Blackjack

How to play

Players and the dealer are trying to get as close to 21 as possible.

• Face cards and 10s count as 10.
• Aces can be 1 or 11.
• All other cards count as their face value. (A 2 is worth 2, a 3 is worth 3, etc.)

E.g.: A hand consisting of a 5, 4 and a Jack totals 19.

Place your bet

All maximum and minimum table limits are posted at each table. Players are playing against the dealer.

Deal me in

Once all bets have been placed, the dealer gives each player two cards face up. The dealer then takes one card face up.

• If your first two cards total 21, you have a blackjack.
• If your first two cards equal anything other than 21, you can hit or stand.
• Saying “hit” means you ask the dealer for an additional card.
• Saying “stand” means you are not adding cards to your hand.
• Once you stand, the dealer completes their hand.
   

You're a winner

• If you have a blackjack and the dealer does not, you win—and your bet pays 3-to-2.
• If you and the dealer both have a blackjack, it’s a push. That means it’s a tie and you keep your initial wager.
• If your hand has a higher total than the dealer’s, you’re a winner.
• If the dealer’s hand beats yours, the dealer wins.
• Any hand that exceeds 21 is a bust and is discarded.

The fine points

Surrender your hand

Hands can be “hard” or “soft.” A hard hand is one in which an Ace is counted as 11. In a soft hand, the Ace is counted as 1.
When the dealer completes their hand, they must stand as soon as they reach a hard 17 or better.

• The dealer will then claim half of your bet.
• This must be done before any other player receives their cards. 

Hard and soft

Hands can be “hard” or “soft.” A hard hand is one in which an Ace is counted as 11. In a soft hand, the Ace is counted as 1.
When the dealer completes their hand, they must stand as soon as they reach a hard 17 or better.

Splitting pairs

If your first two cards are paired, you may split them to create two hands. When you split, you must wager your original amount on each hand. (You are doubling your bet.)

• Play continues on the first hand before moving to the second.
• If you continue to draw cards of the same value, you can split your pairs up to three times to make four separate hands.
• When you split a pair of Aces, you will only receive one additional card in each hand. 

Doubling down

If, on your first two cards (or the first two cards of a split pair), you may double your bet. After doubling down, you will receive only one additional card.
Doubling down isn’t allowed if your first two cards are blackjack.

Insurance

If the dealer shows an Ace as their card, all players will be asked if they would like to buy insurance. Insurance is a bet of one-half of your original wager. 

• When you buy insurance, you are betting that the dealer will pull a card with a value of 10.
• If this happens, giving the dealer blackjack, you lose your original wager but win the insurance bet.
• Insurance bets pay 2-to-1.
• If the dealer does not pull a card with a value of 10, all insurance bets lose.