Blackjack rules

The basics

The object of the game of Blackjack is to accumulate cards with total points that are as close to 21 as possible without going over 21. Face cards (Kings Jacks and Queens) are worth 10 points. Aces are worth either 1 or 11, whichever is preferable. Other cards' worth is represented by their number.

 If the player and the House are at a tie, it is called a "Push" and neither wins. Ace and 10 (Blackjack) on the first two cards dealt is automatically a player's win at 1.5 to 1, unless the house ties. A player may stand at any time given.

Playing Blackjack

To win you are required to beat the dealer without busting. You bust when your cards total more than 21, in which case you lose automatically. The winner is whoever is closest to a total of 21. You reach 21 by accumulating up the values of the cards.

The Blackjack table seats about 6 players. Either six or eight decks of cards are used. They are then shuffled together by the dealer and placed in a card dispensing box called "Shoe".

Before obtaining any cards, players must place a wager. The players are then dealt two cards with their faces up. The dealer gets one faced up, one faced down. Each player, in turn, either stays or takes additional cards in order to try and 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 the faced down card. By rule, on counts of 17 or higher the dealer must stay; 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 and an Ace), you win automatically. This is called 'Blackjack'. If you have Blackjack, you will win one and one-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 who possess a higher count than the dealer win an amount equal to their bet. The players with a lower count than the dealer lose their bet. In case the dealer busts, all the remaining players win the game. There are other betting options, namely Double Down, Surrender, Split, Even Money and Insurance.

• Insurance: Side bet of up to half the initial bet against the dealer having a natural 21 - only allowed when the dealer's showing card is an Ace. If the dealer has a 10 faced down and makes a Blackjack, insurance will pay at 2-1 odds, but will lose if the dealer does not.
• Surrender: Giving up your hand and losing only half the bet.
• Early Surrender: Surrender is permited prior to the dealer checking for Blackjack.
• Late Surrender: The dealer checks first to see whether he possesses a Blackjack. If he does, surrender is not permitted.
• Double Down: Doubling your initial bet following the initial two-card deal, but you can only hit one card. A good bet, in case the player is in a strong situation.
• Even Money: Cashing in your bet immediately at a payout ratio of 1:1 when you are dealt a natural Blackjack and the dealer's showing card is an Ace.
• Split Hand: Split the initial two-card hand into two and play them separately - only allowed when the two initial cards are of an equal value. Use each card as the start to a separate hand and place a second bet with an equal value to the first.
• Hard Hand: A hand without an Ace, or with an Ace valued at 1 is said to be "Hard" in that it can be given only one value, unlike a Soft Hand. (You can value an Ace 1 or 11 to suit you).
• Soft Hand: A hand which consists of an Ace counted as 11 is called a "Soft Hand".

House advantage (approximate, may vary with different rules)
Without 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's chance.

Allowing the dealer to hit a soft 17: a disadvantage to the player. It gives the dealer a chance to improve.

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 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.