It is illegal for persons under the age of 18 to gamble in Britain.
Below is a description of the rules for the game Blackjack in the UK. These rules are not set in stone for the rest of the world.
Basic Layout
Players box is where you place your wager. Dealers box is where the dealers hand is placed. The arch is where the players hands are placed. Shoe holds the deck (between 4 and 8 packs of cards will be shuffled to make the deck). Discard pack are the cards used so far from the shoe.
Card values
Ace can be classed as 1 or 11 depending on the situationRules
All bets pay even money apart from Blackjack which pays 3/2
The aim of Blackjack is to get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over which is termed "Bust".
The first stage of a game of Blackjack is the placing of the bets. Somewhere on the table, the minimum and maximum bets will be displayed. You may bet anywhere between these values as long as the bet is a multiple of the tables minimum wager. Place your bet in the player box directly in front of you.
When all bets have been placed the Dealer will deal 1 card to all players including himself face up from the shoe, and then he will continue to deal a second card to all players, this time excluding himself, also face up. You can now see the 2 card total of all the other players.
The play now goes to the first person to the farthest right of the table from a Players view not the Dealers. This person may make choices as to whether to take cards or hold, or even depending on the cards he has whether to split or double, which will be described later.
As long as the combined score of a Players cards are below 21 then that Player may draw as many cards as they want by telling the Dealer "card". Although this is not a good strategy. The Player may also stop taking cards termed "Hold", by telling the dealer "no card".
It is recommended that if you have a card total of more than 16 then you Hold. The chances of getting a five or less is below 40%.
Once a Player has finished his turn, then play moves left to the next Player.
The play continues until all Players have either "Bust", which is an immediate loss of your wager, or "Held". The play now moves to the Dealer. The Dealer must take cards on a score of 16 and under, and must also stop taking cards on a score of 17 and over.
If the dealers total is greater than 21 then all Players left with a wager on the table automatically win. If the dealers total is greater than a Players total, then the Player loses his wager. If the dealers total is less than a Player, then the Player wins. If the Dealers total is the same as the Players total then a "Stand Off" occurs and the bet neither wins or loses, and is left on the table ready for the next bet.
You may leave the table between hands if you wish.
The first stage of play is now repeated with bets being placed in the Players box. If you wish to remove the money in the players box from the previous round, you may. You may also increase this wager if you feel lucky. If you lost the last game, then place a new wager in the players box to continue.
Rules for Split
If your first two cards are a pair, excluding 4`s 5`s and 10`s, then you may split them. When it is your turn place a wager of an equivalent amount next to your bet.
The dealer will now part the two cards, and place two new cards from the shoe, face up on them. If either of the two hands are again a pair you may also "Split" again. You may also double on a new hand created from the split if the new hand totals 9, 10 or 11.
If you split a pair of Aces you are only allowed one new card on each Ace. If you again get a pair of Aces you may also split these as normal. Again each hand can only be dealt one new card.
If you split any other pair then you can keep drawing new cards as you require.
Rules for Double
If your first two cards total 9, 10 or 11, then you may decide to double your wager. Place a wager of an equivalent amount behind your bet. The Dealer will now deal only one card to your hand, and you may not take any more cards. The double bet can be good if the new card is a 10. This would give you a total of 19, 20 or 21, which are good totals in Blackjack.
Blackjack
Blackjack, created by your first two cards being an Ace and a 10 (including Jacks, Queens, and Kings), is the only hand in Blackjack that cannot lose. It can however be a "Stand off" when the Dealer also has a Blackjack and in this case you neither win or lose. If the Dealers first card is an Ace then you will be offered "insurance". If you take insurance then you will be paid even money before the Dealer deals his second card. If you do not take "insurance" and the Dealer gets Blackjack you will not win.
If the Dealers card combination is anything other then Blackjack then a Players Blackjack automatically wins, even if the Dealer has 21.
Soft Hands
If a Player has a two card hand consisting of an Ace (required) and any other card then the hand is regarded as soft. This means you may take another card without the chance of "busting". If you take a card and your new card total excedes 21 then 10 is deducted from the score in the form of the Ace now being classed as 1 and you now have a hard hand. If you take another card you do risk "busting".