Blackjack The purpose of Blackjack is to get a hand total higher than the dealer’s without going over a count of 21. If your cards add up to more than 21, then you bust and lose automatically. If the dealer gets closer to 21 than you, without going over themselves, they win. You play against the dealer, not against other players at the table. Blackjack rules can vary from game to game depending on a small set of variables that the house chooses for the game. The dealer has to follow these rules and knowing what the dealer must do at the table is as important as knowing what you yourself can do. Card Values Cards 2 through to 10 count their face value. Face cards (Jacks, Queens & Kings) are all valued at 10 points. An Ace counts as either 1 or 11, whichever is to the player's advantage. It is worth 11 unless that would cause the hand value to bust in which case it has a value of 1. Soft Total - A hand that contains an Ace which can be counted as 11 without the the total going over 21. For example Ace-8 is a Soft 19. Hard total - A hand that contains an Ace which can only be counted as 1 because if t were 11, the hand would go bust. For example Ace-7-10 is Hard 18. How to Play 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. Depending on the strength of your (player's) cards, you can choose one of several options: 'Hit', 'Stand', 'Double', ' Split', or 'Surrender'. Hit - Get another card, you may continue to be dealt cards to your hand until you either stand or go bust. Stand - If you are happy with your hand then you can Stand i.e. get no further cards. Double Down - When you have received your first 2 cards, you have the option to double your bet and you will be dealt another card - but note - the hand will auto-stand after this card. Split - If you have two cards of the same value i.e. 2 Sevens - then you can Split the cards into two hands. This option is also available if you are dealt two Aces. An additional bet, equal to your original bet will be placed. You can draw as many hands as you wish on each split hand, with the exception of the Aces. If Aces are split, only one card will be dealt to each Ace. If a 10-value card is dealt to either Ace, then the hand is counted as 21, not Blackjack. Surrender - You have the option to discontinue to play your hand for that round and surrender half of your wager, This decision must be made prior to indicating you wish to double down, split pairs, stand and/or hit. The surrender option is not offered if the dealer has Blackjack. Insurance You may buy insurance when the dealer’s up card is an Ace. This side bet is 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. Action When all the players are done, the dealer turns up the down card and acts accordingly. Blackjack rules for the dealer are very simple. If the dealer's hand is 16 or less, they must take a card. If the dealer's hand is 17 or more, they must stand. Some casinos allow the dealer to hit on soft 17, which gives the house a very small advantage. If the dealer is nearer to 21 than you, then the house wins your bet. If your cards are nearer to 21 than the dealers, then you win - the payoff if you win is even money (1 to 1). If you both have the same hand value then it is a tie and your bet is returned. If you get a blackjack you are paid 1½ times your wager unless the dealer gets blackjack at the same time, then it’s a tie, you don’t win or lose.