Regular Blackjack Rules

Blackjacks attained after a split are treated as 21 rather than a regular blackjack in comparison to the dealer’s hand. Re-splitting If the player receives another matching card after splitting their initial paired hand, most blackjack games allow the player to split again or re-split.

• Regular Poker Rules
• Normal Blackjack Rules

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games. It is played around the globe in live casinos, as well as online. If you are interested in getting in to blackjack put don’t know the rules you will find that it’s easy to learn how to play blackjack. Following are the basic rules of this popular card game.

Table rules, often referred to as table conditions, are like rules of the table, they’re going to be displayed either on the tabletop or somewhere on a sign next to you. I’m going to discuss a couple of those table rules. Let’s take a look at those. Blackjack odds are almost always going to pay out at 3-2 or 6-5. The rules of blackjack are easy to learn. The goal of the game is to beat the dealer by getting a better hand, and the best possible hand is 21. At the beginning of the round, players are dealt two cards face up. The dealer also starts the round with two cards, but only one of them is faced up and visible to the players at the table. Winning tactics in Blackjack require that the player play each hand in the optimum way, and such strategy always takes into account what the dealer's upcard is. When the dealer's upcard is a good one, a 7, 8, 9, 10-card, or ace for example, the player should not stop drawing until a total of 17 or more is reached.

Blackjack is played one-on-one against the dealer. Although there may be several players sitting at one table, each player is only in competition with the dealer. The objective of the game is to acquire a hand of cards that is worth a higher value than that of the dealer, without breaking a total of 21. Breaking 21 is known as “busting” and results in an immediate loss.

The value of a hand in blackjack is determined by adding together the values of the cards in the hand. Numbered cards are worth their face value (i.e. the 4 of Spades is worth 4 points); Aces are worth either 1 or 11 depending on the other cards in the hand; and 10s, Jacks, Queens and Kings are worth 10 points. A Jack (or other 10-valued card) and an Ace are worth a total of 21 together and this hand is known as “blackjack”, which is where the game gets its name.

Regular Poker Rules

Before a game of blackjack begins, players must place bets. If you are playing a free game of blackjack online then you can play with fun money. In a live casino or real money game of blackjack online you will bet real money. Always choose a table with limits that meet your bankroll and never bet more than you can afford to lose.

Once bets are placed the dealer gives each player two cards, face up on the table. The dealer takes two cards as well, but one is placed face down. Based on a player’s hand and the dealer’s face up card, the player has several options. The player may:

• “Stand” with his initial 2-card hand
• “Hit”, asking the dealer for more cards to increase the value of his hand
• “Double Down”, doubling his bet and taking only one more card
• “Split” his hand into two separate hands, provided his initial hand was a pair

It is important to note that rules regarding doubling down and splitting vary from casino to casino, so it’s important to double-check the rules before you begin playing.

Once the players are satisfied with their hands the dealer reveals his face down card. If his hand is worth 16 or less he must hit. Also, some casino blackjack rules require the dealer to hit on “soft 17” as well, which is a card made up of a 6 and an Ace valued at 11 points. Once the dealer has hit, if necessary, hands are compared and winners are determined.

Again, it is important to note that more specific blackjack rules vary from casino to casino and blackjack variation to variation. Familiarize yourself with the particular rules of a specific game before you begin to play for real money.

• How to Play

A unique combination of chance & skill

The popluarity of blackjack stems from its unique combination of chance and skill. The object of the game is to form a hand closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. At Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, blackjack is played with multiple decks of cards and is dealt from a shoe.

Card Values

Face cards (Jack, Queen and King) are worth 10. Cards 2 through 10 retain their face values.

Aces are worth 1 or 11, depending on the hand. Any time an Ace can be used as either 1 or 11, it is called a soft hand. Any time an Ace must be used as 1 (or it would force your hand to exceed 21), it is called a hard hand.

Playing Blackjack

Players place a wager in their corresponding circle. The dealer then waves a hand over the table, closing all bets. Once the first card is placed on the table, all original bets must remain the same until the conclusion of the hand. Two cards are dealt face-up to each player, and two cards (one face-up, one face-down) are placed in front of the dealer. The card dealt face down is known as the dealer hole card.

What is a Blackjack

A hand of Ace and any 10-value card with the original two cards is called blackjack; it pays 3 to 2 (win $15 on a $10 bet).

Normal Blackjack Rules

The Hitting Round

Players can improve their hands by taking additional cards; this is known as hitting. If a player wants an additional card, they make a scratching motion behind or beside the betting area. A player may take cards until satisfied or until the hand exceeds 21—that is called a break. Once a player decides to stand (no more cards), a horizontal hand motion is made above their wager.

Important note: Dealers are not allowed to take verbal commands when addressing hands; a hand signal over the table must be given by each player.

End Game

Once all players complete their hands, the dealer reveals the hole card, placing both cards face up. The dealer draws until a total of hard 17 or better is achieved. The dealer is required to hit a soft 17 or less regardless of players’ hand values. If the dealer breaks, all remaining hands win and are paid even money. If the dealer hits to a total of hard 17 or better, hands closer to 21 than the dealer win. Hands totaling less than the dealer lose. If the dealer and player have the same total, the result is a push: no one wins, no one loses.

Important note: The player loses if the dealer has blackjack and the player has a total of 21, which is not blackjack.

Insurance

If the dealer’s up-card is an Ace, players are offered insurance. Insurance is an additional wager betting that the dealer does indeed have blackjack. A player may wager up to half of the original bet by placing cheques on the Insurance Line. At this time, any player dealt blackjack can immediately be paid dollar for dollar on their wager by saying “even money,” regardless of the dealer hole card.

The dealer then closes insurance with a hand signal and checks the hole card. If the dealer does indeed have blackjack, insurance pays 2 to 1, and the hand is over. If the dealer does not have blackjack, the insurance wager loses and the hand continues.

How to Split in Blackjack

If a player’s first two cards are of equal value, the player has the option of splitting them to create two separate hands. When splitting, an additional wager equal to the original bet must be made, and a hand signal (two fingers spread apart) must be given to the dealer. The player will play the first hand until satisfied, give a stand hand signal, and then complete the second hand. When splitting Aces, the player receives only one card for each hand.

Important note: When a split results in a hand consisting of a 10-value card and Ace, the value now counts as 21 since blackjack is only possible on the two original cards.

How to Double Down in Blackjack

A confident player may wish to double down by making an additional wager up to the amount of the original bet. Doubling down can be done on any two-card combination, except on blackjack and split Aces. A player taking this option receives only one more card for the hand. All other rules apply.

And those are the basics of blackjack. Strategy cards are available at Sweet Grass Gift Shop for just a few dollars. They’re easy to use, and they’re allowed at the tables. For information on how to play other table games offered at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, just ask a member of our staff.

If you like blackjack, you might want to try Double Deck Pitch. It plays much like regular blackjack except the dealer operates with two decks of cards in-hand and the cards are dealt face-down.

Blackjack Helpful Hints

• Players are not allowed to touch the cards.
• Suits are of no significance.

Blackjack Side Bets

21+3 and Top 3
Now offering two bets for the price of one! Place a 21+3 wager and you’ll also receive a Top 3 wager. Make a qualifying 21+3 and Top 3 hand from your two cards and the dealer’s up-card:

21+3 Payouts

Top 3 Payouts

An Ace-Two-Three sequence wins. However, an Ace may not be combined with any other sequence of cards for purposes of determining a winning hand (for example, King-Ace-Two). Once all 21+3 Top 3 wagers and winnings have been removed from the layout, all Blackjack house rules will apply.