21 - BLACKJACK
THE CARDS
In "21" the value of
the cards is as marked (2=2, 3=3, etc.) "Face cards" - King, Queen,
Jack and 10 count as 10 - the Ace counts as 11 or, if you choose, as one.
THE DEAL
The dealer deals two cards -
face down - to each of the players and two cards to himself, one face down and
the other face up.
THE OBJECT OF THE GAME
The object of the game is to
have your cards total 21, or as near to 21 as possible. If your cards
total more than 21 you have gone "BUSTED." (Should you go
"busted" you should turn your cards over so the dealer knows you
lost.)
PLAYING THE GAME
If your first two cards are an
Ace and a "face card" (10 value card) you have "Blackjack"
and will win one and a half to one or 3 to 2. You cannot lose, but if the dealer
should also get Blackjack it is a stand-off or push. If you feel the total of
your first two cards can beat the dealer's total, you "stand pat", do
not draw any additional cards and tuck the corner of your cards under you bet.
This lets the dealer know you don't want to hit your hand. If you feel that the
dealer has cards that can beat your total, you scratch your cards on the table
to let the dealer know you want another card (or a "hit"). Continue
hitting your hand until you feel you have a high enough total to beat the dealer
(then stand pat), or you go "BUSTED." After each player has either
busted or stands pat, the dealer exposes his/her face down (or "hole")
card. If the dealers two cards total 16 or less, he/she must "hit"
until he/she reaches 17. The dealer must hit a "soft 17" (any
combination of cards totaling 6 with an Ace). The dealer cannot "hit"
after reaching any total of 17 or over. If your hand's total is higher than the
dealers or, if the dealer "BUSTS", you win even money for your
bet.
DOUBLE DOWN BETS
A "double down" bet,
is made by making an additional bet equal to or less than your original bet,
after you have received your first two cards. This bet is placed next to the
original bet and you turn your cards over (the dealer will then give you one
card face down). You may "double down" on any first two cards, but you
will only receive one additional card to go with your first two cards. This is a
good bet for the player when your first two cards total 10 or 11 unless the
dealer has an Ace up.
SPLITTING
You may split any pair (two
cards of the same value, including 10s and face cards). To split a pair you must
match your original bet and turn your cards over. Your single hand now becomes
two separate hands. The hit cards are dealt face up and you must use hand
signals to indicate weather you want to hit or stand. Scratch your finger on the
layout for a hit and wave your hand side to side if you want to stand. You may
split up to three times, splitting one hand into four hands, with one exception,
Aces can only be split one time into two hands. When splitting Aces, the hit
cards will be dealt face down. (If your hit card is a face card this is not a
blackjack, it will be counted as 21 and it pays even money if you win.) You can
not double down after you have split.
INSURANCE
"Insurance" is offered by the dealer every time the
dealer's up card is an Ace. This bet must be made before the dealer checks to see
if he/she has blackjack. You can make an "insurance" bet of up to one
half of your original bet. (Example: if your original bet is $5 then you may bet
up to $2.50 on the "insurance" bet.) If you make an
"Insurance" bet, you are betting that the dealer has blackjack, you
win 2 to 1 if the dealer does have blackjack and you lose if the dealer does not
have blackjack.
To
Learn To Play Page.
BASIC 21 STRATEGY PAGE