In Blackjack, your objective is to draw cards to get the total value of your hand closer than the dealer to 21 without exceeding 21 (going bust). Face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) are counted as 10. Aces can be counted as 1 or 11, whichever is preferable to your hand. All other cards are counted by their number. The term Blackjack refers to the best hand in the game whereby the initial two cards dealt total 21, a face card and an ace. A blackjack will beat any hand apart from another blackjack.

This help topic describes basic gameplay options to get you started. To explore the more advanced game options take a look at the Advanced Gameplay help topic.

Getting Started

To start a new game select New Game from the main menu. The first step is to place a bet. To increase your bet tap on the chips at the bottom of the screen, these will increment your bet amount by the value shown on the chip. For example, to bet $150 tap the $50 three times. If you want to reset your bet back to zero select the Clear Bets button. Your total cash is shown at the top of the screen. When you have placed your desired bet select the Deal button.

The Player's Turn

To begin, the dealer will deal two cards to you and to cards to themselves. The dealer's hand will have one card face up, their up card, and one face down, their hole card. Both player cards will be dealt face up. Four buttons will appear at the bottom of the screen allowing you to play your hand, these buttons do the following actions:
	
Hit - This tells the dealer to deal your hand an additional card. If the additional card causes your hand total to go over 21 then your hand busts and the dealer wins. If the hand total remains under 21 you're allowed to hit again and if the total reaches 21 then the hand will automatically stand.

Stand - This indicates to the dealer that you do not want any additional cards. Play will move to the dealer who will draw their own cards. You can stand at any time.

Double Down - This indicates to the dealer that you want to double your bet and receive one extra card. After the card has been dealt play will automatically move to the dealer.

Split - If your first two card have the same value then you may be permitted to split them. Clicking this button will split your hand into two and an additional card will be dealt to each new hand. A bet equalling your original bet will be placed on the new split hand. You play each split hand like a separate game. See the splitting section in the Advanced Gameplay help topic for more information on this facility.

If the dealer's up card is an ace or a ten value card they will automatically check their hole card to see if they have blackjack and you will see the eye icon over their cards. If they have blackjack they will turn their hole card over automatically and you won't be able to draw any cards on your hand. At this point the game will finish.

If the dealer has an ace they may offer you insurance before checking for blackjack, see the insurance and even money section of the Advanced Gameplay help topic for information on taking insurance and even money.

The Dealer's Turn

Once your hand has finished, and you have not bust, then play turns to the dealer. The rules defined for the game determine the actions the dealer will take. The dealer will either Hit on soft 17 or Stand on soft 17.

 * Stand on soft 17 - The dealer will draw cards until their hand total is 17 or more. An ace is always counted as 11 where possible without the dealer exceeding 21. If the dealer total is 17 and contains an ace that is counted as 11 (e.g. A & 6) then they will stand. The dealer will stand when the total is 17 or more, if they draw more than 21 then they bust and will lose.

 * Hit on soft 17 - This is rule is identical except that the dealer must draw another card if their total is 17 and contains an ace counted as 11.

The dealer makes no choices whilst drawing cards and will simply hit until they reach 17 or bust if they exceed 21.

The Payout

Once the dealer's turn has finished then the winnings are calculated. The winnings for your hand are displayed next to your cards. If your hand bust or your total is less than the dealer and they didn't bust then you lose your bet and the amount shown under the 'BET' label will be displayed in red.

If your total is nearer 21 than the dealer then your bet is returned and you win an extra amount equal to your original bet, this is shown under the WINNINGS label.

If you received Blackjack on your first two cards and the dealer hasn't got blackjack then you win a better payout at 3:2. For example, if you place a bet of $50 and recieved blackjack then your original $50 would be returned and you would win an extra $75.

To start a new game simply click the Next Game button or to review the winnings of any split hands you have click the hand buttons to switch between them.

