How To Play Blackjack

How To Play Blackjack

Take some of the pressure away from sitting down at a table for the first time or for the next time you plan to play blackjack. Join our resident beginner, Priestly, as he learns all about the ins and outs of how to play blackjack, from the history to introductory betting techniques. Casino 101 covers blackjack strategies, hand signals, and some general casino etiquette.

Blackjack Overview

The game is played with one or more decks of cards and players are wagering that their hand will beat the dealer’s hand. Initially, the player and the dealer each receive two cards. The dealer exposes one card (up card) and the unexposed card (hole card) is tucked under the exposed card. If a player or the dealer is dealt a Blackjack, it is an automatic winner. The player blackjack is paid immediately (see table odds for amount) unless the dealer also receives a Blackjack, which would result in a tie or push.

Players have the option of taking insurance when the dealer’s up card is an ace. Players may take additional cards (hits) to improve their two-card hand, with the objective being to get as close to 21 without going over. If the player’s hand exceeds a total of 21, it is an automatic loser. The dealer stands on both hard 17 and soft 17’s. If the dealer’s hand breaks (over 21), all remaining players’ hands (totals of 21 or less) are automatically paid. If the dealer’s hand does not break, the dealer’s total and the player’s total are compared for a win, loss or push determination. (Note: The dealer’s hand is hit after the players’ hands.)

Blackjack Games Available

6 & 8-Deck Shoe Game
All players’ cards are face up
Players cannot touch cards

Terms Used In Blackjack

Blackjack

Blackjack is when a player’s first two cards are an ace and another card having a value of 10 (ten, jack, queen or king). Blackjack pays odds of 3 to 2 unless the dealer also has a Blackjack, in which case it is called a “push” and neither party wins.

Push

When both the dealer’s hand and the player’s hand total the same and neither party wins.

Doubling Down

A player may elect to double down after receiving their first two cards. To double down, place an additional wager up to the value of your initial bet, in the betting circle next to the original wager. When doubling the player will only receive one hit card.

Splitting Pairs

If you are dealt two cards of the same value, you may split the cards into two separate hands and play each hand individually. You must bet the same amount as your original bet on each split hand. If you split aces, you get only one card on each ace. You may also double down on split hands.

A player is allowed to split 3 times for a total of 4 hands except for Aces. After splitting Aces, players are limited to 1 card dealt to each Ace.

Surrender

A player may elect to surrender after receiving their first two cards as long as the dealer does not have a Blackjack. The player will receive half of their bet back and their cards will be removed from the round of play.

Insurance

If the dealer’s up card is an ace, you may take “insurance.” You are betting that the dealer’s down card has a value of 10 to make Blackjack. You may bet up to half of your original bet. If the dealer has Blackjack, your original bet loses and the insurance is paid at odds of 2 to 1. If the dealer does not have Blackjack, the insurance bet is taken down.

Optional In Between Wager

Prior to the start of the hand, players may elect to bet on the In Between bet. The In Between bet wins if the dealer up card is in between the players initial two cards or if the dealer up card matches both of the players initial two cards (triple match). This bet pays odds, depending on the number of cards in between.

Paytable

Jackpot Party Blackjack Progressive

How To Play

Jackpot Party Blackjack Progressive is an optional bet that involves the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s first two cards. To win, you need the dealer to have an Ace for their up card or for the dealer to have a Blackjack.

Getting Started

To begin each round, make a standard blackjack bet and the $5 progressive bet. The dealer then follows the house procedures for blackjack.

How To Win

If the dealer up card is an Ace and they do not have a blackjack, then every player that made the progressive bet will be paid $15. In the event the dealer has a blackjack, a player that made the progressive wager will use their two cards along with the dealer’s two cards to make a four-card poker hand. The bet considers the best hand possible among the four-card poker hand.

Jackpot Party Blackjack Progressive Paytable