Blackjack Rules

We have outlined the basic rules for you in a friendly way, so that you can get started on your Blackjack experience in just a few minutes.

Table set up: a dealer and up to 7 players.

The main purpose of the game: using your cards, win by reaching a number closest to 21 without surpassing it. If you surpass 21 you will BUST and automatically lose the hand. You play only against the casino dealer, trying to beat his cards and have no rivalry with other players at the table.

Payoff: is usually 1:1. See exceptional cases below.

Values of the cards:

Number cards (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10): according to their values.

Face cards (Jack, Queen, King): always worth 10,

Ace: 1 or 11, according to the player’s choice in each hand.

Game outset: each player places his bet on the table. The dealer then deals 2 cards to each player, including himself. Cards are dealt face up (up cards). One of the dealer’s cards is dealt face down (hole cards).

Blackjack: the combination of two cards (must include an ACE and another card with value of 10), adding up to 21 is called Blackjack. This is the winning hand. If the player holds Blackjack he wins 3:2, unless the dealer also has Blackjack. In this case a tie, or a PUSH is announced, and the player gets his money back.

Insurance side bet: is offered to the players when the dealer’s up card is an Ace, to insure them from a dealer Blackjack. Size of the Insurance bet is half the original bet. If the dealer gets a Blackjack, the player wins 2-1.

Players moves: After receiving his cards, the player may use any of the following options:

HIT: get 1 additional card. Player may choose to HIT several times, until he is content with his cards, or until he surpasses 21 (BUSTS),

STAND: play with the existing cards.

DOUBLE DOWN: double the original bet. In a DOUBLE DOWN only one additional card can be added to the hand. This option is available only if the player hasn’t used any of the other options.

SPLIT: if the first two cards are identical (a pair), the player may choose to SPLIT them and play each separately. To do so, he places a bet next to the original bet and in the same amount. The dealer will then separate the two cards to create two separate hands.

SURRENDER: allows the player to renounce his hand, by paying half his original bet. This option is only available in some casinos. Sometimes it is available only if the dealer has no Blackjack.

Dealer moves: After all players completed their hand, it is the dealer’s turn. Dealer is subject to predetermined house rules written on the Blackjack table. Usually he must HIT until he reaches 17 or higher. In case of a Soft 17 (where the hand includes an ACE) he may be required to HIT again (HIT soft 17) or stand on all 17s.