Table Layout

Overview: Your only opponent in Blackjack is the dealer -- no one else matters.

Suits are not relevant in this game. Cards are valued as follows:

• Ace: 11 or 1. An ace is valued as 11 when it does not cause a hand to go over 21, and is valued as a 1 otherwise.
• King, Queen, Jack, Ten: These cards count as 10.
• Nine through two: These cards count as their face value -- that is nine through two, depending on the card.

After making a bet, both you and the dealer are dealt two cards, with one of the dealer's card being dealt face up -- that is, you can see one of the dealer's card. The hand may be over at this point if:

• You have 21: You win!!!! Usually, you win 3 to 2, meaning that you win 3 for every 2 that you bet.
• The dealer has 21: You lose. :( The house takes your money.
• You both have 21: A tie -- also called a push. Your money is returned to you.

If the dealer shows an Ace, you will be offered the chance to make an Insurance bet -- insurance against the dealer having blackjack. If you make the Insurance bet and the dealer has a blackjack, you win the insurance bet (but still lose your original bet). If the dealer shows an Ace and you have a Blackjack, you will be offered even money (rather than 3 : 2) for your Blackjack.

• When you have a pair
  

  	Dealer's Visible Card
  Your Cards	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	T	A
  (A,A)	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
  (T,T)	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
  (9,9)	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	Y	Y	N	N
  (8,8)	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
  (7,7)	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	N	N
  (6,6)	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	N	N	N
  (5,5)	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N
  (4,4)	N	N	N	Y	Y	N	N	N	N	N
  (3,3)	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	N	N
  (2,2)	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	N	N
  	Y	Yes, Split the pair.
  	N	No, Don't split the pair.

• When you have an Ace and any other card -- also called a soft hand
  

  	Dealer's Visible Card
  Your Cards	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	T	A
  (A,9)	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
  (A,8)	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
  (A,7)	S	Ds	Ds	Ds	Ds	S	S	H	H	H
  (A,6)	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
  (A,5)	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
  (A,4)	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
  (A,3)	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
  (A,2)	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
  Key:	H	Hit
  	S	Stand
  	D	Double if allowed; If not, hit.
  	Ds	Double if allowed; If not, stand.

• When you do not have a pair or an ace -- also called a hard hand
  

  	Dealer's Visible Card
  Your Cards	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	T	A
  17	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
  16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
  15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
  14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
  13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
  12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
  11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H
  10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
  9	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
  8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
  Key:	H	Hit
  	S	Stand
  	D	Double if allowed; If not, hit.

Online Play: There are many online sites that offer Blackjack. You can try Blackjack risk-free by utilizing the free, no-deposit welcome bonuses that are offered at many sites; if you decide to play for real, then be sure to play at a site that offers an initial deposit bonus of at least 100%. If you want to play online live blackjack against Live Dealers, you can do that, too!

Recommended Sites: All take players from the US (as well as most non-US players, of course), and have at least a 100% initial deposit bonus for new players.

• US-Blackjack.com: 100% bonus
• Cool Cat: $50 Free + 300% bonus
• Club Player: $65 Free + 450% bonus
• Suite 332: 100% bonus
• Yachting Casino: $10 Free + 100% bonus
• This is Vegas: $15 Free + 200% bonus (KY residents not eligible)

For more information... 

Good luck and have fun!