How To Play In Brief
Most players will be familiar with Pontoon, or '21'. If so Blackjack will be easy to pick up. The object of the game is to beat the croupier’s hand by getting as close to 21 as possible without going over, or ‘busting’.
The croupier, acting as Banker, will shuffle 6 decks of cards, before asking a player to cut them. The cards will then be placed in a dealing box, referred to as a ‘shoe’.
Begin by placing your bet in the empty box nearest to you where you are standing or sitting. If you don't have any chips place your money on the table and the croupier will exchange it for you. The croupier will deal two cards face up to each player and one to himself.
Count up the value of your two cards (cards count at their face value with Jack, Queen, King counting as 10 and Aces counting as 1 or 11).
If your first 2 cards total 21 you have a Blackjack, a winning combination that pays 3-2 as long as the croupiers first card isn't an Ace. If this is the case you will be offered an insurance bet, equivalent to accepting even money straight away.
If you don't have Blackjack you can "Stand" or you can draw more cards, until you believe your cards will total closer to 21 than the croupiers.
You may "split" any pair for an additional equivalent bet. Also, you may double your original bet and draw only one more card with any total from your first two cards.
If the croupier has a hand of 16 or under they must draw more cards, with a hand of 17 or over they must stand.
If you don't have a Blackjack but your hand is closer to 21 than the croupier’s, you win even money. If the croupier’s hand is closer, the house wins. If you match the croupiers hand, you retain your original bet.
21+3
21+3 is a side bet on Blackjack. It uses the player’s first two cards and dealer’s first card to form a three card poker hand. The winning hands are Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind and Straight Flush, all pay 9-1.
SUPER pairs
Super Pairs is a side bet on Blackjack & a bet wins if the first two cards dealt to a player’s Blackjack hand are a pair & it loses if they are not. Bets are made prior to any cards being dealt & must be supported by a regular Blackjack bet on the same betting box. Any pair pay 5-1, a Prime Pair pays 10-1 and a Suited Pair pays 30-1. If the player' first two cards, plus the dealer's face card, are suited, Suited Trips pay 50-1.
BJ 21 + 3 Progressive
In addition to the basic game detailed above, players may place an optional side wager on the "Progressive Jackpot". This is a wager that the player's hand will hit one of the rankings below, irrespective of whether it also beats the dealer and / or whether the dealer's hand qualifies. A progressive wager must be accompanied by a Standard Black Jack wager. Uses Player's first two Cards and Dealer's first Card.
Winning progressive side bet hands are, in descending order, as follows:-
- Aces, kings or queens suited
- Trips Suited
- Straight Flush
- Three of a Kind Offsuit
- Straight
- Flush
If the player's hand does not hit one of the above rankings, the progressive wager will lose.
Insurance
Insurance is a side bet that the dealer will draw blackjack and is treated independently of the main wager.
Should the Dealer pull an Ace as their first card, customers will be invited to place an insurance bet, of up to half their original bet; against the Dealer receiving Blackjack. The hand will progress as standard and the insurance bets of any player who exceeds 21 will remain in position.
If the Dealer draws Blackjack then all insurance bets will be paid at 2:1.
If the Dealer doesn’t draw Blackjack then all insurance bets lose.
GOOD LUCK!