Blackjack

The Game

In blackjack you play only against the dealer, independently of the other players. Your goal is to draw cards until your hand adds up to 21, or comes as close as possible without exceeding 21. If your first two cards total 21, you have blackjack.

The Card Table

In the centre of the table there are five boxes - you may play on each of them. Beneath the boxes are the player's chips. On the top right is the deck, from which the cards are taken. On the top left are the casino's chips. On the bottom right part of the table are the control buttons for the game.

Card Values

"Blackjack" Combination

"Blackjack" is the combination of two cards: Ace and a card worth 10 points in either order.

The Bets

The Jackpot

You can only play for the jackpot when playing "for REAL".

To win the jackpot you must play with 3 hands and get a blackjack in each hand.

The Rules of the Game

Press the "DEAL" button to deal the cards. In the beginning of the first game the deck is shuffled and the player is asked to divide the deck into two parts with a shuffle (a red card). The cards are dealt from the deck until this shuffle appears. After that, in the beginning of a new game all the cards are returned to the deck; they are shuffled and the player will insert the shuffle again.

The game is played with 6 decks of 52 cards.

The game goes between the player and the dealer. The player can play on several boxes (as if several players were playing). The aim of the game is to get 21 points or a sum close to 21. If the sum of the points is bigger than 21 the player "busts" and loses his bet.

The rules for the dealer are very simple. If he has 16 or less points in his hand he is obliged to draw a card. If he has 17 or more points he must stop.

The dealer deals two cards to the player followed by one card face up to himself. Cards are dealt first to the player until he stops, or the sum of his points reaches or goes over 21.

The player can take an additional card ("HIT" button) or stop ("STAND" button). Once the player and dealer have both stopped, if the sum of the player's cards is less than that of the dealer's cards the player is considered to have lost and loses his bet. If the sums of the dealer and player's cards are equal it is a draw and the player gets his bet back. In the case of the player's win (but without him having a blackjack) the pay-out is equivalent to 100% of his bet. For example, having placed 10 chips and won, the player gets both the 10 chips of his bet back and an additional 10 chips as winnings.

If the player gets a blackjack then the pay-out is equivalent to 150% of the sum of the bet (3:2), i.e. if he placed 10 chips the player receives the 10 chips of his bet and 15 chips as winnings. In the case of a blackjack for the dealer the game immediately stops with the payout of the winnings according to the player's blackjack 1:1 and all the other players lose.

Double

If the player only has two cards in his hand he may double his bet ("DOUBLE" button). If he does so a sum equal to his first bet is subtracted from his account and then he is automatically dealt one more card, after which dealing to this hand stops.

Split

If the player only has two cards in his hand and both are of the same face value then he may split them ("SPLIT" button). If he does so the amount of his bet is transferred to one card and an equal amount is placed on the second card. Now the player is playing with two hands. In this case the rules remain exactly the same but with one exception - a "blackjack" on the splitted hands is not considered a "blackjack" and pays in the ratio 1:1. It is possible to have up to three splits on one hand.

It is possible to split several times. For example, the combination 5 and 5 is dealt. The player splits. On the first hand he receives another 5. The player can split once again and as a result play on three hands.

Surrender

Immediately after receiving the first two cards you can decide to surrender ("SURRENDER" button). The hand will be considered lost but the half of your wager will be refunded.

Surrender is available only when the dealer's first card is not an ace. Once a player draws a card the surrender option is no longer available.

Insurance

Insurance is a game of its own within blackjack, and gives you the chance to protect yourself against the situation when the dealer has blackjack.

If the dealer's first card is an ace, he is considered to have a fair chance of getting blackjack. If you believe that the dealer's second card would be of value 10, you may buy insurance against dealer's blackjack. It is a side bet at the price of half your initial bet. If the dealer does have blackjack, the insurance pays 2 to 1, corresponding to the amount of your initial bet. Insurance bet loses when dealer doesn't have blackjack.

Even Money

Once you have been dealt with the blackjack combination and the dealer's first card is an ace you can choose the "even money" option. Even money means the dealer will give you 1:1 (instead of 3:2) guaranteed payoff regardless of his cards. In case of rejecting the "even money" option and the dealer having blackjack you get your wager back and win nothing.

The Control Buttons for the Game