Blackjack
General Rules
The object of Blackjack is to beat the dealer with a hand of cards that does
not exceed 21. Blackjack is played between a dealer and a single player. Our
blackjack game is played with six decks of cards.
The hand's value is the sum of its' cards:
- Face cards (10, J, Q, K) count as 10
- Aces count as either 1 or 11, player's choice
- All other cards count as their face value
Once you place a bet, play begins. Both you and the dealer receive two cards. The initial two cards are dealt face up to the player, with the dealer's first card being dealt face down and the dealer's second card being dealt face up. The dealer's first face-up card is called the upcard. The face down card belonging to the dealer card is known as the hole card.
After the initial deal, the dealer settles your hands. You can continue to take hits (draw cards) until you want to stand (stop drawing) or until the hand goes over 21, called a bust. You can hit or stand on any card total of 21 or below.
After you have completed your turns, the dealer must draw cards as long as his or her total is less than 16 and must stand when the total is 17 or more.
Our blackjack game is played with 6 decks that are shuffled after each round.
Winning/Losing
You win Blackjack by beating the dealer's hand. You must hold a hand equal to
or less than 21 that also beats the dealer's hand. If the first two cards you
receive are Blackjack (total 21), and the dealer does not have Blackjack, you
win immediately.
If you go over 21 (bust) or the dealer's hand is greater than yours (21 or under), then you lose your bet. If you stand with any total under 21 and the dealer busts, then you win your bet.
If you tie the dealer, it is called a push, and neither side wins.
The dealer settles nearly all bets at even money. However, if you have Blackjack and the dealer has an ordinary hand, you receive 3 to 2 payment.
Doubling Down
In the process of drawing cards, you may find an opportunity to double down if
you have certain card combinations (such as a total of 10 or 11). This option
makes it possible for you to double your initial bet under favourable
conditions. When you double down, you simply place your additional bet (equal
to your original bet) aside your original bet.
You are dealt one and only one additional card at that point, completing your hand.
Splitting Pairs
You can split when dealt a pair of any kind (e.g. two aces or any pair of
cards whose value is 10). Splitting pairs means you choose to make two hands
out of one hand. Your original bet remains in effect for each hand. Thus, it
effectively doubles the amount of money on the line.
To split your pairs, you separate the identical cards, leaving them face up, and place an amount of chips equal to your original wager in front of your new hand. You then proceed to play each hand independently, requesting cards or standing, as desired. You can win, lose, or bust with either or both hands.
Insurance
When the dealer's up card is an ace, he or she will ask the players if they
want to buy insurance. Insurance is actually a type of secondary bet; you are
betting that the dealer has a Blackjack.
To take out insurance, place half of your original wager in the "insurance" area marked on the board. The dealer will then check the hole card to see if it's a Blackjack. If the dealer does indeed have a Blackjack, you are paid off at 2 to 1. However, you also lose your original bet (if you do not have Blackjack), making the hand a wash.
If the dealer does not have a Blackjack, you lose the insurance bet and play continues as normal.
"On Fire"
On Fire is a unique feature to our game of blackjack. It makes for a more exciting game as well as offering better overall payouts.
To be "On Fire" you must win three hands in a row. You will see the "On Fire" gauge at the bottom of the game screen. Upon this gauge filling up, you will be "on fire". Once you have accomplished this, all winning blackjack hands pay you at 2-1 odds instead of 3-2 odds. Dramatically increasing your potential pay out. However, if you are on fire and you lose a hand, you lose your current on fire status and must go back and try to win three hands in a row.
