The Aim of Blackjack

The basic premise of Blackjack is that you want to have a hand value of 21 or one that is closer to 21 than that of the dealer, without going over 21. Your hand is strictly played out against the hand of the dealer.

Crazy 21 is a version of Blackjack played with a "shoe" containing 8 decks of cards. The advantage for beginners in this game is that all of the player's cards are dealt face-up in front of each player, and the dealer can help with playing questions and decisions.

The Value of the Cards

• A card from 2 to 10 has its face value
• A jack, queen, or king has a value of 10.
• An ace may have a value of either 1 or 11 unless a value of 11 would give a player or the dealer a score in excess of 21, in which case it has a value of one.

The Player's Choices

• Ante Bet - A basic bet before the cards are dealt.
• Pairs - A side bet in Pairs before the cards are dealt. If 2 cards of the same value are dealt ie JJ, this bet pays the players odds of 11 to 1.
• Hit - The option to take another card.
• Stand - The option to take no more cards.
• Insurance - A side bet to wager up to half the initial bet against the dealer having a natural 21. This bet is 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, but loses if the dealer does not.
• Surrender - The option to give up your hand and lose only half the bet.
• Double Down - The option to double your initial bet following the initial two-card deal, but you can hit one more card only.
• 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.

The House Rule

The dealer always complies with the house rule to select Hit or Stand in anytime. Crazy 21 adopts the rule that the dealer must stand on 17 (hard and soft) and draw to 16.

Summarised Game Rules

Play begins with every player making a bet. Each player is then dealt with 2 face-up cards. Dealer deals herself with 1 face-up card. After seeing the face-up cards, each player, may "Stand" to take no more cards or "Hit" to take another card. After all players have made their decisions, common cards will be dealt:

1. For players who decide to hit, they would use the common card(s) to match up with their own cards until they decide to "Stand" or "Bust".
2. For players who decided to "Stand", the next common card(s) will be matched up with dealer's card. Dealer will play the hand according to the house rule.

A player may also make an optional side bet on "Pairs", a variation of betting, in addition to their main wager.

Crazy 21/Blackjack Terms

• Blackjack - A blackjack, or natural, is a total of 21 in your first two cards. A blackjack is therefore an Ace and any ten-valued card, with the additional requirement that these be your first two cards. Blackjack pays the player odds of 3 to 2.
• 21 - The sum of more then 2 cards makes a total of 21.
• Bust - Exceeding the hand total of 21.
• Charlie - This is the name of the hand when a player accumulates seven cards without going over 21. A Charlie pays the player odds of 2 to 1.
• Tie - Both player and dealer have the same hand total - player keeps bet.
• Hard Hand - A hand without an Ace, or with an Ace valued at 1 is said to be Hard in that it can only be given one value, unlike a Soft Hand. (You can value an Ace 1 or 11 to suit you).
• Soft Hand - A hand that contains an Ace counted as 11 is called a Soft Hand.

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