How to Play BlackJack

In the BlackJack game you are competing against the dealer (the house), by yourself or along with other players. The players and the dealer are each dealt two cards, with the goal of reaching 21, without going over. The player may draw as many cards as they wish, until reaching 21. If the player draws a card that puts them over 21 (which is called a "Bust"), they lose the hand. A winning hand adds up to more than the dealer's hand, without "Busting".

The BlackJack game has a dealer and one or more players. The dealer deals from a shoe containing a few decks of playing cards. Before the deal, the players must place his bets, to reach the desired bet.

Once the deal begins the bets may not be changed. During the course of the hand players may add to their bets through Double Downs, Splits, and Insurance. Each player receives two cards, face up, and the dealer receives one card, face up. The player may request as many additional cards as desired, until they either chooses to "Stand" or Busting. If a player is dealt BlackJack, which is a 10 or face card along with an Ace, they are immediately paid, unless the dealer also has BlackJack, in which case it is a "Push" (the player's bet left on the table).

After all players' bets have been completed, the dealer completes their hand. If the dealer has sixteen or less, they must draw a card (Hit), until they reach seventeen or more. If the dealer's card total exceeds 21 (Bust), they must pay all players remaining in the hand.

"Double Down": A player may select the "Double" option after being dealt two cards. The Double option automatically doubles the player's bet and deals one additional card, face up. The player cannot draw any additional cards. The player may double down on any first dealt two cards or after splitting a pair.

"Split": If the player is dealt any pair of cards, on the first two cards (i.e., two Fives, two Jacks, etc.), they may split the cards into two separate hands. The split option automatically places an additional bet, equal to the original wager. Each hand is then played independently, and the player may take as many Hits as desired on each hand (with the exception of Aces, which receive one additional card only, per hand). In the case of split Aces, a player's BlackJack is not possible and is considered as a regular 21. In this case, a dealer's BlackJack wins, and a dealer's 21 becomes a "Push".

"Insurance": If the dealer shows an Ace, the player has the option of making an "Insurance Bet". This equals half the original bet, and ensures that the player will not lose their wager should the dealer be concealing a 10 or face card under their Ace. If, in fact, the dealer's down card is equal to 10, the player wins the Insurance Bet at odds of 2-1. If the dealer's down card has a value of less than 10, the player loses the Insurance Bet and continues normally with the hand.

"Push": A Push refers to when the dealer and the player have the same numerical count in their hands. In this event the play is a draw, and the players bet remains on the table.