How to Play Classic Blackjack
Classic Blackjack follows the rules found in the vast majority of casinos. The aim of the game is to build a hand of cards as close in value to 21 as possible. If you exceed 21, it is called going bust and you lose the round. At the end of a round, as long as your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s is then you have won. The only difference with this game is that it allows you to play up to three hands simultaneously. In Classic Blackjack, the numbered cards are worth their face values, the picture cards (Jack, Queen and King) are all worth 10, and Aces are worth either 1 or 11. This means that you can form a hand of 21 with just two cards, an Ace and a ten card, this is called Blackjack and it is the strongest possible hand. To start a round you need to place your chips in the betting areas of the hands that you wish to play. Each hand has a betting limit of 0.25 up to 100, so you can bet anything up to 300 per round. When you are happy with your bets click on ‘Deal’ and you will receive two face-up cards to each active hand. The dealer will also receive one face-up card and one facedown. You will then be presented with a number of options for each hand. The main choices are ‘Hit’, ‘Stand’ and ‘Double’. If you choose ‘Hit’ it will draw another card to the hand, if you select ‘Stand’ it leaves the hand as it is, and if you select ‘Double’ it will double your bet, you will receive one more card to the hand and then play moves on to the next hand or the dealer. After you have finished playing your hands, the dealer will play his. The dealer must draw to 16 and will stand on all 17s. At the end of a round all winning hands are paid at 2:1 except for Blackjack which is paid out at 3:2. If both you and the dealer have the same hand then the bet is returned as a push, if you have Blackjack and the dealer has 21 then you will win the round.
Classic Blackjack Special Features
Depending on the cards that are dealt there may be more options offered. If your first two cards have the same value then you are given the option to ‘Split’ them into two separate hands. You then play the hands individually and this gives you more opportunities to win. However, split Aces will only receive one more card each. If the dealer’s face-up card at the beginning of a round is an Ace then you can take out insurance against the dealer having Blackjack. Insurance costs half of your initial bet and if the dealer goes on to have Blackjack then you are paid out at 2:1. It is possible for you to put together a hand of ten cards without going bust. This is called a 10 Card Charlie and it will beat all hands other than Blackjack.
