Blackjack can be played by any number of players from two upwards - it works
well with 5 to 8 players - using a standard 52 card pack. For a large number of
players, say 8 or more, two 52 packs can be mixed together. The players also
need a supply of money or chips for betting.
The cards have values: ace is worth 1 or 11 at the holder's choice, kings,
queens, jacks and tens are worth ten, and the remaining cards are worth their
pip value. Each player's basic aim is to form a hand whose total value is as
near as possible to 21, without going above 21.
One player is designated as the banker. The banker has an advantage, so the
first banker is chosen at random (whoever cuts the highest card). In each hand,
each of the other players bets on having a better hand than the banker.
If the banker and a player have equal valued hands, then the
banker wins.
Example: A-J (Blackjack) beats 7-3-4-2-2
(Five Card Trick) which beats 9-8-4 (21) which beats 9-A
(20) which beats 9-6-A (17)
The banker deals one card face down to each player, starting with the player
to dealer's left, going round the table and ending with the dealer. All the
players except the banker may look at their card.
Now starting again with the player to dealer's left and going around
clockwise, the players other than the banker place their initial bets in front
of them. A minimum and maximum for initial bets must be agreed before the start
of the game, and each player may bet any amount within these limits, but must
bet at least the minimum.
The dealer now deals a second card face down to each player, and all the
players look at their two cards. If the banker has a Blackjack this is immediately
exposed, and the banker collects double the amount staked from each of the
players.
If the banker does not have a Blackjack then, beginning with the player to
dealer's left and continuing clockwise, the players each have a turn to try to
improve their hand if they wish by acquiring extra cards. When it is your turn,
you have the following possibilities:
Declare a Blackjack
If your two cards are an ace and
a ten point card, you declare it by putting them on the table with the ten
point card face down and the ace face up on top of it.
Split your cards
If your two cards are equal in
rank, you may split them into two hands by putting them face up on the table
and placing another bet equal to your initial bet. The banker immediately deals
another card face down to each of your hands, and you then play the hands one
at a time, as separate hands with separate stakes. If either of the new cards
dealt is equal to the first two you may choose to split again, creating three
or even (theoretically) four separate hands, each with its own stake. Note that
you cannot split two ten point cards unless they are actually equal - two
queens can be split but a queen and a jack cannot.
Buy a card
If the total value of your cards
is less than 21, you may say "I'll buy one". You must increase your
stake by adding an amount at least equal to and not more than twice your
initial stake (so for example if you had bet 6 initially you could add to it any
amount from 6 to 12, making a maximum of 18 in total). The dealer then deals
you another card face down. If your total is still less than 21 you may buy a
fourth card; this time you may add to your stake any amount between your
initial stake and the amount you added previously. So if your initial bet was 6
and you bought a third card for 10, you may buy a fourth for any amount from 6
to 10. If your four cards still total less than 21 you may buy a fifth card in
the same way.
Twist
If the total value of your cards
is less than 21 you may say "Twist me one". Your stake is unaffected,
and the dealer deals you one card face up to add to your hand. If your total
remains below 21 you may ask for a fourth card to be twisted and then a fifth,
in the same way.
Stick
If the total value of your cards
is at least 15 you may say "stick". You stay with the cards you have,
your stake stays as it is and it is the next hand's turn to play.
If at any time buying or twisting a card causes the total value of your hand
to be more than 21 you are bust; you must immediately throw in
your hand face up, and the banker takes your stake and adds your cards to the
bottom of the pack.
You can begin by buying one or more cards and continue by twisting, but once
you have asked for a card to be twisted you can no longer buy cards - any
further cards you want can only be twisted.
When your hand reaches five cards without going over 21 you have a Five Card
Trick, and you are not allowed any more cards.
At any time when your total hand value is at least 15 and not more than 21
you can choose to stick, keeping your cards and stake as they are, and the turn
passes to the next hand.
When you have split your hand, you play the two hands one after the other -
once you have stuck or gone bust on the first hand you play the second one.
When all the players except the banker have had their turns the banker's two
cards are turned face up. The other players' cards will not be visible at this
point, except where they have split, twisted, declared Blackjacks or gone bust.
The banker may add more cards to the initial two by dealing them face up one
at a time. At any point, when satisfied with the hand the banker can stay
- i.e. stop dealing and play with the cards as dealt. The possible outcomes
are:
The dealer goes bust
If a card is dealt that takes the
dealer's hand over 21, the dealer loses and pays out an amount equal to their
stake to all the players who have not gone bust, paying a double stake to any
hand that was a Blackjack or Five Card Trick.
The dealer stays on 21 or less, with four or fewer
cards
The dealer pays an amount equal
to their stake to any player who has a higher value hand than the dealer, and
collects from those who have equal or less. Blackjacks and Five Card Tricks are
paid double. For example a dealer who stays on 18 will say "paying
19". Everyone then exposes their cards and those who have 19 or more win,
those with Blackjacks and Five Card Tricks win double and the rest lose. A
dealer who makes 21 will be paying Five Card Tricks and Blackjacks only.
The dealer makes a Five Card Trick
The dealer pays Blackjacks only.
Any player with a Blackjack receives double their stake from the dealer.
Everyone else (including anyone who had a Five Card Trick) loses double their
stake to the dealer.