The Object of the Game

In Blackjack, the dealer is your only opponent. Your goal is to reach a card value closer to 21 than the dealer's card value, without going over 21.

The Value of the Cards

Numbered cards are worth their face value.
Jacks, Queens and Kings are worth 10.
Aces are worth 1 or 11, depending on which is best for you.

Playing the Game

You place a bet. The dealer deals the cards. Two to you and one for him. These cards are dealt face up and open to view. The dealer deals himself a second card, face down, called the "hole." This is the mysterious card that makes the game a challenge.

You must decide if you want to "hit" or "stand," or "stay." If you hit, the dealer deals you another card, and you must again decide to hit or stand. You will usually want to hit until you are close to that cherished 21 total, unless you bust by hitting too many times. When you reach a satisfactory card value, you "stand", passing your turn to the dealer. The rule for the dealer is to keep taking cards until he has 17 or more.

Remember that there is a "soft 17" and a "hard 17". The dealer stands on a soft 17 (in other words if he holds an Ace and a 6).

The colors or suits of the cards are not important.

Blackjack

If you draw an Ace and a ten-count card, you have what's called a "natural", or Blackjack. And you win automatically, unless the dealer also has blackjack, which makes it a tie (push).

Game Options

• Stand- you choose this if you stand or stay with the cards you have.

• Hit- You opt to have the Dealer give you another card.

• Bust- You opt to have the Dealer give you another card.

• Double- If you choose, you can take only one hit and still double the amount of their bet. This option may vary in the way it is offered. Some tables may allow you to double on any two cards and some allow it only on a combination that equals 9, 10 or 11. Some tables may even offer a late double that can be played a fter the player already has 3 cards.

• Split- If you have two cards of equal value, you can choose to split the cards into two hands by doubling the amount of your bet. In a case like this, Blackjack is not recognized. Some tables will allow you to split multiple times.

• Insurance- If the dealer has an Ace as a face up card, you have the option of purchasing "Insurance" against the dealer's Blackjack. This kind of Insurance usually 2:1 and this is indicated on the table graphics. Insurance is similar to a side bet on the Dealer having Blackjack. If the Dealer does have Blackjack, your Insurance bet is a winner.

• Even Money- You can use the Even money feature when you are dealt a Blackjack and the dealer has an Ace as a face up card. You can take an Even Money payout of 1:1 instead of the usual 1.5:1 to avoid the risk of a Dealer Blackjack, which would be a push.

• Surrender- If you are unhappy with your first 2 cards, and you feel that the Dealer has a much better chance of winning than you do, you can surrender and only lose half your bet amount.

• Push- When your hand total is the same as the hand total the dealer has, this is called a push. In this case, you get your bet amount back.

• Doubling Down- This is a very exciting way to increase your win. After you have drawn two cards, you can double your bet, but only draw one more additional card. You may win a lot more, but you are limiting the number of hits to just one more. Most casinos only allow you to double down if the value of the two cards that you hold is 9, 10 or 11.

• Splitting Pairs- If you get two eights for example, you are allowed to split this "pair" into two separate hands and play them as two games, by placing another bet equal to your original bet. Some casinos even allow you to "re-split" if you get another card of the same value.

Splitting Aces is a special case. You can only draw one more card on each hand, and if you reach 21, it is NOT considered Blackjack. So you will collect as a normal win.