How Blackjack Works

Blackjack is played against the dealer with six decks shuffled together. Get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over.

The dealer draws to 17 and stands on every 17, including soft ones. Blackjack pays 3:2, a normal win pays even money, and a tie pushes your stake back to you.

Your options are hit, stand, double down, and split. Doubling doubles your bet in exchange for exactly one more card. A pair can be split once into two hands, each played separately. Split aces receive one card each, and 21 made on a split ace counts as an ordinary 21 rather than blackjack. There is no surrender.

When the dealer shows an ace you are offered insurance for half your bet. It pays 2:1 if the dealer turns out to have blackjack, and is lost otherwise.

Two optional side bets settle on the opening deal, independent of the main hand:

• Perfect Pairs: your first two cards form a pair. A mixed pair pays 6:1, same colour 12:1, and same suit 25:1.
• 21+3: your two cards plus the dealer’s up card form a poker hand. A flush pays 5:1, a straight 10:1, three of a kind 30:1, a straight flush 40:1, and a suited three of a kind 100:1.

Every card comes from a provably fair shuffle you can verify afterwards; see Verifying a Game Result.