Blackjack

Blackjack is the most popular casino card game in the world. The name Blackjack arose when an American casino decided to popularize the game by paying a bonus to any player holding the ace of spades and either the jack of clubs or jack of spades.


Instant Play - Play for Fun

The object of the game is simple: obtain a total card count higher than that of the dealer without going over 21. You can play up to three hands at once.

Let’s Play! | Rules |Tips | You Win! | Blackjack Terms and Lingo | Options Toolbar

Let’s Play Blackjack!

To play Blackjack:

  1. Select a chip value.
  2. Click the betting circle or circles until the number of chips displayed equals the amount you wish to bet. You may play up to three hands at once.
  3. Optionally, click Clear to remove your bet from the betting circle.
  4. Click Deal.
    You and the dealer are each dealt two cards. Your cards are dealt face up. Only the dealer’s second card is dealt face up. If the dealer is dealt an ace face up, you may buy insurance.
  5. Review your cards and then do one of the following:
    • Click Hit to have another card dealt to you.
    • Click Stand if you are satisfied with your hand and your wager.
    • Click Double if you are satisfied with your hand and wish to double your initial wager.
    • Click Split if you receive two cards of equal value and wish to split them into two new hands of one card each.

      After your betting decisions are made, the dealer plays out the round and calculates any winnings.

To play again:

  1. Click Play Again.
    Your bet or bets from the last round are placed in the betting circle or circles. You may play up to three hands at once.
  2. Optionally, click Clear to remove your bet or bets from the betting circle or circles.
    If Clear is clicked, the Repeat Bets button appears. You may place a new bet or click Repeat Bets to repeat your bet or bets from the last round you played.
  3. Click Deal.
    You and the dealer are each dealt two cards. Your cards are dealt face up. Only the dealer’s second card is dealt face up. If the dealer is dealt an ace face up, you may buy insurance.
  4. Review your cards and then do one of the following:
    • Click Hit to have another card dealt to you.
    • Click Stand if you are satisfied with your hand and your wager.
    • Click Double if you are satisfied with your hand and wish to double your initial wager.
    • Click Split if you receive two cards of equal value and wish to split them into two new hands of one card each.

      After your betting decisions are made, the dealer plays out the round and calculates any winnings.

Blackjack Rules

Blackjack Tips

The following are some Blackjack betting tips.

Should I hit or stand?

If the dealer’s face-up card is: Hit on: Stand on:
3, 4, 5, or 6 11 and lower
Soft 17 and lower
12 and higher
Soft 18 and higher
7, 8, 9, 10, or ace 16 and lower
Soft 17 and lower
17 and higher
Soft 18 and higher

Should I split?

If the dealer’s face-up card is: Split:
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 2s, 3s, 8s, and aces
8, 9, 10, or ace 8s and aces

Should I double?

If your first two cards total: Double if the dealer’s face-up card is:
11 Anything except an ace
10 Anything except a 10 or an ace
9 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8
7 or 8 3, 4, 5, or 6

You Win!

Hand Payout
Dealer busts (hand exceeds 21) Player wins
Player’s hand is closest to 21 Player wins
Player busts (hand exceeds 21) Dealer wins
Dealer's hand is closest to 21 Dealer wins
Hands are equal or a push is achieved No loss or gain

Blackjack Terms and Lingo

Term Definition
Blackjack A two card hand of 21 points.
Bust A hand in Blackjack that goes over 21. If you bust, you lose.
Double Allows you to double your initial bet. The bet is placed after the first two cards are dealt. Only double your bet when you are reasonably sure you will only need one more card to win. Your bet will be placed automatically, and you will be dealt one last card. Your hand will always consist of three cards when doubling. This is also known as doubling down.
Face-up card The card in the dealer’s hand that is face up for you to see before you play your hand. This is also known as the open card or up card.
Hard hand Any hand that does not contain an ace or a hand that contains one or more aces that count as only one point.
Hit To ask the dealer for another card.
Insurance

If a dealer is dealt an ace face up, you may buy insurance. You are buying insurance against the dealer’s odds of having Blackjack. Insurance is a side bet that equals half your original wager.

If the dealer is dealt an ace face up and has Blackjack, it is an automatic loss and the round ends. If you placed an insurance bet, you are paid back at odds of 2:1. This payment equals your original bet.

If you placed an insurance bet and the dealer does not have blackjack, you lose your insurance bet, but retain your original bet and continue to play.

Natural A two-card hand of 21 points. This is known as Blackjack.
Push A tie hand between you and the dealer. A push occurs when you and the dealer have unbusted hands with the same total points.
Soft hand Any hand that contains an ace that can be counted as 11. For example, an ace and a 6 is known as a soft 17.
Split

If you are dealt two cards of identical value, you can split them into two new hands of one card each. Each new hand can then be played out in turn.

You may only split a hand once. The wager placed on each new hand is equal to the original bet. You may double down on one or both of your new hands. When aces are split, only one card is dealt to each new hand. A split hand resulting in Blackjack pays out at 1:1 rather than the normal 3:2.

Stand To be satisfied with your hand and refuse another card.

Options Toolbar

Blackjack’s Options toolbar gives you access to Help, Cashier, and game settings.

Click the following icons to access Blackjack’s options:

Icon Description
Opens Casino’s Help
Opens Casino’s Cashier
Opens the Options window where game settings can be changed
Turns the game’s background music on or off
Changes the game table’s color scheme