Blackjack Rules
The Object of the Game
The object is to achieve a higher card count than the
croupier without exceeding a count of 21.
How to Play the Game
Bets are placed on the blackjack table in the rectangle immediately in front of
you. Each bet must be made in accordance with the minimum and maximum table
limits, which vary from table to table. Players must place and confirm their
bets before the end of the betting period, which ends when the croupier
announces "No more bets."
The Play
Beginning on the croupier's left, a card is dealt face up to each player in turn
with the croupier being last in rotation. A second card is then dealt in the
same manner, face up to each player; the croupier does not get a second card
yet.
Once all initial cards are dealt, each player gets a turn to improve their counts. The order of the turns is the same as the order the cards were dealt. During your turn, you have the option of standing or hitting (drawing) one or more cards to improve your count. Once you stand, your turn is over. If you exceed a count of 21, this is called a bust, and you lose your bet immediately; otherwise, your bet remains unresolved. If your initial count (with two cards) is 21, this is called a blackjack. You are not allowed to draw to (hit on) a blackjack. If there is no possibility that the croupier also has a blackjack (that is, the croupier's card is neither a face card, a Ten, nor an Ace), then you win your bet immediately upon the start of your turn, and your bet is paid off at 3 to 2. If there is a possibility that the croupier also has a blackjack, the resolution of your bet is delayed until the croupier's final count is established.
After all players have had a turn, the croupier takes a second card, then stands or draws as appropriate, according to the house strategy. If the croupier exceeds a count of 21, she busts, and all unresolved bets are winners. If she stands without busting, each player's count is then compared to the croupier's. If your count is closer to 21 than the croupier's, you win. If the croupier's is closer, you lose. If you and the croupier tie, the bet is a push (or standoff), which means you neither win your bet nor lose it. Once all bets have been resolved, the croupier announces the beginning of the next betting period.
The Cards
Face cards (Jacks, Queens, and Kings) are worth 10, while Aces are worth 1 or
11. After a player has stood, a hand containing one or more Aces is considered
to be at its highest possible value without exceeding 21.
Player
Options
After the first two cards are dealt, each player gets an opportunity to improve
their counts. They may also alter their wagers in the following ways:
Splitting Pairs
Pairs, two cards of equal rank, may be split into two separate hands, each with
a bet equal to the original bet amount. If you split your hand, the first
subhand is dealt a second card, and you are permitted to stand or hit one or
more cards to improve the count. Once you stand on your first subhand, your
second subhand is dealt a second card, and you are then permitted to stand or
hit on that hand.
Split Aces are an exceptional case. When you split a pair of Aces, each subhand receives exactly one additional card with no option to you to hit. Further, a count of 21 with the two cards in a subhand of split Aces is not considered a Blackjack, and will lose to a croupier's Blackjack.
Subhands may not be resplit.
Doubling Down
After the first two cards are dealt, you have the option to double down, which
means you wager an additional amount equal to your original bet and receive
exactly one more card on that hand. You may also double down after splitting a
pair, except in the case of splitting Aces (because split Aces are only
permitted a second card).
Insurance
If the croupier's up card is an Ace, you may obtain insurance, which is a wager
of a sum equal to one half of your original bet. If the croupier draws a
Blackjack, the insurance pays two to one. If the croupier fails to draw a
Blackjack, you lose your insurance. You may obtain insurance even if you have
blackjack.
Pair Bet
A Pairs bet wins if the 1st two cards dealt to a blackjack hand are a pair and
it loses if they are not a pair. Pair bet amount can not over 10% of table max
limit.There are 3 different types of pairs: - a Mixed Pair(6 to 1), a Coloured
Pair(12 to 1) and a Perfect Pair(25 to 1) and the payout odds vary accordingly.A
Pairs bet is made prior to the initial deal and must be supported by a regular
blackjack bet on the same betting box.
The House
Strategy
Unlike the players, the house has no choice in whether it hits or stands on its
hand. The house must:
A soft hand is a hand in which an Ace may be counted as either 1 or 11 without the count exceeding 21. A hard hand is a hand in which all Aces may only be counted as 1 each to avoid the count exceeding 21.
Payouts
A Blackjack, a two-card 21 not arising on a split, is paid at three to two as
long as the croupier does not also have a Blackjack. If both you and the
croupier have a Blackjack, the bet is a push. A Blackjack beats any
three-or-more-card 21.
All other winning bets are paid at one to one.
A croupier/player tie is a push, and neither wins nor loses.
You bust and lose your bet with a card count exceeding 21.