LIVE BLACKJACK - RULES

Blackjack Rules

The Object of the Game of Blackjack

The object is to achieve a higher card count than the dealer without exceeding a count of 21.

How to Play blackjack

The players bets are placed on the table in the rectangle in front of you.
Each bet must conform with any table limits - there is usually a mimimum and maximum bet size, which varies from table to table. Players must place their bets before the end of the betting period, which ends when the croupier will announce"No more bets please."

The Play
Starting on the croupier's left, a card is dealt face up to each player in turn with the croupier being last in rotation. A second card is then dealt in the same manner, face up to each player; the croupier does not get a second card yet.

Once all initial cards are dealt, each player gets a turn to improve their counts. The order of the turns is the same as the order the cards were dealt. During your turn, you have the option to 'stand' or 'hit' (draw) one or more cards to improve your count. Once you stand, your turn is over.
If you exceed a count of 21, this is called a bust, and you lose your bet immediately; otherwise, your wager may continue.
If your initial count (with two cards only) is 21, this is called a blackjack.
If there is no possibility that the croupier also has a blackjack (if the croupier's card is neither a 10 value card or an Ace), then you win your bet immediately upon the start of your turn, and your bet is paid off at 3:2. If there is a possibility that the croupier also has a blackjack, the resolution of your bet is delayed until the croupier's final count is established.

After all players have had a turn, the croupier takes a second card, then stands or draws as appropriate, according to the house rules. If the croupier exceeds a count of 21, she busts, and all unresolved bets are winners. If the croupier stands without busting, each player's count is then compared to the croupier's. If your count is closer to 21 than the croupier's, you win. If the croupier's card total is nearer 21, you lose. If you and the croupier tie, the bet is called a push (or standoff), and the hand is tied (a draw). Once all bets have been resolved, the croupier announces the beginning of the next betting period.

The Cards
Face cards (Jacks, Queens, and Kings) are worth 10, while Aces are worth either 1 or 11. Once a players stands, a hand containing one or more Aces is considered to be at its highest possible value without going over 21.

Player Choices
After the first two cards are dealt, each player gets an opportunity to improve the count. They may also alter their bet in the following ways:

Splitting Pairs
Pairs, two cards of equal rank, may be split into two separate hands, each with a bet equal to the original bet amount. If you split your hand, the first subhand is dealt a second card, and you are permitted to stand or hit one or more cards to improve the count. Once you stand on your first subhand, your second subhand is dealt a second card, and you are then permitted to stand or hit on that hand.

Split Aces are an exception. When you split a pair of Aces, each subhand receives exactly one more card with no option to you to hit further. Further, a count of 21 with the two cards in a subhand of split Aces is not considered Blackjack, and will lose to a croupier's Blackjack.

Subhands may not be resplit.

Doubling
After the first two cards are dealt, you have the option to 'double down', which means you wager an additional amount equal to your original bet and then receive one more card only on that hand.
You may also double down after splitting a pair, except in the case of splitting Aces - Split aces are only permitted a second card only.

Insurance
If the croupier's up card is an Ace, you may obtain insurance, which is a wager of a sum equal to one half of your original bet. If the croupier draws a Blackjack, the insurance pays two to one. If the croupier fails to draw a Blackjack, you lose your insurance. You may obtain insurance even if you have blackjack. Generally, for the best odds, blackjack players choose not to take insurance.

The House Strategy

Unlike the players, the house has no choice in whether it hits or stands on its hand.

The house must:
Hit cards until the count is at least 17.
Hit on a soft 17.
Stand on a hard 17 or more.

A soft hand is a hand in which an Ace counts as 1 or 11 - without the count exceeding 21.
A hard hand is a hand in which Aces only be count as 1 - to avoid the count exceeding 21.

Payouts

A Blackjack, a two-card 21 not arising on a split, is paid at 3:2 as long as the croupier does not also have a Blackjack. If both you and the croupier have a Blackjack, the bet is considered a push.
A Blackjack beats any three-or-more-card 21.

All other winning bets are paid 1:1.

You bust and lose your bet if you exceed a count of 21.

A croupier/player tie is called a push, and neither wins nor loses.

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