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BLACKJACK RULES
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The object of Blackjack is to have the total of all the cards in your hand add up to as close to 21 as possible without going over ('busting').
The value of your hand is the total of your cards. Aces count as either 1 or 11, 2 through 9 are counted at their face value, and anything over a 9 (10, Jack, Queen, King) are counted as 10.
The sequence of play is pretty straightforward; the dealer (in this case the computer) deals two cards to you face up then two cards to himself, one face up and one face down. The face down card is commonly referred to as the dealer's "hole" card.
After the initial deal, you have several options depending on the cards you have in your hand.
- If your total is 21 (an ace and a 10), you have a Blackjack. If you decide to keep it by 'standing', you win 150% of your bet.
- If you have two cards of exactly the same value, you can 'split' them into two separate hands and (hopefully) double your money.
- You can 'hit' (ask the dealer for another card) to try and get your total closer to 21.
- You can 'double down', which means that you double your bet, take one more card, and automatically 'stand'.
- If the dealer has an ace showing, it means that he MAY have a blackjack. In this case, you can buy 'insurance'. Insurance is a 'side bet' that has nothing to do with whether you win or not. Instead, it's a bet as to whether the dealer really has a blackjack or not. If you buy insurance and lose the hand, you can still win your insurance bet if the dealer has a blackjack.
- You can 'stand', which means that you don't want to take any more cards. At that point the dealer would turn over his 'hole' card. The dealer then has to take cards until his total is a 17 or greater. At that point, whoever has the highest score without going over 21 wins.
In addition to these rules, remember that here at Blackjack Time you're playing in a tournament against other players. Depending on where you are in the tournament, you will want to adjust your betting strategies.
This is just a general overview of the basic rules. If you have specific questions about the rules, you can send mail to rules@blackjacktime.com.