Blackjack Rules

Blackjack is played at a table with one dealer and up to 7 players .Before any cards are dealt, the player must wager. He does this by placing his bet in the designated betting space. All bets are to be made BEFORE each hand is dealt and once the first card is dealt, all bets are final.
The dealer then deals two cards to each of the players, and two to the dealer, one face down and the other face up.

Blackjack - If the player's first two cards are an ace and a 10 or face card (King, Queen, or Jack), he wins. However, if the dealer also has a blackjack, it is a standoff, as are all ties or pushes. A winning blackjack pays the player 3 to 2.

Hit or Stand - Hit means to draw another card (which the player signifies by scraping the table with his cards or a similar hand motion in live table play). Stand means no more cards (which the player signals by placing his cards under his wager or moving his hand in a horizontal direction.
If the player hits and busts (goes over 21), his wager is lost.

Double Down - The player is allowed to double the bet on his first two cards and draw one additional card only to improve his hand. A hand equaling 11 is usually a good hand to Double Down with.

Splitting Pairs - If the first two cards a player is dealt are a pair, he may split them into two separate hands, bet the same amount on each and then play them separately. Aces receive only one additional card. Note: After splitting, A-10 counts as 21 and not as blackjack.

Insurance - If the dealer's up card is an ace, the player may take insurance, a bet not exceeding one-half his original bet. If the dealer's down card is a 10 or any face card, the player wins 2 to 1. Any other card means a win for the dealer.

Surrender - Where allowed, a player may give up his first two cards and lose only one-half his original bet.

The dealer must draw on 16 and stand on 17. In some casinos, the dealer is required to draw on soft 17 (An Ace and a Six).