Blackjack

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If you have ever played ‘Pontoon‘ or ‘21‘, then the basic principles of Blackjack will not be new to you. You are given 2 cards face up and you get to see one of the dealer's cards and from this, you make a decision whether to take a card or not - it's that simple.

Blackjack is played between you and the dealer. The object is to draw cards with a value totalling 21, or as near as possible to 21 without going over the top, ‘going bust’ and losing.

Aces count as eleven, picture cards ten and other cards, their numbered value. However, where a hand contains an ace and the addition of further cards would bust the hand, the ace is counted as one.

You will get chips when you hand over your fun money note. You then make your bet by placing your chip in the nearest box to where you are standing. Some players like to play two or more boxes simultaneously.

A card is dealt face up to each player in turn and one to the dealer. A second card is then dealt, again face up, but only to the players. It is at this stage that your skill is drawn into play.


  • If your hand exceeds 21, then you have lost your bet and you take no further part in the hand, even if the dealer subsequently exceeds 21 as well.
  • There are several options you may take in Blackjack after you have been dealt your first two cards.
  • The same equal valued hands is a tie and counts as a "push". You neither win nor lose.
  • DOUBLING
    You may double your original stake on your fist two cards and only one further card is dealt to your hand.
  • If you have a Blackjack
    which is an Ace together with a picture card or 10, you win one and a half times your stake, unless the dealer also has a Blackjack, in which case, the bet is a ‘stand off’.
  • SPLIT BETS
    If your first two cards make a pair, you may split them into separate hands but must repeat your original stake on the second hand. If the next card dealt to any split hands also makes a pair, then these subsequent hands may not be split.