Blackjack: Rules of the Game

Betting – Players may place wagers in the betting circle for each hand they wish to play. Many of our Blackjack games offer multi-hand play, where players can choose to play from 1 to 3 hands simultaneously against the Dealer, others are single-hand play. When at least one qualifying bet is placed (i.e. meets the minimum bet requirement), the Deal button will become active.

Dealing – When the Deal button is clicked, the Dealer will deal two face-up cards to each Player hand that has a qualified bet, then one card (in European Blackjack and Single-Deck Blackjack) or two cards (all other rule variations) to the Dealer's hand. For the Dealer's hand, the first card is face up and the second, when allowed, is face down.

Checking for Blackjack – If the Dealer's hand has two cards with an Ace showing, the Dealer will offer insurance. The Player may decline or accept insurance for each hand in play by clicking either Pass (decline) or Insure (accept, which places an additional wager equal to half the original wager for that hand). Then the Dealer will peek at the down card to check for Blackjack. If the Dealer has Blackjack, insurance wagers pay 2-to-1 and all original hand wagers lose (unless the player also has Blackjack, in which case that hand's wager is a push). If the Dealer does not have Blackjack, insurance wagers lose and play starts with the first player hand on the right.

In games where the Dealer starts with only one card, there is no checking for Blackjack and play starts with the first player hand on the right.

Surrender Option – Some games offer a "surrender" option after the Dealer peeks and does not have Blackjack. If surrender is allowed, player may concede a hand before playing it, forfeiting just half the wager for that hand.

Player's Hand – A Player with a hand not having Blackjack and not surrendered may draw additional cards attempting to total as close to 21 as possible without exceeding 21. Player is free to stand at any point total or to ask for another card (a "hit") at any point total under 21. Player may double, split, double-after-splitting or re-split according to the rules variation in play. When all player hands have played out and if at least one player hand stands at a point total of 21 or less, then play proceeds to the Dealer's hand.

Dealer's Hand – The dealer reveals the face-down card or draws a second card and examines the point score to determine Dealer's play. Dealer must hit on all point totals of 16 or less. In general, the Dealer must stand on all totals of 17 or more, although some rules variations require the Dealer to hit on a Soft 17.

If Dealer busts, then any player hands still standing win and pay 1-to-1 on the wager. If Dealer stands on a point total, then Dealer point total is compared to each standing player hand, starting on the right, and all outstanding bets are resolved as either win, lose or push.