Insurance is a side bet, which is offered to the players when the dealer’s up card is an ace.

Most casinos allow cards to be split again if the second card makes another pair - but some have limits on the number of times a player can split. When doubling down, player receives one extra card only and cannot hit again. To fund the split, the player has to place a second bet, of equal value to the first.Īfter receiving the first two cards, players can double their bet while hitting. If the first two cards are a pair, the players are allowed to split those, thus creating two hands rather than the normal one per seat. It is always wise to consult the house rules to see the details of any allowed options. In addition to the basic rules, most casinos offer a few other options which are available to players in certain situations. Other Options that may be available during the hand Otherwise, the player loses their bet.Ī perfect hand combines an ace with a 10, Jack, Queen or King and is known as a ‘Blackjack’. If the player ties with the dealer, the original bet is returned to the player. If the player scored higher than the dealer, they win. If the dealer reaches a valid hand, the cards are totalled and each player’s hand is compared to the dealer’s. If the dealer’s hand exceeds 21, all players who didn't bust win immediately - their bet is returned along with a matching amount from the dealer's bank. They can, again, either ‘HIT’ or ‘STAND’. If the player busts, they immediately lose their bet.Īfter each player has played and either stood or busted, the dealer takes their turn. The player can ‘HIT’ as many times as they wish, but have to aim not to ‘bust’ (exceed a total of 21). They can then either call out ‘HIT’ again, or ‘STAND’ if they do not wish to draw any more cards.

If the player calls out ‘HIT’, they are given an extra card. Starting to the left of the dealer, each player is given a chance to draw more cards. The dealer receives two cards, one face-up and another face-down. After the bets have been placed, all players are dealt two cards face-up in front of their respective betting positions. The face cards (Jack, Queen, King) score 10 points and Ace can either be treated as 1 or 11.Īt the beginning of each round, all players place their bets in their betting positions - also known as ‘boxes’. All number cards (2-10) score the value indicated on them. The Play - Basic Rulesīlackjack is usually played at a table of 2-7 players and uses one to eight 52-card decks. Going over 21 is commonly known as ‘busting’ and means an automatic loss. The aim of blackjack is to finish the game with a higher total than that of the dealer, without exceeding 21.

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