Game Setup and Playing Mode:

The below still is the Blackjack playing screen at Real Time Gaming-powered Silver Oak Casino. Clicking on chips will "load" the bet, and clicking on the bet circle will reset the wager. Simply click on the "DEAL" (the highlighted button below the chip stacks), to begin play. Depending on the outcome of the initial dealt cards, various buttons will highlight, giving the player the opportunity to select said option. If the dealer has a faceup Ace, the option to take Insurance will show. Click Yes or not and resume play. The hit and stand button will generally always be highlighted, whereas the Split and Double Down buttons will only become highlighted when the proper cards have been dealt.

After the first (and all subsequent hands) is finished, a REBET button will appear, streamlining the process the second time around.

Game Objective and Rules:

The objective of Blackjack is to shape a card hand value as close to 21 without going over, aka, busting. The dealer's objective is to do the same, however, the dealer does not act until the player is finished taking further actions on their hand. Numbered cards are worth their pip value (their corresponding number), while face cards are worth 10 points and Ace's are worth either 1 point (hard hand) or 11 points (soft hand). Soft hands are those which contain an Ace counting as 11 points without making the hand bust, whereas hard hands are former soft hands in which the Ace value was changed to 1 (be default) so as to not make the hand bust.

After the player is dealt two face up cards - depending on the value of the cards - the player will have the option of splitting (splitting two equal value cards into two hands), doubling down (doubling one's wager), hitting (being dealt another card), Standing or taking an Insurance side bet. The Insurance bet is worth half the original stake and is only offered when the dealer's face up card is an Ace - in effect, offering a chance at earning back one's initial bet if the Dealer has a Natural 21, which can't be beat.

When STAND is selected, the player cannot act further on the hand, and the dealer will then proceed to reveal the hole card and will draw until forced to stand or the hand busts. The dealer will keep drawing until reaching a hand value of at least 17. Some casinos make the dealer hit with a Soft 17, which in effect, raises the House Edge a bit.

In the case of Doubling Down, the player is only allowed to receive one more card, which is precisely why Doubling Down shouldn't be done randomly, but rather, based on what the player's hand value is in relation to the dealer's up card value. Doubling down is generally not allowed on split hands (which lowers the House Edge), but can be found sometimes as part of a special Blackjack tournament or promotion. Depending on the Blackjack game, the option to Surrender might be available, thus giving the player the opportunity to forfeit half of the initial wager (before or after the dealer checks for Blackjack).

Where to Play: