Single Deck Blackjack

Of all the variations of the game, Single Deck blackjack offers the best house edge for players. If a player understands the basics of Blackjack strategy, they’re ready to start.

Single Deck Blackjack is easy to understand: the player has to come as close to 21 without going over, while still having a higher total than the dealer. To receive cards, the player first places a bet. The cards are dealt in rotation from the dealer, moving left to right. The dealer's hand features one card face up and one face down. The player can then choose to receive more cards for their hand or showdown and see who's come closest to 21 without going over.

Rules

• Single-Deck blackjack is played using one deck of cards, which is shuffled after each hand.
• Dealer hits on a soft 17.
• The player may split up three times.
• Split aces receive only one card and there is no re-splitting of aces.
• A split ace and a ten-value card is not a Blackjack.
• The player wins when they hold a score of 21 or less but greater than the dealer's final total or they achieve a score of 21 or less when the dealer's final score exceeds 21.

Card Values

• Card suits are irrelevant.
• Cards 2 to 10 have face value.
• Jacks, queens, and kings are worth 10.
• Aces have a value of 1 or 11.

Betting

• Click on a chip to place a bet.
• Additional clicks on the chip interface will add to your wager.
• To remove a bet from play, click on the chip in the betting circle.
• Minimum amount to bet is $1 while the maximum is $500.

 Payouts

• Player’s Blackjack pays 3 to 2.
• Insurance bets pay 2 to 1.
• Any other winning hand is paid 1 to 1.
• Any winning score of 21 after a split is paid 1 to 1.

Buttons

• Deal  - Used to start the game after the player has placed their bet.
• Hit - Used when the player wants to be dealt another card. Players can hit as many times as they like unless the total of the cards equals or exceeds 21.
• Stand - Used when the player wants to keep the hand dealt they have been dealt. This automatically happens if the player hits 21 or double down.
• Double - After being dealt the first two cards, a player can decide to double down. The bet on the hand is doubled and one additional card is dealt to the player.
• Split - When the player’s first two cards match, they can opt to split them into two separate hands. The player can split twice and have up to three hands at one time.  When the player splits two aces, only one additional card can be dealt for each hand. Aces can only be split once. It's important to note that a hand total of 21 after splitting aces is considered 21, not Blackjack.
• Rebet - After the player has finished playing a hand, they may click Rebet to wager the previous amount again.
• Insurance - If the dealer is showing an ace as their face-up card, the player may then place a supplemental bet called insurance. A wager of exactly half of the original bet is placed on the table. If the dealer has Blackjack, the player receives an Insurance payout of 2 to 1. If the dealer does not have Blackjack, the player loses the insurance bet, and the player's initial bet is then settled by comparing his cards with the dealer's. If the dealer and the player both have Blackjack, the game is pushed and the player gets the amount won by taking insurance, called even money.

Glossary

• Bust - When either the dealer's or the player's cards equal more than 21.
• Bust Card – The individual card that brings a hand’s total to over 21.
• Hole Card – The dealer card that remains face-down until the player’s hands have been resolved.
• Paint – Any face card, such as a King or Queen.
• Push - When the total of both hands are the same and fall between 17 and 21, neither hand wins.
• Soft Hand - Any hand in which an Ace is counted as an 11.
• Stand – Choosing to receive no more cards from the dealer
• Stiff – A hard hand total between 12 and 16.

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