Blackjack Rules
Object
Blackjack is a betting game played against a dealer. The object is score
more points than the dealer without going over 21.
Scoring
Points are totaled for each card in a hand. Face cards (Jack, Queen and
King) count as 10 points, Aces may be counted as either one or 11. All other
cards are counted according to their numeric value.
When Aces are present in a hand, the total displayed to its right
represents the highest score, not over 21, that could be made from those
cards.
Game Play
To begin a round, the player places a bet (by hitting the "Deal" button)
and both the player and the dealer are dealt two cards. The dealer's first
card is dealt face down while all other cards are dealt face up.
If the first two cards in a hand total 21, it's called a "blackjack" or
"natural." The player wins with a blackjack unless the dealer also has a
blackjack. If the dealer has a blackjack and the player doesn't, the player
loses. If both have a blackjack, it is a tie ("push"). In any case, the round
is over.
When neither the dealer nor the player have blackjack, the player may take
additional cards one at a time ("hit") until he or she reaches 21 or goes
over ("busts"). The player may stop at any time ("stand"). The player loses
if he or she busts.
Otherwise, once the player stands, it is the dealer's turn and the
dealer's down card is revealed. The dealer must hit if the point total is
less than 17 and continue hitting until reaching 17 or better. If the dealer
busts, the player wins.
If neither the player or dealer busts, the player wins if his or her total
is higher than the dealer's. If they tie, it is a push.
Betting
The player starts with $1000.00 credit (strictly play money) and may bet
any amount between $5.00 and $100.00 in increments of $5.00. The player may
change this bet amount between rounds.
If the player wins with a blackjack, his or her bet is paid off at 3 to 2.
Otherwise, the player is paid even money for a win. In the event of a push,
the player's bet is returned.
Note that a hand of three or more cards totaling 21 is not considered
a blackjack. That is, if the player reaches 21 by hitting on a hand it is not
an automatic win. If the player does win with such a hand, the bet is paid at
even money.
Special Plays
After the initial deal, if neither the player nor dealer has a blackjack,
the player has some additional options:
- The player may "split" if he or she has a pair (two cards of identical
value, this includes any two face cards or a ten and any face card). See
Splits below for details.
- The player may "double down," meaning that the player doubles his or
her current bet and receives one and only one additional card.
- The player may "surrender," forfeiting the round and losing half of his
or her original bet.
Buttons are automatically enabled and disabled depending on what
actions or options are valid at any point in the game according to the
rules.
Insurance
On the initial deal, if the dealer's up card is an Ace, the player is
offered "insurance." This is a side bet equal to half of the player's
original bet. If the player buys insurance and the dealer has blackjack, the
player is paid 2 to 1 on this side bet. If the player buys insurance and the
dealer does not have blackjack, the side bet is lost. In either case, the
round continues as before with the player's original bet.
When prompted to buy insurance, click "OK" to purchase or "Cancel"
to decline.
Splits
When the player is dealt a pair, he or she may split. One card is removed
and placed in a new hand with a bet equal to the amount of the player's
original bet.
The split hands are then played individually as follows:
- An additional card is dealt to the hand.
- If Aces are split, only one additional card is given to each hand (see
House Rules below). The player may not hit, split or double down
afterwards.
- Otherwise, after the second card has been dealt the hand may be played
as before (hit, stand, double down, etc.) except that the player may not
surrender on a split hand.
- Pairs (other than Aces) may be resplit but there is a limit to the
total number of times the player can split (see House Rules
below).
Once a player stands (or busts) on the first split hand, the next hand is
played and so on until all split hands have been played. Play then moves to
the dealer as before.
Note: If the additional card dealt to a split hand makes a total of 21, it
is not considered a blackjack. In other words, the hand does not
automatically win.
When the player splits, the hand currently in play will be
highlighted.
Once the dealer busts or stands, each split hand is individually compared
to the dealer's to determine a win, loss or push. So it is possible, for
example, to beat the dealer with one hand in a split but lose on the
other.
House Rules
Blackjack rules can vary. The rules used in this game are based on typical
Las Vegas casino rules:
- A four deck shoe is used. The player is notified whenever a new deck is
put into play.
- The dealer may not hit on a soft 17, that is, when the dealer has a
total of 17 using an Ace counted as 11.
- The player may double down on any initial two card hand.
- The player may split up to three times in any round (for a total of
four separate hands).
- If the player splits on Aces, only one additional card will be dealt to
each split hand.
- Aces may not be resplit.
