Yahoo! Games

BLACKJACK RULES

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The Play

The dealer, Yahoo! in this case, deals two cards to each player and two cards to himself. Players' cards are dealt faceup, while one of the dealer's cards is dealt faceup and the other is facedown. After the deal, the dealer "asks" each player whether they want an additional card. At Yahoo! an arrow indicates which player is being asked to make a decision. A player may "Stand" -- play just the two cards originally dealt or may "Hit"-- take another card. After being dealt an additional card, the player may stop or may take still another card. A player may take as many cards as he or she wants, but as soon as the player's total exceeds 21, the player loses.

After all players have drawn, the dealer's remaining card is exposed. Under most casino rules, a dealer with a total less than 17 must "hit" (take a card); with 17 or more, dealer must stand. If a dealer has a "soft 17"--a hand that contains an ace plus six other points, and which can therefore be counted as either 7 or 17--some casinos require the dealer to hit and some require dealer to stand. When creating a blackjack table at Yahoo!, players may choose which of these two rules they prefer.

If dealer "busts" by going over 21, any players still in the game win. Otherwise, players with totals higher than the dealer win, while players with totals less than the dealer lose. In case of a tie, or "push" the player's bet is returned (no money changes hands).

If a player's or the dealer's first two cards total 21 (an ace and a 10 or face card), the holding is known as a blackjack. A player with blackjack is paid extra--usually one-and-a-half times the original bet--unless dealer also has blackjack, in which case the player loses. If dealer's faceup card is an ace, players are often given a chance to buy insurance against the possibility of the dealer's having a blackjack; the insurance bet usually pays 2-to-1 if dealer really does have 21. (This is usually a poor percentage bet for the player.)

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The Play
	The dealer, Yahoo! in this case, deals two cards to each player and two cards to himself. Players' cards are dealt faceup, while one of the dealer's cards is dealt faceup and the other is facedown. After the deal, the dealer "asks" each player whether they want an additional card. At Yahoo! an arrow indicates which player is being asked to make a decision. A player may "Stand" -- play just the two cards originally dealt or may "Hit"-- take another card. After being dealt an additional card, the player may stop or may take still another card. A player may take as many cards as he or she wants, but as soon as the player's total exceeds 21, the player loses. After all players have drawn, the dealer's remaining card is exposed. Under most casino rules, a dealer with a total less than 17 must "hit" (take a card); with 17 or more, dealer must stand. If a dealer has a "soft 17"--a hand that contains an ace plus six other points, and which can therefore be counted as either 7 or 17--some casinos require the dealer to hit and some require dealer to stand. When creating a blackjack table at Yahoo!, players may choose which of these two rules they prefer. If dealer "busts" by going over 21, any players still in the game win. Otherwise, players with totals higher than the dealer win, while players with totals less than the dealer lose. In case of a tie, or "push" the player's bet is returned (no money changes hands). If a player's or the dealer's first two cards total 21 (an ace and a 10 or face card), the holding is known as a blackjack. A player with blackjack is paid extra--usually one-and-a-half times the original bet--unless dealer also has blackjack, in which case the player loses. If dealer's faceup card is an ace, players are often given a chance to buy insurance against the possibility of the dealer's having a blackjack; the insurance bet usually pays 2-to-1 if dealer really does have 21. (This is usually a poor percentage bet for the player.) Back to Top Next: Player Options