Blackjack

The objective of the game is obtaining a hand value that is closest to 21 and higher than the dealer's hand without going over. Your hand or hands, depending at which table you play in the casino, will play against the total of the dealer's hand.

How to Play

Initially, both the dealer and the player are dealt two cards per hand. Player cards are dealt face up and one dealer card is dealt face up. A Blackjack is when the sum of the first two totals 21. The combination can be any Ace with any card with a value of 10.

Deck

The shoe of cards can consist of any number of decks from 1 to 8, this depends of the rules of the house. The number of decks used at a table affect the odds of house. The more decks the better the odds are for the house. The casino lobby indicates the number of decks used in each game.

Cards Value

In Blackjack, the cards are valued as follows: An Ace can count as either 1 or 11. Cards from 2 through 9 keep their face value. The 10, Jack, Queen, and King are all valued at 10.

The Dealer Hand

The plays that the Dealer makes are defined by a set of table rules that determine his actions. Usually these rules are indicated on the blackjack table. The main guidelines for the Dealer hand are:

      Hit on 16 or less
      Stand on Soft 17
      Stand on Hard 17 or higher

A soft hand is where an Ace is counted as either 1 or 11 without going over 21
A hard hand has no Aces or just one Ace must count as one so that the hand does not go over 21

The Player Hand

After the cards are dealt the player must play his/her hand first. The player can make several choices once his two initial cards are dealt. The player's action would depend on the strategy used by the player to the two initial cards. Some tables will have rules that other tables may not have so it is a good idea for the player to find out which tables in the casino are the ones that suit his or her gambling style. These options are indicated in the casino lobby when choosing a game. The Players hand is over when: A Blackjack comes up, Player chooses to stand or Player busts .

These are the choices a player has after being deal the first two cards:

Stand

The player chooses this option if he/she wishes to stand with the cards they have.

Deal

The dealer gives the player another card.

Double

Player can choose to take only one hit and double the amount of his/her bet. This option may vary in how it is offered. Some tables allow a Double on any two cards and some allow it only when the combination of the initial two cards equals 9, 10 or 11. Some tables may even offer a late double that can be played after the player already has 3 cards. These options if available are indicated in the casino lobby. The double option, if played correctly can be very beneficial for the player.

Split

If the player has two cards of equal value, he/she can choose to split the cards into two hands by doubling the amount of the bet. In a Split blackjack is not recognized. Some tables allow players to split multiple times. As with a Double, if played correctly Splits can increase player odds significantly.

Some games will not allow re-splitting Aces and a lot of games will not allow hitting after splitting Aces. Games that allow you to re-split aces and hit after splitting aces are of big advantage for the player.

Insurance

When the dealer's face up card is an Ace players have the option to purchase Insurance. Insurance generally pays 2:1 and is indicated on the table. Insurance can be understood as a side bet on whether the dealer has blackjack or not. If the dealer has blackjack the insurance bet is a winner.

Even Money

Even Money is sometimes used when a player is dealt a Blackjack and the dealer has a face up Ace. The player can take an Even Money payout of 1:1 instead of the usual 1.5:1 and avoid the risk of the dealer having a blackjack which would result in a push.

Surrender

If the player is unsatisfied with the first 2 cards and feels the dealer has a much better chance then the player can surrender and only lose half the bet amount. Surrender is generally a house favorable option.

Bust

This is when the Player's or Dealer's hand total goes over 21. A Busted hand is automatically a loser.

Push

Push is when the Player's hand equals the total of the Dealer's hand. This is tie and the player receives his/her bet amount back.

Minimum / Maximum Bet

Min bet: displays the minimum bet amount required to play a hand. Max bet: displays the maximum bet amount allowed at the table. This is shown in the top right hand corner of the table.

Multi-Hands

Some Blackjack tables will allow a player to play multiple hands at the same time. A player can play either one, two or three hands simultaneously. The casino lobby indicates which tables will allow a player play multiple hands.

Stored Games

In the event the player looses internet connectivity on or closes his/her browser window in the middle of a game, the game in progress will be stored. Once back in the casino the pending game may be restored and finished by the player.

Blackjack Variations

Besides the regular Blackjack games that you are used to we also offer these exciting variations of this popular game:

Double Exposure

Double exposure is a version of blackjack where both of the dealer's cards are exposed. There are off course some rule changes to favor the dealer in order to compensate. The house edge is greater than conventional blackjack, but still this game is one of the best bets in the casino if properly played. Double Exposure uses the usual blackjack rules with these main exceptions:

Both dealer cards are shown face up

No Pushes. House wins all ties, except on a natural blackjack

Player blackjack pays even money

Player may split only once

Blackjack Switch

Blackjack switch allows the player to trade cards between two hands.By default six decks of cards are used. The player needs to make two bets of equal amounts and is then allowed to switch the second card dealt to each hand. In order to compensate for this, a dealer 22 results in a push and blackjacks pay even money. All rules are based on conventional blackjack with these exceptions:

Dealer hits a soft 17.

The player must make two bets of equal size.

Cards will be dealt face up.

Dealer will peek for blackjack with an ace or ten up. If the dealer has a blackjack all player hands will immediately lose, except a player blackjack will push.

The player may switch the second card dealt to each hand. The player may also switch cards to form a blackjack.

Player may double on 10 and 11 only.

Player may split once.

Winning player blackjacks pay even money.

A dealer total of 22 will push against any player total of 21 or less. A player blackjack will still beat a dealer 22.

Spanish Blackjack

Spanish Blackjack (also refer to as Spanish 21) is a yet another interesting variation of blackjack. Depending on the rules set by the house Spanish Blackjack is probably a better bet than blackjack.
Spanish 21 uses six decks, each deck consisting of 48 cards, the regular 52 card deck without the four tens. To make up for the advantage that this gives to the house, this game gives the player a set of favorable rules. The game is based on blackjack rules, including double after split, late surrender, and re-splitting aces. In addition Spanish 21 offers the follows rule enhancements:

A player 21 always wins.

Player blackjack beats dealer blackjack.

Player may double on any number of cards.

Player may usually hit and double down after splitting aces

Player may surrender half of total bet after doubling down

A five-card 21 pays 3 to 2, a six-card 21 pays 2 to 1, a seven or more card 21 pays 3 to 1. However the bonuses are not paid if the player doubled.

A 6-7-8 or 7-7-7 of mixed suits pays 3:2, of the same suit pays 2:1, and of spades pays 3:1.

Suited 7-7-7 when the dealer has a seven face up pays $1000 for bets of $5-$24 and $5000 for bets of $25 or over.

NOTICE: These are default game rules. Depending on casino house rules where you play at, some of these might differ.