The rules of Blackjack

The basic rules.

You must get "21" or less and your total must be greater than the dealer, (or the same for a push).
The house has a very small winning margin and blackjack is often regarded as a skills games.

Card values

• Ace - 1 or 11
• 2 to 10 - Face value
• Jack, Queen and King - 10

The dealer drawing rules.

The dealer does not actually choose when he can or cannot draw, he has to follow some very strict rules.
The dealer has to draw a card when it has a total of 16 or less, (or if he is loosing and has a 'soft' "17" - "7").
In most cases the bank cannot use the ace to make a soft total, for example if the dealer has "7" and an "ace" then the total must be "18", (and not "8").
The bank cannot split cards and of course it cannot double.

Double or Double-down.

When you have a good chance of winning the house, (casino), will allow you to double your bet and draw one more card.
A good example would be if you are dealt a "6" and a "5", (total "11"), and the dealer has a small card then you can double down and hope for a "10". You can only draw one card, so if you draw an "Ace" then your total will only be "12".

Split, or splitting pairs.

If the player is dealt 2 cards that are the same, (a pair), then you can split both cards and handle them as if they were separate hands.
If you are dealt 2 "Aces" you can split them and you could then be dealt 2x"10"'s, (that would be 2 black jacks).

Blackjack.

The name black jack is when you get "21" with your first 2 cards. The only way that it can be done is when you get dealt an "Ace" and a "10".
Traditionally a blackjack pays 3:2 or 1.5 times your original bet.

Most casinos pay-out as soon as the player has a blackjack, unless their up card is an "Ace" or a "10", in that case they will check if the dealer can also get a blackjack. If that happens the hand is a drawn.

Surrender.

Not offered by most casinos, (but offered by most good/prestigious casinos), this is when the player can surrender half the bet and 'surrender' the hand.
There are 3 types of surrender, surrender, early surrender, (you can surrender if the dealer has an "Ace" but before he checks for blackjack), late surrender, (you can surrender _after_ the dealer has checked for blackjack).

Because not every casino offers 'surrender', and because the type of surrender is very different in most places you should check beforehand what the rules are when it comes to surrender.

Insurance.

In the original deal you are given 2 cards and the dealer shows one card, (the up card).
If the dealer gets an ace you can insure yourself for up to half your original bet.

For example if you bet $100.00 and the dealer has an ace then you can insure yourself for $50.00.
If the dealer then draws a 10 he has blackjack. You then loose our original $100.00 but your insurance will pay 2:1, (or $100), so your insurance will pay for loosing your bet.
The problem with insurance is that you loose it if the dealer does not get a blackjack.
In a cruel twist of fate you could then go on loosing your original bet as well. If the dealer gets an "ace" and draws a "9" the total is "20".

Bust

According to the rules you or the dealer cannot have a total greater than "21". So if you or the dealer get more than 21 it is called a bust.
Technically speaking the dealer cannot bust after you, once your total is greater than "21" then the dealer will win the hand.
If there are more than one players at the table and you bust, (and the other player doesn't bust), then the dealer has to continue playing. If the dealer then bust you still loose this hand this is because you lost first.

Push/ Draw.

This happens when you and the dealer get the same number. In that case you don't win or loose anything. For example if you get a "19" and the dealer gets a "19".

hit.

This term is users by the dealer or the players. "Hit me", is the same as asking for another card.

Variants, Casino own blackjack rules.

Many casino offer variants to the rules, like splitting any 2 cards or doubling on any number of cards.
Some also offer some special case rewards, where you win if something special happens, for example a blackjack with same suit of cards or 21 with 3-7's.

Most of those variants do not actually make a big diference in the outcome of the game, but they do give the impression that the player has a better chance of winning.