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In Blackjack, you compete against the dealer. The object of Blackjack consists of you trying to get nearer to a point total of 21 than the dealer, without exceeding 21. Should you or the dealer exceed a point total of 21, this is known as a "bust". If you bust, you lose your wager. Should the dealer bust, the dealer pays you for point totals less or equal to 21. If there is a tie (known as a "push"), you keep your original wager.

Blackjack
A Blackjack is when the first two cards dealt in the initial deal is an Ace in combination with a card valued at 10 (ten, Jack, Queen or King). A Blackjack pays 3 to 2.

Card Values
Each card counts as the numerical value of the card except Jacks, Queens and Kings which count as 10, and an Ace which counts as either 1 or 11, whichever you choose. When a Blackjack is dealt, the Ace counts as 11. In other kinds of hands, you use the Ace according to your need.

For example:
Should you be dealt an Ace and a 4, this equals a point total of 5 or 15. Should you draw a third card to improve your hand and are dealt a 5, the point total equals 10 or 20 (Ace + 4 + 5 = 10 or 20). In this case the Ace is used as an 11 as a point value of 20 is a strong hand. Any hand that contains an Ace counted as 11 is called a soft hand.

In the above example, had your third card dealt been an 8, the point total would equal 13 (Ace + 4 + 8 = 13). The Ace must be counted as 1 (otherwise the hand would bust), giving a total of 13 and, depending on the dealer's card, the chance to draw again. Any hand that contains an Ace counted as 1 is called a hard hand.

A Blackjack always beats a multicard combination with a point total of 21, for example, 5 + 9 + 7 = 21.

Dealer's hand
The dealer must abide by the house rules and has to draw a card on any point total of 16 or less and stand on any point total of 17 or more.

Player's hand
You are allowed to take as many cards as you like as long as you do not exceed a point total of 21.

Betting Options

Insurance
In the initial deal if the dealer's face-up card is an Ace, you will be given the option to take out insurance. You may bet up to half your original stake but will lose if the dealer does not draw a Blackjack. Insurance bets pay 2 to 1 if the dealer does draw a Blackjack. Your original bet is paid as normal.

Surrender
Should your initial hand be weak, you have the option to "surrender" except if the dealer's first card is an Ace. Should you choose to surrender, you lose half your original wager.

Double
This is an additional wager that gives you an opportunity to take advantage of a strong hand. You will receive one card only. You may click on double to bet the amount of your original wager on your first two cards on any total except a Blackjack. Double bets pay even money (1 to 1).

Split
If your first two cards have the same numerical value, you may split them into two hands by clicking on split to add a wager equal to the original bet. One card of the initial hand goes into each hand, and then a card is dealt to the first hand. After you have completed your first hand (elected to stand or have bust), a second card is dealt to the other split hand and playing continues. A maximum of 4 splits is allowed. If a pair of Aces is split and another Ace is dealt, this hand cannot be split again. Should the second card dealt, of a split pair of Aces, be anything other than an Ace, this hand is complete - no doubling can take place and no third card can be drawn. If you are dealt 2 Aces and you split these and get a Blackjack, this is considered a multicard combination with a point total of 21 and the payout is 1 to 1. After splitting a pair, with the exception of Aces, you may Double. Split bets pay even money (1 to 1).

Basic Strategy
Basic strategy for Blackjack is the set of plays you should make to maximise your advantage. To play blackjack to win, you should know the basic strategy, as it's unlikely that an inexperienced player could sit down and play the game to his advantage. The average player makes mistakes about 15% of the time, and they cost dearly. An average player who doesn't use a basic strategy can give the house a 1 to 2% advantage.

Player's Hand	Dealer's up Card
Player's Hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
7 or Less	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
8	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
9	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
ACE – 2	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
ACE – 3	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
ACE – 4	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
ACE – 5	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
ACE – 6	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
ACE – 7	H	D	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	S
ACE – 8	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
ACE – 9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
2 – 2	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H	H
3 – 3	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H
4 – 4	H	H	H	SP	SP	H	H	H	H	H
5 – 5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
6 – 6	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H	H
7 – 7	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	H	H	H	H
8 – 8	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP
9 – 9	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	S	SP	SP	S	S
10 – 10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A – A	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP
H – HIT S – STAND D – DOUBLE SP – SPLIT