Blackjack rules

The game of blackjack is played with one or more decks of cards. In our casino there are tables with 1 to 6 decks. Each card has a certain point value and the aim of the game is to get a hand value that is closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over 21 ("busting"). The suits of the cards do not have any meaning. Once you feel you have grasped the rules, head over to and take your new found knowledge further. First of all the card values:

• A face card (Jack, Queen, King) counts 10 points
• An ace can count as 1 or 11 depending on the player's preference
• Cards from 2 to 10 count as their face value

Soft hand and hard hand

A hand with an Ace that is counted as 11 without busting is called a "soft hand". An ace and a 6 for example is a soft 17. If the Ace has to be counted as a 1 because the total would go over 21 otherwise, the hand is called a "hard hand". The value of the Ace is assumed to always have the value that makes the best hand for the player.

Blackjack

If your first two cards have a total value of 21, you have been dealt a blackjack. A blackjack, therefore, is an ace and any ten-valued card and instantly pays 3:2 your bet as long as the dealer does not have a blackjack too.

Losing

• If you draw one or more cards and go over 21 points ("a bust")
• If you have less points than the dealer without going over 21 points

Winning

• If the player has less than 21 and a higher point score than the dealer, s/he wins and gets paid 1:1 (even money)
• If the dealer busts and you did not

Tie

If the player has the same hand value as the dealer, it is called a "stand-off" or a "push" and no money is won or lost.

The dealer's hand

When all the players' hands have been dealt with, the dealer plays his hand. The dealer, unlike the players, has to follow strict rules when drawing his cards. He must draw if his card count is 16 or less and stand if it is 17 or more. In some variations the dealer has to hit on a soft 17 and in others he has to stand.

Starting the game

Left-click on the desired chip value and place the chip in one of the five rectangles on the table (the so called boxes) with another left-click. In the multi player game you can play one, in the single player game up to five boxes simultaneously. To start the game, click on "Deal".

The player's hand

Now it is time to take part in the game and make some decisions. There are two basic options which are always available on your first two cards:

• Hit: Draw one card to your hand.
• Stand: You're satisfied with your hand and do not want another card.

Depending on the blackjack variation, the resultant rules and the situation in the game, you have some of the following options to choose from:

• Split: If the hand contains two cards with the same value, e.g. two 8s or a Jack and a 10, the "Split" button lights up. This allows the player to split the hand into two new hands. One new card is drawn to each card and a new bet with the same value as the original bet is added to the second hand. The upper hand becomes the active hand and is dealt with next. Splitting Aces is more restricted, as only one card can be drawn to each Ace. No more cards can be drawn. If a 10-valued card is drawn to a split Ace, the resulting hand is not a blackjack, it is simply 21, the same as when an Ace is drawn to a split 10-valued card.
• Double: If this button is enabled, the player can double down, i.e. s/he wishes to increase the bet by the same value as the original bet. If a player doubles down, only one card is dealt and the hand finishes. No more cards can be drawn.
• Insurance: If the dealer's upcard (the card shown face up) is an Ace, the players may take an insurance against a possible dealer's blackjack. The insurance bet is half of the original bet and it pays 2:1. Thus, if the dealer draws a blackjack (and the player has none), the player loses his/her original bet, but wins the insurance bet. As this bet is paid 2:1 and the payout is of the same value as the original bet, the overall result is that the player breaks even.
• Surrender: In some blackjack variations it is possible to surrender a hand. If the player thinks that s/he has no chance against the dealer, s/he surrenders the hand and saves half of the original bet. A player can only surrender his cards before any cards are drawn, and then only if the dealer's up-card is an Ace or a 10-valued card. If the dealer has a blackjack, the whole bet is lost anyhow.

For Canadians looking for special blackjack online canada casinos offer then click on the special link for more details.