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The Play
The dealer starts the game by dealing two cards face up to each player. The
dealer takes one card face up. The dealer’s second card is dealt face down and
placed beneath the first card. All cards are dealt from a dealing “shoe.” Each card
assumes face value.
Kings, Queens and Jacks count as ten. The ace counts either as one or eleven,
which ever you choose. For the dealer, the ace is also considered as either one
or eleven. If you feel you need additional cards to beat the dealer, you gesture
one at a time for additional cards by tapping the table (called “hits”) until you
decide to stand. You must gesture to stand by waving your hand over your cards.
The dealer must draw on any point total of 16 or less and must stand on any point
total of 17 or more. If a dealer’s point total exceeds 21, the dealer breaks and all
players win who have a point total of 21 or less. Otherwise, the dealer pays all
hands that exceed the dealer’s point total, takes all bets that are less and leaves
all bets that equal the dealer’s point total (called “pushes”). All winning bets (other
than Blackjack) are paid 1 to 1 or “even money.”
The Terminology
Blackjack – If your two initial cards total 21, you have Blackjack. Blackjack pays
3 to 2. You will be paid at this time if the dealer does not have an ace or ten-value
card as a face up card. If the dealer has a ten-value card, the dealer will check the
hole card for an ace. If the dealer has Blackjack the hand is a push.
If the dealer’s face up card is an ace, insurance will be offered (see insurance)
and players with a Blackjack can request even money on their wager.
Splitting Pairs – If your first two cards have the same numerical value, you may
split them into two hands provided the bet on the second hand equals the original
bet. Only after the first hand is played and completed may you act on the second
hand. You may double down on these hands. Pairs may be re-split two times for a
total of three hands. Also, if the split pair are aces, you are limited to a one-card
draw on each hand.
Doubling Down – After receiving the first two cards, except for Blackjack, or the
first two cards of any split pair or a point count of 21 in two cards, you may elect to
wager an additional amount not to exceed the value of the original bet. In any
double down, you draw only one additional card.
Insurance – If the dealer’s first card is an ace, you may elect to take insurance
after the initial two cards are dealt to all players and the dealer. The insurance bet
is a wager that the dealer will get Blackjack. The insurance wager cannot be
greater than one-half the original bet. Insurance pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has a
Blackjack, but loses in all other instances. If the player has a Blackjack and the
dealer shows an ace, he may request even money.
Hit or Stand – You should indicate your decision to hit or stand with hand signals.
To gesture a “hit,” the player must tap the table next to his or her hand. To
gesture a “stand,” the player must wave his or her hand over the cards. Decisions
to split pairs, double down or take insurance should be indicated verbally. The
dealer is the only person allowed to handle, remove or alter the location of the
cards.
The responsibility for correctly computing the point count total of the player’s
cards lies solely with the player.
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