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» About
Blackjack is a very popular game that probably
originated in 16th Century France as vingt-et-un (20 and 1),
hence its other name "21". It gained the English
name Blackjack since a player who held the Ace of Spades (i.e.
a Black spade) and the Jack of Spades as the first two cards
would be paid out extra, and the gambler's penchant for easy
rhymes took over (think "chuck-a-luck", "acey-duecy").
The object of the game is to get as close to 21 without going
over ("bust").
» The game
Players will place their wagers in the center of the betting
circle in front of their seat at the table. The dealer will
then deal two cards, face up, to each Player and two to himself,
one face up and one face down.
Our Blackjack is a multi-hand game, meaning you can play
up to 3 hands at the same time. Simply place wagers in the
betting circles to either side of the center seat if you want
to play additional hands. It makes the game much more interesting
and increases your chances of winning.
» Card values
Kings, Queens, Jacks, and 10's each count as 10.
Aces count as 1 or 11, as a player wishes.
All other cards count at their face value (i.e. 2 through
9).
» Scoring
If a Player’s first two cards are an Ace and a 10 value
card, the Player has Blackjack and will be paid one and one-half
times the wager (3-to-2), unless the Dealer also has Blackjack
– in which case it’s a push (bet neither paid nor
taken). All other winning hands are paid even money (1-to-1).
A Blackjack will beat a point total of "21". For
example, an Ace and a 10-value card will beat a 10, 5, 6 hand.
Even though both hands total 21 points, the Blackjack wins.
The Player not having Blackjack may continue to draw cards
attempting to total as close to 21 as possible without exceeding
21. He is free to stand at any point total or to ask for another
card (a “hit”) at any point total under 21. If the
Player goes over 21, he busts and loses his wager.
Dealer must hit on all totals of 16 or less. Dealer must
stand on all totals of 17 or more.
» Blackjack Terminology
BET
Place a number of chips in the betting circle as a wager.
RE-BET
Place the same number of chips in the betting circle as you
did for the previous hand.
DEAL
Play a hand of Blackjack for the wager placed in the betting
circle.
HIT
Request an additional card from the deck.
STAND
Take no additional cards.
SPLIT
The Player will match the original wager and split the first
two cards into two separate hands. The two cards must be of
the same point value (for example: a pair of 8's, a King and
a Queen, etc.) For split hands, an Ace and ten-point card
equal to "21" and not Blackjack – in other
words, they don’t pay 3-to-2, but they will beat a Dealer
hand that has 20 points or less. Also, after splitting a pair
of Aces, the Player will draw only one card per Ace.
DOUBLE
The “DOUBLE” button will become active after the
first two cards have been dealt to each hand. Players who
feel confident that they are going to win this hand can “Double
Down” to earn twice as much if they do win. Their original
bet amount will be doubled automatically and they will receive
exactly one additional card. Double Down wagering is not permitted
on a Blackjack hand because you would automatically bust when
you received the additional card.
INSURE
When the dealer's up card is an Ace, all Players have an opportunity
to buy "insurance", an additional amount equal to
half of that Player's original wager, before any further play
begins. A Player may purchase insurance when he/she believes
that the dealer's down card is a ten value card. If the Dealer
has Blackjack, the insurance wager pays 2-to-1. If the dealer
does not have Blackjack, the insurance wager loses and the
game continues as usual.
PASS
Do not accept the insurance offered on this hand. If "PASS"
and the Dealer has Blackjack, the player loses his original
wager and play ends for this hand (unless Player also has
Blackjack, in which case it's a push). If Dealer does not
have Blackjack, play for this hand continues as normal.
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