The blackjack table seats about 6 players. Either six or eight
decks of cards are used and are shuffled together by the dealer and
placed in a card dispensing box called 'Shoe'.
Before receiving any cards players must place a wager. Then the
players are dealt two cards face up. The dealer gets one face up,
one face down. Each player in turn either stays or takes more cards
to try and get closer to 21 without busting. Players who do not
bust wait for the dealer's turn. When all the players are done, the
dealer turns up the down card. By rule, on counts of 17 or higher
the dealer must stay; on counts of 16 or lower the dealer must
draw.
If you make a total of 21 with the first two cards (a 10 or a face
and an Ace), you win automatically. This is called 'Blackjack'. If
you have Blackjack, you will win one and one-half times your bet
unless the dealer also has Blackjack, in which case it is a Push or
a Tie (or a Stand-off) and you get your bet back.
The remaining players with a higher count than the dealer win an
amount equal to their bet. Players with a lower count than the
dealer lose their bet. If the dealer busts, all the remaining
players win. There are other betting options namely Insurance,
Surrender, Double Down, Even Money and Split.
Insurance: side bet up to half the initial bet against the
dealer having a natural 21 - allowed only when the dealer's showing
card is an Ace. If the dealer has a 10 face down and makes a
blackjack, insurance pays at 2-1 odds, but loses if the dealer does
not. Surrender: giving up your hand and lose only half the
bet.
Early Surrender: surrender allowed before the dealer checks for
blackjack.
Late Surrender: the dealer first checks to see if he has blackjack.
If he does, surrender is not permitted.
Double Down: double your initial bet following the initial two-card
deal, but you can hit one card only. A good bet if the player is in
a strong situation.
Even Money: cashing in your bet immediately at a 1:1 payout ratio
when you are dealt a natural blackjack and the dealer's showing
card is an Ace.
Split Hand: split the initial two-card hand into two and play them
separately - allowed only when the two first cards are of equal
value. Use each card as the start to a separate hand and place a
second bet equal to the first.
Hard Hand: A hand without an Ace, or with an Ace valued at 1 is
said to be Hard in that it can only be given one value, unlike a
Soft Hand. (You can value an Ace 1 or 11 to suit you).
Soft Hand: A hand that contains an Ace counted as 11 is called a
Soft Hand.
