The basic game of Blackjack is a very simple to play yet may take a life time to master. Each player must make a bet in one of the positions marked on the table. The player or players then receives two cards initially which make up a "Hand". These two cards are added together and the player decides whether to call for additional cards (hit) or stay with the ones already dealt (stand). The idea is to reach a total of 21 or as near to 21 as possible without exceeding 21, players may not take cards on any total of 21. If the players total exceeds 21, then that hand is lost (or "bust") and the player will lose their ante. The dealer will also take cards until a minimum total of 17 is reached. If the player's total hand is higher than that of the dealer then the player wins; if the total of the dealers's cards is higher than that of the player then the dealer wins. If the total of both the player and the dealer is the same - nobody wins or loses (push) and the ante is returned to the player.

For the purposes of counting the totals, all cards are counted at face value, with the exception of Aces, which may be counted as 1 or 11, except where a total of 21 can be achieved when an Ace will always count as 11. All picture cards (Kings, Queens and Jacks) are counted as 10. A "Blackjack" consists of two cards only, an Ace and Ten-value card, and counts as 21. Blackjack can only be obtained on the fist two cards given to any box, and is paid at a payout of 1.5 the ante. All other winning hands are paid at even money. Blackjack beats all other hands except another Blackjack, which results in a push.

Doubling Down
A player may 'double down' with the first two cards of any value except Blackjack or 21. To do this, a player must make an additional bet equal to the his ante and will receive only one more card - whatever the value! Double the bet and double the payout.

Splitting
If the players fist two cards are of the same value, i.e. two nines, two fives, two eights, etc. then such hands may be "split" to make two separate hands. In this case, the player must make an additional bet equal to the initial bet. Having split the cards, the dealer will give an extra card to the 1 st split card, in order to make a complete hand once again, after that hand has been completed, the procedure shall be repeated for the second card. Hands may be split no more then twice (creating three new hands) and a player may also DOUBLE DOWN after creating the new hand with the first two cards.

Hard hand
This is a hand without an ace, where the player's total is determined by the face values of the cards.

Soft Hands
A soft hand is a hand with an Ace which can be counted as both one and 11. For example, Ace, 5, 6 is not a soft hand because the Ace as 11 would be a bust.