Playing Single Deck Blackjack

Single deck blackjack is played with a single deck of 52 cards. This significantly increases the player's chances of winning. Played properly, this game is one of the highest paying games in any casino. The object of the game is to get more points than the dealer without getting more than twenty one points.

Each player, including the dealer, is dealt two cards. The dealer has one card face up and one card face down (the hole card).

Each card has its face value except the Jack, Queen and King, which have a value of ten, and the Ace which is one or eleven.

If your first two cards total 21, congratulations! You have a Blackjack (unless the dealer also has a Blackjack, in which case you 'push' - you do not lose and you do not win anything) and will be paid 3 to 2 on your bet.

Most of the time, however, your total is going to be less than 21. In that case, you can 'hit', 'split', 'double down', or 'stand'.

If you want another card, press 'hit' and the dealer will deal you an additional card. You 'hit' when you feel your hand needs more points to be competitive. But if that next card takes you over 21 points, you lose.

Choosing to 'stand' means you're satisfied with your cards. Once you have opted to 'stand' on all of your hands, the dealer will play out his hand and you will see whether you have won or not. The dealer must draw on any card totals of 16 or less. If the total is 17 or more, the dealer must stand, unless it is a soft-17, in which case the dealer must hit.

There are many nuances of play you'll want to learn as you go along. The following glossary will help you understand all the basic terms.

Split

If your first two cards are of equal value, such as two nines, or even two unlike face cards, you have the option of 'Splitting'. Splitting separates the two equal cards into two separate hands and automatically places an additional bet equal to your original wager. In effect, you now have created two hands from one, each of whose first card is 1/2 of the original hand. Should the next card be the same again, you may split into a third hand. You now play out each hand. Note that if you decide to split aces, you will only be dealt one additional card per new hand. If you get a ten value card (i.e. your hand totals twenty one), this is not a blackjack. If you win you will receive even money for your bet not 3 to 2.

Double Down

After being dealt your first two cards, if the total is 9, 10 or 11 you have the option of "doubling down" on your bet by clicking the 'Double Down' button. Doubling down doubles your bet, and requires you to draw one more card only. You may not double down after having already previously split cards.

Insurance

If, after the cards are dealt, the dealer has an ace showing, you will have the option of taking "insurance" on each of your hands. Insurance lets you protect your bet against the possibility that the dealer has a blackjack. You have the option of "insuring" your original bet by betting an amount equal to half the amount of your original bet. If the dealer does, in fact, have blackjack, you win your insurance bet at odds of two to one. If the dealer does not have blackjack, you lose your insurance bet and continue with the hand.

Winning Tips

Key to table:

H = Hit
S = Stand
D = Double if allowed, otherwise hit
Ds = Double if allowed, otherwise stand
SPL = Split