BlackJack
Black Jack is played with 2 standard decks of 52 cards. Jokers are not included.
What differentiates our Black Jack game from other Black Jack games is the possibility to play up to five boxes (hands) per round against the house.
The object of the game is to get your hand as close to 21 as possible without "busting" (cards adding up to more than 21), and beat the dealer's hand. A push (tie) returns your bet. A winning box pays the made bet 1 to 1.
All picture cards have the value 10. Number cards, 2-10, count as face value and Aces are valued either 1 or 11.
A combination of an Ace and any 10 card on the initial deal is called a Black Jack. Unless the dealer also makes a Black Jack, the player's Black Jack hand is paid the bet 3 to 2. If the dealer makes Black Jack too, the result is a push.
FEATURES
Insurance
If the dealer’s visible card is an Ace, the player is offered the chance to buy 'insurance’ by betting an additional 0.5 times the initial bet. If the dealer hits a Black Jack, the player's original bet loses, but the insurance wins 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 Black Jack the insurance bet is lost and play continues as normal.
Even Money
A player being dealt a Black Jack whilst the dealer flips an Ace is offered
the chance to go for Even Money. This means reducing the win odds from
3:2 to 1:1, but also not risking a push if the dealer also makes a Black Jack.
This Even Money option is only available when the dealer shows an Ace.
Splitting
A player who is dealt two cards of the same value is entitled to ‘split’ the cards (by clicking SPLIT), double his initial bet, and play two hands separately. The first hand is dealt a second card. The player must decide whether to STAND or HIT. Once the player has finished the first hand, the second hand is played repeating the same process. After the player is satisfied with both hands play continues to the next box. Note: A Black Jack can never result from a split.
Double down
The player may double the bet (by clicking DOUBLE) after viewing the initial two cards. One additional card, no more no less, must be taken to complete the hand.
Rule sets
There are numerous variations on how the game of Black Jack is played. We try to provide the optimal rule set, as described in House rules.
HOUSE RULES
- Two decks of cards are used, which are shuffled before every round.
- The dealer receives two initial cards; one card is dealt face up, one face down.
- The dealer has to HIT on 16 or lower, and STAND on 17 or higher.
- If the dealer gets an initial face up Ace, you may INSURE. If you have been dealt a Black Jack, you may go for EVEN MONEY instead.
- You are allowed to double down on any two initial cards, except if you get a Black Jack.
- You can split on any equally valued cards, but you cannot re-split.
- When splitting Aces, only one additional card is allowed.
JOINING A TABLE
TABLE OPTIONS
Before joining a table, consider the options shown for each table:
- Table speed: normal (beginner) or fast (experienced).
- Type of money: real or play.
- Bet limits: low or high.
SELECTING A TABLE
The simplest method of joining a table is by double clicking on a table name in the table list.
SELECTING A SEAT
Click on a seat at the table.
BRINGING MONEY TO THE TABLE
Enter an amount of money to bring to the table, then click OK.
PLAYING
1. Play takes place against a computerized dealer. Place your bet by moving chips from your chip rack to the table. Click on one of the chips in your rack, then click on the table circle. Repeat this step as often as necessary. To remove a bet, just right click on any placed bet (Ctrl + click for Mac users).
2. Click DEAL. The dealer is dealt two cards (one face up, one face down), and the player is dealt two cards in each box (both cards face up). This is called the initial deal.
3. Based on the face up cards of the initial deal the player has two basic options: HIT to receive another card to add to his two face up cards, or STAND to pass on the turn to the next box. Other options, over and above these basic options, are described in Features.
4. A decision to HIT will render a 'bust’ or another decision to HIT or STAND. You can keep hitting new cards until you’re satisfied, or you bust and lose.
5. When all player boxes have had their turn, the dealer flips the second initial card (the one dealt face down). Based on the total amount of the two cards the dealer acts based on a fixed set of 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.
6. Winnings are automatically added to your stack. To play another round with the same bet, click RE-BET then DEAL. To play another round with a different bet place a new bet.
Play example
Keyboard shortcuts
F1=ReBet, F2=Deal, F5=Hit, F6=Stand, F7=Double, F8=Split.
Other operations
The icons located at the bottom of the game window can be used as follows:
- Make more funds available for play.
- Leave the game. All your chips are automatically returned to your account.
- Help text.
