Rules of Blackjack

How to play

In each round of Blackjack, the players sat at the table start placing bets in their respective betting area. Each table clearly shows the minimum and maximum bets that each player can make. Once the bets (or bet) are placed, two cards are dealt face up in front of the players, and the dealer receives one or two cards.

The objective in each round of blackjack is to beat the dealer. To achieve this, you must have a hand that scores more than the dealers, but that does not reach more than 21 for its total value. You can also win with less than 22, providing that the dealer has more than 21. If the total value of your hand is 22 or more, you say you pass, and you automatically lose any money previously bet.

Once it is your turn, you can ask for cards for your hand to increase its total value. Once you have finished asking for cards, the dealer will also complete their hand.

The best hand in Blackjack is, as expected, the “Blackjack”. The best hand in the game offers a bigger prize than any other combination and is made up of an ace and any other card with a value of ten, like Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Ten. The Blackjack must be completed in the first two cards dealt and it is unbeatable. However, you can tie if the dealer also holds blackjack in their hand.

In Blackjack, Ten, Jack, Queen, and King all have a value of ten. Aces can have two different values, one and eleven (you can choose the one that is better for you).

When your hand has the same value as the dealer’s hand, you tie. In this case, your original bet is returned, but you will not get any additional money. If you lose the round, you will also lose the bet made against the dealer.

How to Split, Fold, or Surrender

In Blackjack, your actions are not limited to asking for cards or simply staying with the initially dealt cards. Under certain circumstances, you will have additional options. These options depend on the two initial cards that you received, and include:

• Split

Essentially, splitting makes one hand into two, giving you more chances of winning. When you split a hand, you can place an additional bet for the recently formed second hand, the bet being the same value as the initial bet.

The option to split has certain restrictions when aces are involved. When you split two aces, almost all Blackjack variations only allow one more card to be dealt for each of the new hands, reducing your possibilities to ask for more, split, or double to improve your hand.

• Double

The option of doubling allows you to double your initial bet, but only under certain circumstances:

Once the two first cards have been dealt, you can add an additional bet (equal to the initial bet) upping your initial bet, provided that you only receive one extra card to complete the game.

• Surrender

In some Blackjack games, surrendering allows you to give up your hand and get back 50% of the initial bet when you think it is probable that you will lose against the dealer, providing that the Blackjack variant you are playing offers this option.

Options

You will have several options to decide between during each round of Blackjack. The decisions that you must make depend on the cards that you have been dealt. These are the options that you traditionally have in Blackjack.

• Hit

You can ask for additional cards to improve your hand. The cards can be asked for one by one until the hand´s value is equal to or more than 21.

• Stand

When the value in your hand is equal or less than 21, you can decide to stand and not risk that the value of your hand becomes greater than 21.

• Split

In some variations of the game, when your first two cards have the same value (eight-eight, Jack-Ten, etc.), you can make additional bets (equal to the initial bet) and have a second hand that also plays against the bank.

• Double down

You can place an additional bet, equal to the first bet, by only receiving one more card for each of your hands and “standing” automatically.

• Surrender

In some variations of the game, you can give up half of your bet and end the round immediately.

• Insurance

In certain variations, when the first card from the bank is an ace, you can bet half of your original bet and receive 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack. If the dealer has a blackjack, you will continue in the game.

• 1 to 1

If you have been dealt a blackjack, and the dealer shows an ace, a special type of insurance is to bank 1 to 1. If you decide to play 1 to 1, the pay will be 1:1, regardless as to whether the dealer has a blackjack. If you decide to not play 1 to 1, the hand will be played normally.