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Blackjack is a very popular game that probably originated
in 16th Century France as vingt-et-un (20 and
1), hence its other name "21". It gained the English
name Blackjack since a player who held the Ace of Spades
(i.e. a Black spade) and the Jack of Spades as the first
two cards would be paid out extra, and the gambler's
penchant for easy rhymes took over (think "chuck-a-luck",
"acey-duecy").
The
object of the game is to get as close to 21 without
going over ("bust").
Game
Play:
Players will place their wagers in the center of the
betting circle in front of their seat at the table.
The dealer will then deal two cards, face up, to each
Player and two to himself, one face up and one face
down.
Our
Blackjack is a multi-hand game, meaning you can play
up to 3 hands at the same time. Simply place wagers
in the betting circles to either side of the center
seat if you want to play additional hands. It makes
the game much more interesting and increases your chances
of winning.
Card
values:
- Kings,
Queens, Jacks, and 10's each count as 10.
- Aces
count as 1 or 11, as a player wishes.
- All
other cards count at their face value (i.e. 2 through
9).
Scoring:
If
a Player's first two cards are an Ace and a 10 value
card, the Player has Blackjack and will be paid one
and one-half times the wager (3-to-2), unless the Dealer
also has Blackjack - in which case it's a push (bet
neither paid nor taken). All other winning hands are
paid even money (1-to-1).
A
Blackjack will beat a point total of "21". For example,
an Ace and a 10-value card will beat a 10, 5, 6 hand.
Even though both hands total 21 points, the Blackjack
wins.
The
Player not having Blackjack may continue to draw cards
attempting to total as close to 21 as possible without
exceeding 21. He is free to stand at any point total
or to ask for another card (a "hit") at any point total
under 21. If the Player goes over 21, he busts and loses
his wager.
Dealer
must hit on all totals of 16 or less. Dealer must stand
on all totals of 17 or more.
Blackjack
Terminology and Game Controls
BET
Place a number of chips in the betting circle as a wager.
RE-BET
Place the same number of chips in the betting circle
as you did for the previous hand.
DEAL
Play a hand of Blackjack for the wager placed in the
betting circle. Clicking "DEAL" starts the game and
commits the wager to the outcome.
HIT
Request an additional card from the deck.
STAND
Take no additional cards.
SPLIT
The Player will match the original wager and split the
first two cards into two separate hands. The two cards
must be of the same point value (for example: a pair
of 8's, a King and a Queen, etc.) For split hands, an
Ace and ten-point card equal to "21" and not Blackjack
- in other words, they don't pay 3-to-2, but they will
beat a Dealer hand that has 20 points or less. Also,
after splitting a pair of Aces, the Player will draw
only one card per Ace.
DOUBLE
The "DOUBLE" button will become active after the first
two cards have been dealt to each hand. Players who
feel confident that they are going to win this hand
can "Double Down" to earn twice as much if they do win
by clicking DOUBLE. Their original bet amount will be
doubled automatically and they will receive exactly
one additional card. Double Down wagering is not permitted
on a Blackjack hand because you would automatically
bust when you received the additional card.
INSURE
When the dealer's up card is an Ace, all Players have
an opportunity to buy "insurance", an additional amount
equal to half of that Player's original wager, before
any further play begins. A Player may purchase insurance
when he/she believes that the dealer's down card is
a ten value card. If the Dealer has Blackjack, the insurance
wager pays 2-to-1. If the dealer does not have Blackjack,
the insurance wager loses and the game continues as
usual.
PASS
Do not accept the insurance offered on this hand. If
Pass is clicked and the Dealer has Blackjack, the player
loses his original wager and play ends for this hand
(unless Player also has Blackjack, in which case it's
a push). If Dealer does not have Blackjack, play for
this hand continues as normal.
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