HOW TO PL AY

BLACKJACK

Blackjack is arguably the most popular casino card game played HOW TO PLAY
in casinos around the world. All cards in Blackjack are dealt face up
so that you can see the point value of the
Players’ and Dealer’s hands. A first card
THE AIM OF THE GAME is dealt to each of the Players, and then
finally to the Dealer. A second card is then
The aim of the game of Blackjack is to draw cards totalling closer to 21 than those
dealt to the Players only. The Dealer will
in the Dealer’s hand – without exceeding 21. Picture cards (Jack, Queen, King)
call out the value of all hands.
each count as 10.
IMPORTANT
An Ace can count as 1 or 11. All number cards have their face value.
You may not handle, remove or alter any
cards used in the game of Blackjack.
THE BLACKJACK TABLE Although the dealer will call out the card
The Blackjack table seats up to seven Players on one side, and the Dealer on the totals, it is your responsibility to also check
other. Its layout is marked out with up to seven betting areas in which the Players your point totals are correct.
place their bets before the cards are dealt.
PLAYING THE CARDS
You may stand on the two original cards
in your hand, or draw additional cards to
improve your total. If you bust (go over 21)
you lose.
When all Players have completed their
hands, the Dealer draws a second card.
The Dealer must draw on 16 or less, and
stand on 17 or more.
If your hand totals closer to 21 than the
Dealer’s, you win, and are paid even money.
If your hand is lower than the Dealer’s, you
lose. If the Dealer busts, all remaining hands
are paid even money, except a Blackjack
which is paid 3 to 2.
If you and the Dealer both have Blackjack,
or the same card total, it is considered
a draw or stand off – you neither win
nor lose.
ACE + 10 = BLACKJACK TWENTY-ONE The odds paid for winning wagers are:
Blackjack is when you are dealt a ten, Three or more cards totalling 21. PERFECT PAIR 30 to 1
or any picture card, plus an Ace as your Same value, same suit
 DOUBLING
first two cards. Blackjack pays 3 to 2
You may double your initial bet COLOURED PAIR 10 to 1
(1.5 times your bet).
if your first two cards total 9, 10 Same value, same colour,
or 11. However, you may then only different suit
INSURANCE draw one more card. To double,
MIXED PAIR 5 to 1
When the Dealer’s first card is an Ace, place an additional bet – up to
Same value, different colour
you may insure your bet against the the value of your original bet –
Dealer getting Blackjack. Your insurance in your betting area. Winning bets will be paid and handed off to
bet is placed on the table’s insurance line the Player immediately after the initial deal.
If the Dealer draws Blackjack,
after your second card is dealt, and before your original bet is lost, but the *10, Jack, Queen and King are identical in
the Dealer draws any more cards. This bet double down portion of the value but not in type, therefore a Jack and
may be up to half of your original wager. wager is not taken by the Dealer. King, for example, are not considered a pair.
If the Dealer draws Blackjack, your
 SPLITTING
insurance bet will be paid at 2 to 1. If the
If your first two cards have THE ODDS OF WINNING
Dealer doesn’t draw a ten or picture card,
the same value, you may ask Blackjack is a card game of chance
your insurance bet is lost.
the Dealer to split them to create and skill in which Players may improve
two separate hands. their chance of winning by using a betting
HOW TO SIGNAL THE DEALER strategy.
You must then place an additional
FOR MORE OR NO MORE CARDS
bet equal to your original bet on After receiving two cards from the Dealer,
To make draw and stand commands the second hand. You will then be the Player can choose to be dealt more
quickly and easily understood, Blackjack dealt a second card on your first cards so as to have a total score closer
Players use hand signals to communicate hand and each hand can then be to 21 than the Dealer’s total – without
with the Dealer. played separately. If the total on going over 21.
To signal to the Dealer that you wish to your first hand is 9, 10, 11 you may
Face cards count as 10, Aces count
draw another card tap the table behind your double your bet exactly the same
as 1 or 11 and the cards 2 to 10 count
bet. You will be dealt one card. Our dealers way as you would on a normal
as their face value. The House margin
are trained to accept tapping only. hand. You may double-down on
for Blackjack is generally less than 0.5%
the second split hand if you wish.
To signal the Dealer that you wish to stand, for skilled Players.
If the Dealer obtains a Blackjack
move your hand, palm down, in a horizontal
you will only lose your original
cut-off motion behind your bet.
bet, i.e. the bet you placed before RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING
You will not be dealt any more cards. cards were dealt. Play will be The casinos promote a responsible
completed on that hand before approach to gambling and offer gambling
THE RANGE OF BETS IN BLACKJACK continuing to the next. If you split for your enjoyment. Only you can decide
Aces, only one card is dealt to how much time and money you want to
Blackjack tables on the Main Gaming Floor each hand. If a ten or picture card
have varying minimum and maximum bets. spend on gambling at a casino. If you think
is dealt to either of the split Aces, you may have a problem controlling your
Before you sit down, please check the sign it is counted as 21, not Blackjack.
displaying the minimum and maximum bets gambling behaviour, please contact:
Similarly, if you split tens, and an
at the table, or ask any of our gaming team Ace is dealt as the first card to Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858
for assistance. the split, it too is counted as 21, gamblinghelponline.org.au
not Blackjack. A hand can only be Gambling Help services are independently
SOME OF THE CARD COMBINATIONS split once. run and offer free, confidential support
AND OPTIONS IN BLACKJACK BUST OR OVER
 (available 24 hours).
 BLACKJACK Your card total has exceeded 21. Bet with your head, not over it.
The name of the game – a ten You lose.
or any picture card plus an Ace
as your first two cards. Pays 3
to 2, unless the Dealer also draws PERFECT PAIRS
Blackjack. Players may have an additional perfect
 SOFT HAND – 7 OR 17 pairs wager on a Blackjack table that
A soft hand contains an Ace provides betting areas for perfect pairs.
without the other card(s) totalling To place an additional wager simply
10 or more – the Ace may be place an amount between the minimum
counted as 1 or 11. and maximum limits on a perfect pairs
 HARD HAND – 17 betting area.
A ten makes a soft hand a hard The additional wager wins when you
hand – the count can no longer receive a pair (two cards identical in type*
be altered. Alternatively, any hand and value) as your first two cards.
without an Ace is also considered
a hard hand, as its value cannot
be altered.
 

HOW TO PL AY
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BLACKJACK Bet with your head, not over it.