Home Rules Gameplay

The Objective

The goal of blackjack is simple: beat the dealer by getting a hand value as close to 21 as possible without going over 21. You are competing only against the dealer, not the other players at the table.

Card Values

  • Numbered Cards (2 through 10): Worth their face value.

  • Face Cards (Jack, Queen, King): Worth 10 points each.

  • Aces: Worth either 1 or 11 points, depending on which value benefits your hand more.

How a Hand Begins

  1. Every player places a bet in the betting area.

  2. The dealer gives two cards to each player and two cards to themselves. One of the dealers cards is face up and the other is face down.

Player Choices

Once your initial cards are dealt, you choose how to play your hand based on your total:

  • Hit: Take another card to increase your total. You can hit as many times as you want until you either stand or go over 21.

  • Stand: Keep your current hand and end your turn.

  • Double Down: Double your original bet in exchange for receiving exactly one more card. After that final card, your turn ends automatically.

  • Split: If your first two cards have the same numerical value, you can split them into two separate hands by placing a matching second bet. You then play each hand individually.

  • Surrender: In some variations, you can forfeit half your bet and give up your hand immediately after seeing your first two cards.

Dealer Rules

After all players finish their turns, the dealer reveals their face-down card. The dealer must follow strict, mandatory rules:

  • If the dealers card total is 16 or lower, they must hit and take another card.

  • If the dealer has 17 or higher, they must stand.

Winning and Losing

  • Blackjack: Getting an Ace and a 10-value card as your first two cards is called a natural blackjack, which usually pays out a higher bonus unless the dealer also has a blackjack resulting in a push.

  • Winning: You win if your final card total is higher than the dealers total without exceeding 21, or if the dealer busts by going over 21.

  • Busting: If your hand total exceeds 21, you bust and lose your bet immediately, regardless of what the dealer gets.

  • Push: If you and the dealer tie with the same total, it is a push and your original bet is returned to you.