Blackjack

Blackjack is the most widely played casino game in the world. At Poker Heaven you can open up a blackjack table from the poker lobby at any point.

Basic Rules

In blackjack, the aim of the game is to beat the dealer by drawing cards (or hitting) until the total value of your cards is 21 or comes as close as possible without exceeding 21. If the initial 2 cards you are dealt total 21, you have blackjack. If you are closer to 21 than the dealer (without exceeding 21) you win the amount you have wagered. If you are dealt blackjack (and the dealer is not) you win 3 to 2 times your bet. For example if you bet €50 and are dealt blackjack you are paid €125.

Aces can be valued at either 1 (hard) or 11 (soft), all face cards are valued at 10 and the remaining cards are valued according to their regular number value.

If the total value of your hand exceeds 21, you “bust” – and you lose whatever you have wagered. If your hand is the value as the dealer’s then you “push” meaning the amount you wagered is returned to you. Blackjack wins against a score of 21 (with 3 cards or more).

The dealer must draw cards until he has at least hard 17 (a hard hand is a hand that does not include an ace being used as 11), and must stand at 17 or higher. If the dealer gets 16 or soft 17, he must take another card.

The player has the following choices:

Hit: Request one more card.
Stand: Draw no more cards.
Split: Split the hand into two separate hands, find details further down on this page.
Double: Double the wager and receive only one more card, find details further down on this page.

Splitting

If you are dealt a pair or 2 cards of the same value you may split them, placing a second wager of equal value. This means you will essentially be playing 2 hands against the dealer. You then proceed to draw cards for each hand as usual, if you are dealt another pair (for example you have split 99 and one of the split cards draws another 9), you may split again. You can split additional pairs resulting from the original split up to a maximum of 3 splits in one game. The only hand that follows slightly different rules is if you are dealt aces. When you split aces you are dealt only one additional card for each hand, you may not draw any further cards. If one of your split aces and one hand is dealt a 10, this will count as 21, not blackjack. You may split a maximum of 3 times, resulting in 4 hands in one game.

Double

At any point (apart from when you are dealt blackjack) you may “double down”. This means you double your wager and are dealt only one additional card, you may not draw any more after this. You may also double down on a hand resulting from a split.

Insurance

When the dealer’s first card is an ace you may choose to buy insurance – this means you pay half the price of your initial bet and if the dealer has blackjack you are paid 2 to 1 on your insurance (corresponding to your initial bet). If you have bought insurance and the dealer does not have blackjack you lose your insurance. Your initial bet is then settled as normal (by comparing your hand with the dealer’s).

Payout table

Winning Hand: 1 to 1
Black Jack: 3 to 2
Insurance: 2 to 1