Blackjack Rules

The Basics The object of Blackjack is to accumulate cards with point totals as close as possible to 21 without going over 21. Face cards (Jacks, Queens & Kings) are worth 10 points. Aces are worth 1 or 11, whichever gives you the highest score without breaking 21. Other cards are represented by their number. If a player and the House tie, it is a PUSH and neither party wins. Ace & 10 (Blackjack) on the first two cards dealt is an automatic player win at 1.5 to 1, unless the house ties. A player may stand at any time. Playing Blackjack To win, you need to beat the dealer without "BUSTING." You "BUST" when your cards come to a total of more than 21, causing you to lose automatically. The winner is whoever has closest to a total of 21. You reach 21 by adding up the values of the cards. The Blackjack table seats about 6 players. Either six or eight decks of cards are used and are shuffled together by the dealer and placed in a card dispensing box referred to as a "Shoe". Before receiving *any* cards, players must place a wager. Then the players are dealt two cards face up. The dealer gets one face up, one face down. Each player, in turn, either stays or takes more cards in an effort to get closer to 21 without busting. Players who do not bust wait for the dealer's turn. When all the players are done, the dealer turns up their down card. By rule, on counts of 17 or higher the dealer must stand; on counts of 16 or lower the dealer must draw. If you make a total of 21 with the first two cards (a 10 or a face card and an Ace), you win automatically. This is called "Blackjack." If you have Blackjack, you will win one and a half times your bet unless the dealer also has Blackjack, in which case it is a Push or a Tie (or a Stand-off) and you get your bet back. The remaining players with a higher count than the dealer win an amount equal to their bet. Players with a lower count than the dealer lose their bet. If the dealer busts, all the remaining players win. There are other betting options, listed below: Insurance: side bet up to half the initial bet against the dealer having a natural 21 - allowed only when the dealer's showing card is an Ace. If the dealer has a 10 face down and makes a Blackjack, insurance pays at 2-1 odds. Surrender: by giving up your hand, you lose only half your bet. Early Surrender: surrender allowed before the dealer checks for Blackjack. Late Surrender: the dealer first checks to see if he has Blackjack. If he does, surrender is not permitted. Double Down: you get to double your initial bet following the initial two-card deal, but you can hit one card only. A good bet if the player is in a strong situation. Even Money: cashing in your bet immediately at a 1:1 payout ratio when you are dealt a natural Blackjack and the dealer's showing card is an Ace. Split Hand: you get to split the initial two cards you are dealt into two hands and play them separately; this is allowed only when the two first cards are of equal value. Use each card as the start to a separate hand and place a second bet equal to the first. House advantage (approximate, varies with different rules) Without a basic strategy, 7% average. With basic strategy 0.5% or less. (Card counting can reverse the advantage up to 1% to the player.) Some Blackjack variations Using a different number of decks: all other conditions being the same, as a general rule the fewer the decks, the better for the player. Allowing the dealer to hit a soft 17: a *definite* disadvantage to the player; it gives the dealer a chance to improve his/her hand. Allowing a double down after splitting pairs: can be advantageous to the player if used wisely. Allowing re-splitting of Aces: a clear advantage to the player. No Dealer Hole Card: COMMON on cruise ships, this variation is a serious disadvantage to the player. The dealer does not deal himself a second card until the players have played and they can lose the doubles and splits. Las Vegas and Atlantic City variants Las Vegas Blackjack: Las Vegas games are played with two decks and the House must hit on hands less than soft 17 (17 involving an Ace) and must stand on hands of 17 or greater. Atlantic City Blackjack: Atlantic City games are played with four decks and the House must hit on 16 and stand all 17's. Back To The Top Blackjack * Rules of the Game . BacK to Listing . Betting Strategies .