The object of Blackjack is to end up with a hand that will come closer than the dealer to 21, without exceeding 21. Blackjack may be played with multiple decks of cards.
RULES: Cards are counted at their face value. All face cards count as 10. Aces count as either 1 or 11. A Blackjack is a total of 21 on the original two cards. Blackjack pays 3 to 2 (one and a half times the bet). A Blackjack cannot lose; it will push (tie) if the dealer also has Blackjack. When dealt any other two-card combination, the player can stand (refuse additional cards) or, when it is one’s turn, signal the dealer to hit (receive additional cards). Players signal their desire to stand by waving their hand palm down in front of them. They signal they would like to take an additional card by scratching the felt in front of them. Players have the option of surrendering one half of their wager before drawing any cards to their hand, as long as the dealer does not have a Blackjack.
If the player’s hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, but does not exceed 21, or the dealer’s count exceeds 21, the player wins. A winning hand pays 1 to 1. In the event of a tie, neither hand wins nor loses. The dealer must draw to 16 and stand when 17 or more is reached.
SPLITTING PAIRS: When the first two cards received are of the same value, the player has the option of splitting them to form two separate hands. Pairs may be split two times for a total of three hands, except for Aces that may only be split once. Play must be completed on one hand before playing the next one. A player may double down after splitting and receiving the second card on the split hand. The wager on each hand must equal the original wager. Each hand may be hit as many times as desired. When splitting Aces, each Ace may receive only one card.
DOUBLE DOWN: Players have the option of increasing their original wager by Doubling Down after the first two cards are received. The Double Down wager may be an amount up to the amount of the original wager. The hand receives only one additional card.
INSURANCE: When the dealer’s up card is an Ace, the player may make an additional wager known as Insurance. At the dealer’s prompt, one may wager up to half of their original wager. The player is betting that the dealer has a Blackjack. The insurance wager is paid 2 to 1 if the dealer’s hole card is a 10. Remember: the Insurance wager is completely separate from the original wager. The game continues as normal after Insurance activity is settled. When a customer has a blackjack and the dealer’s up card is an Ace, the customer has the option of taking “Even Money” for their Blackjack in lieu of placing an insurance wager.
OPTIONAL WAGERS: Players have the option to place a side wager called Lucky Ladies where players are paid for receiving a point total of 20 in the first two cards dealt. The pay table is as follows:
Any 20……………………………………………………………………………..4 to 1
Suited 20……………………………………………………………………….10 to 1
Matched 20…………………………………………………………………. 25 to 1
Queen of Hearts Pair…………………………………………………200 to 1
Queen of Hearts Pair with a Dealer Blackjack……1,000 to 1
