Blackjack Game Guide: Courtesy of The Spin Room (A Victor Chandler Casino)

Objective

In Blackjack, the player (you) plays against the dealer (the house), independently of other players. Your goal is to draw cards ("hit") 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.

Rules

Once a player has bet, both the player and the dealer are dealt twocards each. The player's cards are dealt face up. The dealer's first card is dealt face down. The Ace can be used as 1 or 11 points.Any card combined with an Ace, other than a card that has a value of 10, is considered a "soft hand". Meaning that if the player has 4 and an Ace, it would be considered 5 or soft 15. The King, Queen, Jack and Ten are 10 points each; all other cards, are worth their face values. If the player's first two cards total 21, then it's a natural Blackjack. Blackjack is the highest hand.

If you are dealt any two cards other than a Blackjack, you may "stand" (refuse any further cards), or "hit" ( accept another card). A player who stands will not receive additional cards. Cards are dealt until the player stands or "busts" (exceeds 21). When you bust, you immediately lose your bet regardless of the dealer's hand result.

After the player's final actions, the dealer reveals the down card. If the dealer's hand is 16 or less, the dealer must continue to "hit" until reaching 17 or more. The dealer must stand on soft 17 and cannot take additional cards. If the dealer exceeds 21 ("bust"), and the player has stood without busting, the player wins. When the dealer stands on 17 or greater and has a higher count than the player - the dealer wins; if the player has the higher count - the player wins. If the player and the dealer have the same totals, it's a "push" (tie).

Options

Splitting When a player is dealt two cards with equal values, they have the option of "splitting" them into two separate hands. In order to "split", the initial bet has to be matched. Each hand is then played separately. If the player splits two Aces, only one more card is dealt to each hand. A hand can only be split once.

Doubling Down A player may double on their first two cards other than a Blackjack. When a player doubles, only one more card is dealt and the original bet has to be matched. Essentially, the player bets the hand can be won with one more card. You can also "double down" after "splitting" a pair.

Insurance When the dealer's up card is an Ace, the player is offered "insurance". Taking insurance means the player makes a second bet (of half the original bet) that the dealer's face down card is a ten card. If this is the case, the player is paid 2 to 1 on the insurance bet and the initial bet loses as it is beaten by the dealer's Blackjack. If the dealer does not have a natural Blackjack, the insurance bet is lost and the hand is played out as normal.

Even Money If the player has a Blackjack and the dealer's up card is an Ace, the player is offered "even money". Taking even money means the player will be paid 1 to 1 on the Blackjack and not 3 to 2 as normal. Taking even money means the player believes the dealer's face down card is a ten card. If the player chooses not to take even money and the dealer reveals a Blackjack, both hands tie. If no even money is taken and the dealer has no Blackjack, the player is paid at 3 to 2.

*The dealer may not split, double down, take insurance or even money.

Payouts

How to Play

1. Set your bet amount by clicking the appropriate chips in your chip tray. To lower your bet, shift+click or right click the appropriate chips in your chip tray. The amount you wish to bet is called your "in hand" value and is displayed. The default bet amount is 1 unit, the minimum is 1 unit, and the maximum is 100 units.

2. Once you have set your bet, click the bet circle on the blackjack table where you would like to place a bet. There are three bet circles (Left, Centre, Right). You may place up to three bets. The appropriate chips will appear on the table. To remove your bet(s) shift+click or right click the appropriate bets on the table. Those chips will disappear from the table. The minimum total bet amount per hand is 1 unit and the maximum is 100 units. The multiple hand bets are limited to the 100 units maximum total bet.

3. Click the Deal button. You will be dealt two cards face up. The dealer's first card will be dealt face down. The total of your two cards will be shown in white under the cards.

4. Depending on your hand, you will have up to four options:

Hit - receive another card.

Stand - refuse additional cards.

Double - the original bet is doubled and one more card is dealt. You are essentially betting the hand can be won with one more card.

Split - if you are dealt two cards of the same value such as two eights or a Jack and a Queen, the hand can be split. When a hand is split, each card is played separately. You must place the equivalent of the original bet on the second hand. If you split two Aces, only one more card will be dealt to each hand. A hand can only be split once, meaning if your third card was the same as the first two, it could not be used to create a third hand.

5. The result of the hand will be displayed in the user information panel. If you win, your balance increases and chips are added to your chip tray. Losses are subtracted from your balance. If you tie, your balance remains unchanged.

6. To play another hand, click the bet circle(s) on the blackjack table. To exit the game click the Close button in the upper right-hand corner or choose Exit Game from the Casino menu.

Tips

BASIC BLACKJACK STRATEGY
	PLAYER'S HAND	DEALER'S UP CARD
		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
	5-6-7-8	H	H	H	H	H	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
	13-14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	15-16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	17-18-19-20-21	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	A-2(13), A-3(14)	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
	A-4(15), A-5(16)	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
	A-6(17)	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
	A-7(18)	S	D	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	H
	A-8(19), A-9(20)	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
	A & A	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP	SP
	2 & 2 - 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 NS	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
	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	SP	SP	SP	S	S
	10 & 10 NS	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

H=Hit, S=Stand, D=Double Down, SP=Split, NS=Never Split

* This strategy does not guarantee that the player will win. It is a strategy that gives the player a better percentage of winning.

Betting

The minimum wager is 1 unit per hand and the maximum that can be played on the table is 100 units.

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