Blackjack

Aim

The aim of Blackjack is to be closer to 21 than the Dealer, without going over 21.

The Game

Play commences by placing a bet in the designated area. The minimum required bet is stated on a table sign. The Dealer then deals a first card to each Player, one to himself, and then a second card to each Player.

The Player may then request additional cards or stay as he chooses. After all Players have decided, the Dealer draws cards for himself until reaching 17, or exceeding 21.

Rules

If a Player has Blackjack (a count of 21 on the first two cards) and wins, the bet is paid 3:2 (the Dealer pays one and a half times the Player’s bet).

Any Player, whose cards are closer to 21 than the Dealer’s, wins.

If a Player’s cards are the same as the Dealer’s, a stand off results, where the Player neither wins nor loses.

A Player whose total count is lower than the Dealer’s loses.

A Player whose count goes over 21 loses.

The Dealer must draw cards until the count is over 16.

An ace counts as 1 or 11; face cards as 10; all remaining cards have the value printed on them.

Doubling: The Player may double his bet on any two cards, except a natural blackjack. If he doubles, however, he can be hit with only one more card. Doubling after splitting is allowed.

Splitting: If the Player’s first two cards are the same value he may split them by placing the same bet on each card that he placed originally on his single hand, and play them as two different hands. He then plays each as a separate hand, hitting standing or doubling independently of the other. If the Player splits a pair of aces, they can be split only once more if another ace is drawn. Only one additional card is dealt on each ace. If a 10 or face card is drawn, the hand only counts as 21, and not as Blackjack. Cards may be split a maximum of three times to create four separate hands.
When doubling or splitting, the Player must be aware that if the Dealer draws a natural blackjack all bets will lose.

Insurance: The Player can take out insurance against a possible Dealer’s Blackjack. If the Dealer’s first card is an ace, the Player can, after receiving the second card, buy insurance by placing an amount up to the equivalent of the original bet on the insurance line.
If the Dealer eventually has Blackjack, this amount is paid out at the rate of 2:1. If the Dealer does not have Blackjack the insurance bet loses. A Player with Blackjack may insure up to half his bet.