How To Play Black Jack

How to Play Blackjack

Global Favourite

Blackjack is the most popular casino card game in the world. If you have played 'twenty-one' you will understand Blackjack. It's absorbing, challenging, exciting and easy to play.

Aim of the Game

In Blackjack you play against the Dealer. The Dealer initially deals two cards to each player and one card to him/herself. You then have an opportunity to draw extra cards and improve your total. To win, your total must be greater than the Dealer's total, but not exceed 21. If you win, you are paid even money. If your total is the same as the Dealer's then the result is a 'stand off'. Your hand will lose if the card total is less than the Dealer's or over 21. The Dealer must draw a card when they have a total of 16 or less and stand if their total is 17 or more. Players may stand on any total. Players may not take another card if they have achieved a total of twenty-one.

Example Hands

Blackjack	Twenty-One	Split

Dealer Stands	Too Many

Betting Options

Blackjack offers various betting options such as splitting, doubling and taking insurance. Your Dealer will be able to explain how these bets work. Players may double on hard totals of 9, 10 and 11 only. If you double, only one further card is dealt to the hand. A hard total is a hand that does not include an Ace or the Ace has point value of one (see diagram below). Hands may be split to form not more than three hands with the exception of Aces. Aces can be split to form only two hands. Players splitting Aces will receive only one additional card to each hand.


Soft Hand 7 or 17	Soft Hand. Draws a 10 & becomes a Hard Hand

A Soft Hand contains an Ace without a Ten…
A Ten value card makes a Soft Hand a Hard Hand.

Blackjack

A Blackjack is when the first two cards dealt to you are an Ace and a card with the value of ten. However, if you split your hand and receive an Ace and a 10 value card, the cards count as 21 only, not Blackjack. You cannot draw any more cards if you receive Blackjack. Blackjack is paid at odds of 3 to 2. Should the Dealer also make Blackjack the result is a 'stand-off'.

Card Value

All cards have their face value. Picture cards or 'face cards' (Jack, Queen and King) count as ten. An Ace counts as 1 or 11.

How to Play

Place your bet in one of the betting areas marked on the Blackjack Table. Generally these are referred to as 'Boxes'.
Up to three bets may be placed in the one Box. The seated player controls the box and makes the decision to draw additional cards, split, double or stand.
The Dealer will call "No More Bets" and then begin to deal by drawing cards from the Dealing Shoe.
The Dealer deals one card face up to each Box containing a wager and then deals a card to him/herself. A second card is then dealt to each of the Boxes.
Players now have the option of drawing another card, doubling or splitting. Using hand signals you may ask for as many cards as you like without going over twenty-one or you may elect to 'stand'.
To indicate to the Dealer that you want another card, tap on the table with your finger. To indicate that you are 'standing', signal by using a horizontal waving motion of the hand over the table.
When all Players have completed their hand, the Dealer will draw his/her second and subsequent cards and settle all wagers depending on the result.

Useful Blackjack Terms

Card, Draw, Hit: You signal for another card.

Double: To place an additional bet of an amount equal to your original bet on the first two cards. Players may only double on hard totals of 9, 10 or 11. When you double you receive only one additional card.

Partial Double: To place an additional bet that is less than your original bet on the first two cards. Players may only partial double on hard totals of 9, 10 or 11. (When you partial double you receive only one additional card).

Face or picture card: Jack, Queen, King .

Insurance: When the Dealer's first card is an Ace you may 'insure' your bet against the Dealer getting a Blackjack. The bet may be up to half your original bet and wins at odds of 2 to 1 should the Dealer achieve Blackjack. If the Dealer doesn't get Blackjack, your insurance bet loses.

Split: When the first two cards dealt to you are of equal value, you may split these to then operate a maximum of three hands, with the exception of Aces. Aces may be split to form only two hands and receive one additional card to each hand.

Stand Off: Where the player's and the Dealers hands are equal. Neither hand wins.

Stand, No Card: You elect to take no further cards. To display your intention not to take extra cards, signal to the Dealer by using a horizontal waving motion of the hand over the table.

Too Many: The total of a hand is more than 21.

There are several variations of traditional Blackjack available to play. Information on how to play these games is available at the specific gaming tables.

Perfect Pairs

Perfect Pairs is a fun and exciting variation of Blackjack where you have the option of placing an extra bet called a Perfect Pairs bet. Simply place a minimum of $1 in addition to your original Blackjack bet on the area of the table marked for Perfect Pairs bets. If the first two cards you are dealt are a pair, the Perfect Pairs bet will win and be paid at the odds displayed in Table 1.

Perfect pair	Coloured pair	Mixed pair

2 cards of the same suit with the same face value.	2 cards that are the same colour, with the same face value but in different suits.	1 red card and 1 black card each with the same face value.

Table 1

Perfect Pairs Payout Table
	4 Decks	5 Decks	6 Decks	7 Decks	8 Decks
Perfect Pair	25 to 1	25 to 1	25 to 1	25 to 1	25 to 1
Coloured Pair	15 to 1	14 to 1	13 to 1	12 to 1	12 to 1
Mixed Pair	6 to 1	6 to 1	6 to 1	6 to 1	6 to 1

Useful Terms
Face value means -

(a) the number of the card, namely 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10; or

(b) the type of card, namely jack, queen king or ace.

A 'pair' means 2 cards with the same face value.