Blackjack
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, two cards of equal rank (e.g if the hand contains two Kings, or two Ten cards), 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.
Please note you are unable to split if you have two different ranked cards of the same value e.g. a King and a Ten, the cards held must be of the same rank.
Doubling - 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.If you are disconnected
If you are disconnected from the game after you have confirmed your bet, the system will play out your hand based on Blackjack Basic Strategy.
The House Strategy - Unlike the players, the house has no choice in whether it hits or stands on its hand. The house must:
- Hit on a count of 16 or less.
- Hit on a soft 17.
- Stand on a hard 17 or more.
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.
Pair Bet for Blackjack
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.
