a second and any further cards to the second ‘split’ card. If the second card to a split card is of the same value again, the Player may ‘split’ again, up to a total of three (3) hands.

For an Ace pair ‘split’, Players will receive only one (1) card to each Ace and may not split again.

Twenty-One

This is the next best hand after a Blackjack. A hand consisting of three (3) or more cards totaling 21. The next best hand to a Blackjack.

Pairs

‘Pairs’ is an optional side bet the Player may wager on the result of their first two cards being the same face value or same court cards (Jack, Queen, King).

Soft/Hard Total

Hands containing an Ace (not Blackjack) may have two (2) totals, except when the hand totals eleven (11), then it shall be automatically twenty-one (21) e.g. Ace & 5 = 6 or 16. The Player may choose which total they wish and ‘hit’ or ‘stand’ the hand. A soft hand cannot ‘bust’.

Hard totals cannot be counted as two (2) totals i.e. contains no Aces or, if an Ace, the total has already exceeded eleven (11).

 

Rules of the Game

The players place their wager in the designated betting box. Once all players have placed their wagers, the dealer initially deals two cards to each player and one card to the ‘house’. All cards are dealt face-up. Moving around the table, the dealer will act on each hand where the player will make a decision i.e. surrender, hit, stand, double or split. i.e. draw extra cards to improve their total and chances of winning or take no more cards (stand). If the player’s cards exceed 21, they automatically lose. Once all players have acted on their hand, the dealer shall complete their hand, then pay or take the player’s bets according to their card total. To win, the player’s total (without exceeding 21) must be greater than the dealer’s total.

• If the player’s total is the same as the dealer’s, it is a ‘stand-off’ i.e. the player’s hand does not win or lose.
• If the player’s total is over 21, it is a ‘bust’ and the player’s hand loses.
• If the dealer’s total is over 21, it is a ‘bust’ and the player’s hand wins.
• If the dealer’s total is 16 (soft or hard) or less, the dealer draws a card.
• If the dealer’s total is 17 (soft or hard) or more, the dealer stands.
• If the player’s total is 21 (soft or hard), the player cannot take another card.
• Players may ‘stand’ on any total.
• If the player receives a Blackjack, they shall be paid immediately after all Players have received their second card, except where the dealer has an Ace or 10-value card i.e. may also achieve a Blackjack. If the dealer does achieve Blackjack, the player’s Blackjack shall be a stand-off and all other wagers shall lose.

Payouts

Winning hands are paid 1 – 1, winning Blackjacks pay 3 – 2, winning Pairs pay 11 – 1.