Split
If your initial hand is a pair of cards of equal value, you can decide to Split the pair to make two separate hands, each with a separate bet equal to your main bet. After a second card is dealt to both your hands, you can improve the value of these two hands by deciding to Hit. Again, you can choose to Stand once you are satisfied with the value of your two hands. However, if you Split an initial pair of Aces, you will receive only one additional card per hand with no option to Hit.
Outcome
If the sum of your hand exceeds 21, you bust and lose your bet on that hand.
When all players have taken their turns, the dealer reveals the value of his/her downcard. The dealer must Hit on a hand of 16 or less and must Stand on a hand of soft 17 or more. (Remember that a ‘soft hand’ includes an Ace worth 11.)
You win when the value of your final hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand or when the dealer busts. If the value of your hand is the same as the dealer’s, the game round ends in a push and your bet is returned.
Blackjack is only possible using the two cards in the initial two-card deal. A hand of 21 resulting from a split pair is not considered a Blackjack. Therefore, Blackjack beats any hand of 21 resulting from a split pair.
Side Bets
This Blackjack game includes optional side bets – Perfect Pairs and 21+3. You may place side bets in combination with your main Blackjack bet. You have the chance to win on any side bet whether you later win or lose on your Blackjack bet.
Perfect Pairs
The Perfect Pairs side bet gives you the chance to win if your first two cards comprise any pair – for example, two Queens, two Aces or two 3s. There are three types of pairs, each with a different payout:
- Perfect Pair – same suit, e.g. two Aces of Spades.
- Coloured Pair – different suits of the same colour, e.g. 2 of Diamonds + 2 of Hearts.
- Mixed Pair – different suits, e.g. 10 of Hearts + 10 of Clubs.
21+3
The 21+3 side bet gives you the chance to win if your first two cards plus the dealer’s upcard comprise any of the following winning combinations (similar to those in poker), each with a different payout:
- Suited Trips – an identical triplet, e.g. 3 Queens of Hearts.
- Straight Flush – in numerical sequence and same suit, e.g. 10, Jack and Queen of Diamonds.
- Three of a Kind – same value but different suits, e.g. any 3 unmatching Kings.
- Straight – in numerical sequence but different suits, e.g. 2 of Spades + 3 of Clubs + 4 of Hearts.
- Flush – non-sequential cards in the same suit, e.g. 2, 6 and 10 of Clubs.
Payouts
Blackjack pays 3:2
Winning hand pays 1:1
If the dealer has Blackjack, insurance pays 2:1
Perfect Pairs
Perfect pair 25:1
Coloured pair 12:1
Mixed pair 6:1
21+3
Suited Trips 100:1
Straight Flush 40:1
Three of a Kind 30:1
Straight 10:1
Flush 5:1
Return to Player
The optimal theoretical payout percentage is:
Blackjack - 99.28%.
Perfect Pairs bet - 95.90%.
21+3 bet - 96.30%.