The Object
In the game of Blackjack, each player’s wager is a bet against the dealer’s hand. The object of this card game is to have the total point value of the cards dealt to you exceed the point value of the dealer’s hand without going over 21. If you draw cards that total more than 21, your hand breaks and you lose.
The Play
The dealer starts the game by dealing two cards face up to each player. The dealer takes one card face up. The dealer’s second card is dealt face down and placed beneath the first card. All cards are dealt from a dealing “shoe.” Each card assumes face value.
Kings, Queens and Jacks count as ten. The ace counts either as one or eleven, which ever you choose. For the dealer, the ace is also considered as either one or eleven. If you feel you need additional cards to beat the dealer, you gesture one at a time for additional cards by tapping the table (called “hits”) until you decide to stand. You must gesture to stand by waving your hand over your cards.
The dealer must draw on any point total of 16 or less and must stand on any point total of 17 or more. If a dealer’s point total exceeds 21, the dealer breaks and all players win who have a point total of 21 or less. Otherwise, the dealer pays all hands that exceed the dealer’s point total, takes all bets that are less and leaves all bets that equal the dealer’s point total (called “pushes”). All winning bets (other than Blackjack) are paid 1 to 1 or “even money.”
The Terminology
Blackjack – If your two initial cards total 21, you have Blackjack. Blackjack pays 3 to 2. For our fun nights, to make it easier, we change the payout from 3 to 2 to 2 to 1 on Blackjack payout. You will be paid at this time if the dealer does not have an ace or ten-value card as a face up card. If the dealer has a ten-value card, the dealer will check the hole card for an ace. If the dealer has Blackjack the hand is a push.
Splitting Pairs – If your first two cards have the same numerical value, you may split them into two hands provided the bet on the second hand equals the original bet. Only after the first hand is played and completed may you act on the second hand. You may double down on these hands. Pairs may be re-split two times for a total of three hands. Also, if the split pair are aces, you are limited to a one-card draw on each hand.
Doubling Down – After receiving the first two cards, except for Blackjack, or the first two cards of any split pair or a point count of 21 in two cards, you may elect to wager an additional amount not to exceed the value of the original bet. In any double down, you draw only one additional card.
Hit or Stand – You should indicate your decision to hit or stand with hand signals. To gesture a “hit,” the player must tap the table next to his or her hand. To gesture a “stand,” the player must wave his or her hand over the cards. Decisions to split pairs or double down should be indicated verbally. The dealer is the only person allowed to handle, remove or alter the location of the cards.
The responsibility for correctly computing the point count total of the player’s cards lies solely with the player.
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