Blackjack

The objective of the game is to beat the dealer. If a player’s cards total higher than the dealer’s cards without going over 21, the player wins. If player’s hand or the dealer’s hand goes over 21, that is a “bust.” A bust is an automatic loss. If the dealer busts and the player does not, the player wins. The player must act first. If the player busts, he loses regardless if the dealer busts or not.

The suits of the cards have no affect on the game. Cards 2 – 10 are counted at face value without regards to their suit. All face cards have a value of ten. An ace can count as either one or eleven.

The player puts his bet in the betting star in front of his space. Only chips put in the betting circle count as your bet. After all bets are made, the play begins. Each player is dealt two cards face up. The dealer receives one card face up and one card face down, known as the “hole card”. After the cards are dealt, the dealer will ask each player in turn to make their decision. The player to the left of the dealer acts first. Players use hand signals to indicate his decisions. This keeps the game moving, and it also helps ensure there are no verbal misunderstandings. Remember that in a game dealt from a shoe, players are not allowed to touch the cards.

If the player or the dealer is dealt an Ace and a ten-value card, they have 21, known as a “blackjack.” If a player gets a blackjack, they will be paid 3 to 2 for their bet, providing the dealer does not get one at the same time. If player and dealer both have blackjack, it is a push. If only the dealer has blackjack, all players will lose.

To take a hit means the player wishes to draw another card. To signal the dealer for a hit, players will tap the table in front of them. To request another card after the first, player would motion in the same manner.

Once a player is satisfied with either their first two cards or after hitting, they signal to the dealer that they wish to stand. This is done by the player waving his hands over the top of his cards.

When a player doubles down, they are allowed to double their bet after receiving their fist two cards. Player will then receive one card only on his hand. North Star will allow players to double down on any two cards, except Blackjack and split Aces. To signal that they are doubling down, player will place an additional bet next to his original bet. North Star will let player double down for less than his original bet, providing it meets the table minimum.

If player is dealt a pair (two cards of the same rank), he can split these into two separate hands. Player must make an additional bet equal to his starting bet. Player signals the dealer that he is splitting by placing his second bet next to his first bet in the betting circle. A player should not put this bet on top of the original bet or separate the cards. The dealer will do this. Player will now play each hand one at a time. The dealer will give player a second card to go with the first split card. Player will then decide to hit or stand. After player plays out this hand, he will move on to the next split card, and the process will be repeated. North Star will allow player to double down on his first two cards after splitting, except for split Aces.

If the dealer’s face up card is an ace, player may take “insurance,” which essentially is a bet that the dealer has a 10-value card down to complete a blackjack. Insurance, which may be taken for half the original bet, pays 2-1 if the dealer has blackjack. The net effect is that if player wins the insurance bet and loses the hand, player will come out even. For example, the player has 18 with a $10 bet down. The dealer has an ace up. The player takes a $5 insurance bet. If the dealer has blackjack, the player loses the $10 bet on the hand but wins $10 with the 2-1 payoff on the $5 insurance bet.