Blackjack
is one of the most popular casino games. The object of the game is to
draw cards totaling closer to 21 than the Dealer draws without going over 21.
The cards are dealt clockwise from a dealing "shoe." Each
Player is dealt two cards, face up; the Dealer takes two cards, one face up
(up card) and one face down (hole card). Cards 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
count at face value. Picture cards (Jack, Queen, King) count as ten.
Aces count as one or eleven, whichever is to the Player's advantage, e.g., Ace
+ 8 = 9, or Ace + 8 = 19.
If
you receive an Ace and a Ten value card as your first two cards, you have
Blackjack. The Dealer will announce Blackjack, pay you one and one-half
times the bet, then remove those cards before acting on any other hands.
However, if the Dealers face up card is an Ace or Ten value card, he will act
on all hands. If he hasBlackjack, the hand will be a Push (Standoff).
You neither win nor lose. If the Dealer makes 21 with 3 or more cards, the
Players Blackjack wins.
If
you do not have Blackjack on your first two cards, you may decide to stand
(draw no more cards), or hit (draw more cards) until you decide to stand.
If your card count goes over 21, you lose. In the event that the Dealer has
Blackjack, a Players 21 will lose. The Dealer must always hit on 16 and stand
on 17. If the Dealer goes over 21, he must pay all hands remaining on the
table. Hand signals are used by the Player to signal a hit or stand. The
Player may not handle, remove, or alter any cards used in the game of
Blackjack. The Dealer will call out the point totals, but it is also the
Players responsibility to check the totals.
DOUBLING
DOWN
After
you are dealt your first two cards, unless you have a point total of 21, you
may decide to double down. In this case, you can increase your bet by an
amount up to your original bet. You will then be dealt only one more
card.
SPLITTING
PAIRS
If
your first two cards have the same point value, (10, Jack, Queen, King
they do not have to be matched pairs), you may split them and form two
separate hands by wagering an amount equal to the original bet. Each hand will
be played and completed in turn. You may draw as many cards as you wish
on each split hand, with the exception of splitting Aces. If you split
Aces, only one card will be dealt to each Ace. You may double down on split
hands. You may split pairs twice (for a total of three hands) on a seven
player table and split pairs three times (for a total number of four hands) on
a six player table. If you split Aces, only one card will be dealt to
each Ace. If a Ten value card is dealt to either Ace, the hand is
counted as 21, not Blackjack.
INSURANCE
If
the Dealers up card is an Ace, he will announce insurance. You may make
an insurance bet before any other Player receives a third card. This involves
placing a separate bet, of up to one-half of your original bet, in front of
your original bet. The insurance bet is entirely separate from the original
bet. If the Dealer has Blackjack, you will be paid two to one on the insurance
bet. If the Dealer does not have Blackjack, you will lose the insurance
bet.
BLACKJACK
In
the event that the Dealer has Blackjack, the Player can only lose his original
wager; split and double down bets are returned to the Player. In the event
that the Player has Blackjack and the Dealer does not have an Ace or Ten value
card as the first face up card, the Dealer shall pay the Player's Blackjack
wager at odds of 3 to 2 and remove the Player's cards prior to any Players
receiving a third card. If the Dealers face up card is an Ace or Ten
value card, all Players hands shall be acted upon.
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