Standard blackjack rules
The object of blackjack is for the total of your cards to be closer to 21 than the dealer’s cards, without exceeding 21. If you exceed 21 you are bust and will have lost your bet.
In blackjack, aces count as either one or 11, face cards as ten, and number cards at their face value.
If you receive an ace and a ten-value card as your first two cards, you have blackjack and win 1.5 times your bet (if your bet was $10, you receive $25).
If the total value of your cards is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, you win your bet amount (if your bet was $10, you receive $20).
If the total of your cards is more than 21, you ‘bust’ and lose your bet.
If the total of the dealer’s cards is more than 21 after following his rules, he ‘busts’ and you win your bet amount (if your bet was $10, you receive $20).
If the total of your cards is lower than the dealer’s final total and he has not gone ‘bust’, you lose your bet.
If you and the dealer have the same card total (17 and up), neither of you win and your bet is returned to you in a ‘push’. Blackjack beats a score of 21.
PKR’s additional Rules
- Eight decks are used for each round.
- After each round, used cards are returned to the deck and the deck is shuffled.
- The dealer stands at 17.
- The dealer doesn’t ‘peek’ for Blackjack.
- The player may only split once.
- Only one card is drawn to split aces.
- The player may double on any two cards.
- The player may double after splitting.
- The player may not surrender.
- A ‘10-card Charlie’ rule is in effect.
Split
If your first two cards have the same value, you may split them into two separate hands by placing a second bet equal to the original bet. You will then draw additional cards to each hand. You may draw as many cards as you like on each split hand, but if you split two aces, you receive only one additional card for each ace. If you receive an ace and a ten-value card in a split hand, it is considered 21 and not Blackjack.
Double
If, after you are dealt your first two cards, you think that the third card will allow you to beat the dealer’s hand, you can double your bet. The bet amount becomes twice the original (with the difference taken out of your balance), and you are dealt one more card.
Insurance
If the dealer shows an Ace in his initial hand, you are given a chance to insure your bet against him having a Blackjack. If you get Insurance, an amount equal to half your original bet is placed separately on the table. If the dealer does have Blackjack, you are paid 2 to 1 on your insurance. This way you do not lose your original bet (because you get the 2x half your original bet, plus the insurance amount back). If the dealer does not have Blackjack, you lose the insurance amount, even if you end up losing.
10 Card Charlie
It is theoretically possible for the player to draw 10 cards without going bust. In this case the player’s hand automatically wins, including when the dealer has Blackjack. If the dealer draws 10 cards without busting, the dealer automatically wins. If both the player and the dealer draw 10 cards, the player’s bet is returned as a “push".
Winnings
pays
Winning hand 1 to 1
Insurance 2 to 1
Blackjack 3 to 2
The expected return to player (RTP) of blackjack using these rules is approximately 99.5%.
Malfunction Voids All Pays and Play.