Blackjack is a firm favourite throughout the world of casinos. The fascination of the game is that the outcome of every single hand is the result of a decision by the individual player. It is up to each individual at the table how they play the cards. Blackjack is played at a semi-circular table, with seven betting squares (or boxes). The aim of Blackjack is to get closer to a sum of 21 than the dealer. If your hand goes over 21, you loses.

All cards count as their face value with 'court cards' (Jack, Queen, King) counting as 10.

For example:

King and Jack equals 20

An ace is an extremely valuable card as it can count as either a 1 or an 11. If a hand contains 2 aces they each may be a differnt value.

For example:

 
Ace, 4, Ace and 3 equals 9 or 19

A hand containing an Ace like Ace and 9 is referred to a 'soft total'. This would be a 'soft 20'. A hand with 10 and 9 would be known as 'hard 19'.

If you are lucky enough to be dealt with an Ace and 10, this is Blackjack. In this case you win 1.5 x your stake. (The only exception is if the dealer also has Blackjack, in which case the result is a 'stand off').

If you are dealt a blackjack hand and you can see that the dealer has an ace showing, then you can take up 'insurance', to half of your original stake. This side bet is an interesting situation which will pay out 2 to 1 if the dealer make Blackjack with his second card. Another way of doing the same thing is for you to accept even money on a Blackjack prior to the dealer selecting the second card.

General Playing

At the start, each of the players puts their stake in the betting square in front of them. Each table will be clearly marked with the maximum and minimum allowable bets.

It is possible to play more than one hand if there are available betting squares. The dealer will deal one card to each square in turn until each player has their two cards and the dealer has one card. All cards are face up.

For example:

Player A. 10, 9 | Player B. 2, 5

Starting from the right hand side of the table as you are sitting each player a choice of:

Standing or Drawing:

If you Stand you play the hand that you were dealt and do not take any more cards. You should inform the dealer by saying: "no cards", or making a hand signal, palm down.

You would Draw if you hand has a low total, as in the Player B's hand in the figure above. This was you can take another cards to get closer to a value of 21. To do this say: card please", or make a hand gesture to request another card.

Image that Player B now draws a 6. He now has a total of 13 giving him a choice of drawing again to try and get closer to 21, or to stand on the current total. If he now draws a 7 he would have a total of 20 and would Stand, requiring no more cards.

The Dealer must continue to draw cards if the total of his hand is 16 or less. When his hand equals 17 or higher he must stand. If the dealers total goes over 21 then he is bust and all the players left in the game win. All of the winners are paid even money. A tie between the dealer and the players are considered a stand off.

Advanced Rules:

Doubling Down.

A player can double the stake previously put down if they have a hard total of 9, 10, or 11. If they do this, they are only allowed to draw one more card and then must Stand without further action. To do this, put an equal number of chips next to your original bet.

Splitting.

If you have two cards of the same value you can split them into two hands and play them separately duplicating the original bet on the new hand. Cards which can be split are Aces, 2's, 3's, 6's, 7's, 8's and 9's. The two hands are then played out as normal against the Dealer. If you split a pair of Aces you are only allowed to draw one card on each hand. Then if you are dealt a ten or a court card it counts as 21, not Blackjack and is therefore if it wins it is paid out even money.

If, after splitting a hand you are dealt another card of the same value you are also allowed to split that hand again.