Picture cards all have the value 10. Number cards, 2-10, count as face value and aces are valued at either 1 or 11, depending on what suits the player the best.
Online play takes place against a computerized dealer. The dealer is dealt one or two cards (depending on the set of rules used), and the player is dealt two cards in each box. This is called the initial deal. The player's cards are dealt face up. One of the dealer's cards is also dealt face up.
Based on the face up cards of the initial deal the player has two basic options. He can either "HIT" and receive another card to add to his two face up cards or he can "STAND", passing on the turn to the next box (remember you can play up to five boxes per round).
A decision to "HIT" will either render a "bust" or another decision to "HIT" or "STAND".
A player can keep hitting new cards until he's satisfied or busts (cards adding to more than 21) and loses.
When all player boxes have made their decisions it's the dealers turn to flip his second initial card (the one dealt face down) or deal himself a second card. Based on the total amount of the two cards the dealer acts based on a set of fixed rules.
If the dealer's total is less than 17 the house will automatically draw. If the dealer's total is 17 or above, the house will always stand.
A combination of an ace and any TEN-card on the initial deal is called a BlackJack or a natural. Unless the dealer also makes a BlackJack, the player's BlackJack hand pays bet 3 to 2. If the dealer makes BlackJack too, the result is a PUSH.
Initial deal
- Box 1: K+9 = 19
- Box 2: 7+5 = 12
- Box 3: J+3 = 13
Dealer: 9+X
- Box 1 has 19 and stands.
- Box 2 has 12 and hits
- receiving a 10 for a total of 22. BUST!
- Box 3 has 13 and hits also. Third card is an 8 for a total of 21.
Dealer flips its second initial deal card revealing a 10 for a total of 19 and must stand.
Box 1 PUSH (bet returned). Box 2 LOSS (bet lost). Box 3 WIN (bet pays 1 to 1).
Basic Features
The following features are dependant on the chosen rule set and may vary.
Please check the individual sets for variations.
Insurance
If the visible card of the dealer is an ace, the player may buy "insurance" by betting an additional 0.5 times his initial bet. In case of the dealer hitting a BlackJack, the player's original bet will lose, but the insurance will win 2 to 1 for a total even result. Thus, the insurance win covers the loss of the original bet.
If the dealer does not make a BlackJack the insurance bet is lost and play continues as normal.
Even money
A player being dealt a BlackJack whilst the dealer flips an ace can decide to go for EVEN MONEY.
This means reducing his win from 3:2 to 1:1, but also not risking a PUSH if the dealer also makes a BlackJack. This Even Money option is only available when the dealer shows an ace.
Splitting
If a player is dealt two cards of the same value he is entitled to "split" the cards, double his initial bet, and will now be playing two hands separately. The first hand is dealt a second card. The player must decide whether he would like to "STAND" or "HIT". Once the player has finished the first hand, he moves onto the second, repeating the same process. After the player is satisfied with both hands play continues to the next box. A player can split a split hand. So an initial deal of 8+8 could be split in to two hands of 8. If another 8 is dealt on any of them making 8+8 again, that hand could be split again making a total of three separate hands of 8.
No matter the outcome, note that split hands that end up with a total of 21 will not receive BlackJack.
Double Down
The player may double his bet after viewing his initial two cards. He will then only be allowed one additional card to complete his hand.
Keyboard shortcuts
The following keyboard shortcuts can be used in BlackJack:
- F1=ReBet
- F2=Deal
- F5=Hit
- F6=Stand
- F7=Double
- F8=Split
Rule sets
There are numerous variations on how the game of BlackJack is played.
Here at CasinoRoom.com we are trying to provide your favourite variation of the game BlackJack.
Currently however we support only one rule set CasinoRoom.com House rules.
