How To Play Blackjack Single Deck
Introduction
The history of the Blackjack card game itself probably spawned or originated in French casinos around 1700 where it was called "vingt-et-un" ("twenty-and-one") and has been played in the U.S. since the 1800's. It is named as such because if a player received a Jack of Spades and an Ace of Spades as the first two cards (Spade being the color black of course), the player was additionally remunerated.
Basic Rules
Blackjack is dealt with 1 deck of cards. The cards are shuffled at the completion of each hand. The object of Blackjack is for the total of your hand to be closer to 21 than the dealer's hand, without exceeding 21. In Blackjack, Aces count as either 1 or 11, face cards as 10, and number cards as their face value.
If you receive an Ace and a ten-value card as your first two cards, you have Blackjack and win one and a half times your bet, or 3:2. If the total value of your cards is closer to 21 than the dealer's, you win as much as you have wagered. If the total of your cards is more than 21, you Bust and lose your bet. If you and the dealer have the same card total (17 and up) neither of you win and your bet is returned to you in a push. Blackjack (made up of the two initial cards) beats a score of 21.
Player Options
Stand
Once you have received your initial two cards you must decide if would like to take additional cards. If you think that your hand can beat the dealer’s hand without taking additional cards, you may elect to Stand. The game will automatically stand when you are dealt a blackjack or if you have a total of 21.
Hit
If you wish to receive an additional card to add to your hand you can Hit and an additional card will be dealt to you.
Split
If your first two cards have the same point value, you may split them into two separate hands by placing a second bet equal to the original bet. You then proceed to draw additional cards for both hands. If you elect to split aces, you will only receive one additional card for each hand. If you split aces and receive a ten or face card on one of the hands, it is counted as 21 and not Blackjack.Re-splitting is not allowed. You many not double down after a split.
Double
After you are dealt two cards you have the option to double down if you have a total of 10 or 11. You would double down if you think that one additional card will allow you to beat the dealer's hand. To do so you must add an additional wager that is the same amount as your initial bet, and you are then dealt only one additional card. You may not double down after a split.
Insurance
Insurance is only offered when the dealers' first card is an Ace. Insurance is considered to be a game of its own within Blackjack. It allows you to try and protect your bet when you think that the dealer may have Blackjack. When buying insurance, you wager exactly half of your initial bet by pressing the insurance button. If the dealer has Blackjack, you are paid 2 to 1 on your insurance bet. If the dealer doesn't have Blackjack, you lose your insurance bet.
Checking for Blackjack
The dealer will check or peek at the face down dealer card if an Ace is showing. If the dealer's second card is a face card or a 10 (Blackjack) the card will turn over, display the value and the hand will finish. If, however the dealer's second card does not complete a Blackjack the card remains face down and the hand continues.
If the Dealers' first card is a 10 or a face card, no insurance will be offered, the second card will be checked (peek) and if it is an Ace the card will turn over, display the value and the hand will finish. If, however the dealer's second card does not complete a Blackjack the card remains face down and the hand continues.