Platinum Blackjack

Blackjack, also known as twenty-one, is a card game where the player competes against the dealer but not against any other players. It is played with eight decks of fifty-two cards. The object of the game is to beat the dealer, which can be accomplished in a variety of ways:

• Get twenty-one points on your first two cards (this is called blackjack), without the dealer getting blackjack.
• Reach a final score that is higher than the dealer without exceeding twenty-one (also known as a bust).
• Let the dealer draw additional cards until their score exceeds twenty-one (bust).

The player is dealt an initial two-card hand. The value of these cards is then added together. Face cards (kings, queens and jacks) are counted as ten points, an ace can be counted as one point or eleven points and all other cards use their numeric value. Upon receiving the two initial cards, the player has the option of getting a “hit,” taking an additional card. In a given round, the player or the dealer wins by having a score of twenty-one or by having the highest score that is less than twenty-one. Scoring higher than twenty-one (“busting” or “going bust”) results in a loss. The player may win by having any final score equal to or less than twenty-one if the dealer busts. If the player holds an ace valued as eleven, the hand is called “soft,” meaning that the player cannot go bust by taking an additional card.

The dealer has to take hits (more cards) until their cards total seventeen or more points. In some casinos, the dealer also hits on a “soft” seventeen—e.g. an initial ace and six. The player wins if they do not bust and have a total that is higher than the dealer’s. The dealer loses if they have a lesser hand than the player and the player has not busted. If the player and the dealer have the same point total, this is called a “push” and the player does not win or lose money on that hand.

History

Blackjack’s precursor was twenty-one, a game of unknown origin. The first written references can be found in 17th century France and Spain.

When twenty-one was introduced in the United States, gambling houses offered bonus payouts to stimulate players’ interest. One such bonus was a ten-to-one payout if the player’s hand consisted of the ace of spades and a black jack (either the jack of clubs or the jack of spades). This hand was called a “blackjack” and the name stuck to the game, even though the ten-to-one bonus was soon withdrawn. In the modern game, a blackjack refers to any hand of an ace plus a ten or face card, regardless of suit or color.

Rules

The player’s total amount of chips is labeled in white and located at the bottom of the screen. The player starts out with $5,000 in chips. Playing a hand requires a $5 minimum bet.

To place a bet, click/tap on the desired denomination of chips, which are located in the lower left hand of the screen. The total amount of the bet is labeled in white and located near the bottom of the screen.

When the desired bet amount has been reached, click/tap on the ‘Deal’ button. At this point, the amount of the player’s bet is deducted from the bank.

Player Decisions

After receiving an initial two cards, the player has three standard options: “hit,” “stand,” or “double.”

• Hit: Take another card from the dealer.
• Stand: Do not take any more cards. This is also known as “stand pat,” “stick” or “stay.”
• Double: The player is allowed to increase the initial bet by 100% in exchange for committing to stand after receiving one more card.

When the player wins, the amount of the player’s bet is added to the bank.

To continue playing, place a bet by clicking/tapping on the desired denomination of chips which are located in the lower left hand of the screen. The total amount of the bet is labeled in white and located near the bottom of the screen. When the desired bet amount has been reached, click/tap on the ‘Deal’ button.

• Clicking/Tapping on the ‘Clear Bet’ button will reset the bet amount to zero.
• Clicking/Tapping on the ‘Bet All’ button will wager the player’s entire bank.

When the bank reaches zero, the game will reload the player with $5,000.

When the player and dealer tie or “push,” the player does not win or lose money on that hand.

Hitting Blackjack

When blackjack is hit, the payout is 150% of the original bet

Insurance

If the dealer’s up card is an ace, the player is offered the option of taking “insurance.” Insurance is a side bet that the dealer has blackjack. It pays 2:1 (the player receives two dollars for every dollar that is bet).

If ‘No’ is clicked/tapped, the hand is played as normal. If ‘Yes’ is clicked/tapped, the player insures against the possibility of a dealer blackjack by making an “insurance” bet of half the value of their original bet to make up for the loss on the original bet.

Book

Clicking/Tapping ‘Book’ (located near the lower right of the screen) will enable a table that supports basic blackjack strategy. The table advises the player whether to hit, stay or double depending on what the total of the hand being played is when compared to the dealer’s up card.