How To Play Blackjack

Basics

If you've played Pontoon or 21, you'll already know the basics of this easy, fast paced game.

You play against the dealer, and your aim is to reach a score closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over 21 (called going 'bust').

How To Play

Begin by placing your bet in the empty box nearest to where you are standing or sitting. (If you don't have any chips, place money on the betting table, and the dealer will exchange it for you.)

The dealer will deal two cards face up to each player and one to himself.

Count up the value of your two cards, with cards counting at their face value, jack, king and queen cards counting as 10, and aces counting as either 1 or 11. If your cards total 21, you have a Blackjack - a combination that pays 3-2 as long as the dealers first card isn't a 10, face card or ace. (If this happens you can take a payout of even money, as the dealer has the chance of making Blackjack when they draw their second card. Or you can make an insurance bet. This means betting half of your original bet, and if the dealer does get Blackjack, you receive 2 to 1 on both bets).

If you don't have blackjack, you have three options. You can either 'stand', or you can draw more cards until you believe your cards total will be closer to 21 than the dealer's. Or if you have a pair of the same value, other than 4s, 5s or 10s you can split the pair, add an equivalent bet to your first bet, and draw extra cards on each pair. Also, if the total of your first two cards is 9, 10 or 11 you may double your original bet and draw only one more card.

If the dealer has a hand of 16 or under he must draw more cards. With a hand of seventeen or over he must stand.

If you don't have blackjack, but beat the dealer, you win even money. If you match the dealers hand, you retain your original bet.

During The Game

You can bet without sitting at the table - place your bet behind another player's, and win or loose depending upon their hand.