Blackjack Rules

 The basic, primary rule of Black Jack is to score 21 points or less with the cards in your hand. The game is played against the dealer so it does not matter what the other players receive, it will not affect your result.

Before any cards are dealt, the players must place a bet on the hand to be dealt. This is done by placing the bet in the designated space in front of the table. The dealer then deals two cards to each of the players and two to himself (one of the dealer's cards is dealt face up and one is dealt face down). Face cards (kings, queens and jacks) count as 10, an ace counts as one or 11. The player may choose the ace's value and it may change from 11 to 1 as many times as the player decides provided that the total held does not exceed 21. All other cards are counted at their face value.

"BLACK JACK":
If any player's first two cards are an ace and a 10 or face card, they win. However, if the dealer also has a blackjack, it is a standoff, as are all ties or pushes, the entire amount of money bet by the drawing parties is returned.

A winning Black Jack hand pays the player 3 to 2.

"HIT or STAND":
A hit is where a player requests another card (which the player signifies by scraping the table with his cards or a similar hand motion). A stand means no more cards required (which the player signals by placing his cards under his wager or moving his hand in a horizontal direction). If the player hits and busts (goes over 21), he immediately turns his cards over and his wager is lost.

"DOUBLE DOWN":
The player is allowed to double the bet on his first two cards and draw one additional card only to improve his hand. Once this extra card is drawn the player's go is then over.

"SPLITTING PAIRS":
If the first two cards a player is dealt are a pair, he may split them into two separate hands, bet the same amount on each and then play them separately. Aces receive only one additional card. After splitting, A-10 counts as 21 and not as Black Jack.

"INSURANCE":
If the dealer's facing card is an ace, the player may take insurance, a bet not exceeding one-half his original bet. If the dealer's down card is a 10 or any face card, the player wins 2 to 1. Any other card means a win for the dealer.

"SURRENDER":
Where permitted, a player may give up his first two cards and lose only one-half his original bet.

The dealer must draw on 16 and stand on 17.