If you do not have 21 at the start, decide whether to “hit” ( take another card ) or “stand” ( refuse further cards ). You may draw up to nine additional cards to hold a total of eleven cards in your hand at any one time.
The rules for the Dealer are simple: if the Dealer’s hand is 16 or less, he or she must take another card ( hit ). If it is 17 or greater, the Dealer must stand.

A WINNING HAND
If you have Blackjack with your first two cards.
If your hand is closer to, but not more than, 21 than the Dealer’s card total, you win an amount equivalent to your wager.

A LOSING HAND
If your hand exceeds 21, you lose i.e. “bust”.
If the Dealer’s card total is closer to 21 than your hand, you lose.

PUSH
After all hands have been played your hands are compared to the Dealer's hand. With the exception of Blackjack, if the value of both hands is the same it is called a “push”. In the case of a “push” you receive your bet back and no one wins. Blackjack (a court card and an ace), although it has a value of 21, beats a hand with a value of 21.

VALUE OF FACE CARDS
The face cards (Jack, Queen and King) all have a value of 10 in Blackjack.

VALUE OF ACES
An Ace may have a value of either 1 or 11. When the value of the Ace is taken as 11, this is referred to as a “soft” hand. An Ace will adopt the value most beneficial for your hand. For example, an Ace and a 7 will add up to 18. However, if you choose to take another card causing the hand's value to exceed 21, the Ace will revert to a value of 1 e.g. an Ace, a 7 and a face card will add up to 18 ( not 28 )

SPLITTING CARDS
If you receive two cards of the same value you may “split” your hand. This means that one pair is divided into two separate hands. When splitting, you are required to place a wager on the second hand that is equal to the amount of the original wager. You then play the first hand until you decide to stand, at which point you may begin playing the second hand.
Picture cards of the same value but not of the same denomination, cannot be split in this version of Blackjack. So, while a Ten and a Queen have the same numerical value, a hand consisting of these two cards cannot be split.
If you split a pair of Aces and then draw a card with a value of 10, this is not counted as Blackjack. This hand will have a value of 21. It will beat any Dealer's hand with a value less than 21. It will draw ( “push” ) against a Dealer's hand with a value of 21. It will lose against a Dealer's Blackjack. This rule also applies to splitting pairs of cards with a value of 10. So, if you split a pair of Tens or face cards, then receive an Ace, this hand does not count as Blackjack.

DOUBLING DOWN
"Doubling Down" is when the casino allows you to double your original bet after you have looked at your first two cards. After doubling, you may draw only one more card.
So, if the value of your initial two cards is 9, 10 or 11 ( excluding an Ace ) then you have the option to ”double”. If you opt to double, you place a second wager equivalent to your original wager. If you win you will be paid out an amount double your original wager.
If the dealer gets Blackjack after you have split or doubled, your entire wager, both original and double or split amounts, are lost.

INSURANCE
If the dealer’s first card is an ace, you may want to safeguard your hand against the possibility that the dealer has Blackjack. In this case, you can opt for insurance. The insurance bet costs half your original wager. If it transpires that the dealer does have Blackjack, you win the insurance bet you will be paid out 2-to-1 but will lose your original wager. If it transpires that the dealer does not have Blackjack, you lose your insurance bet, and continue the play based on your original wager.
Insurance only covers your original wager; it does not cover any "Double Down" bet.

SINGLE DECK
This game of Blackjack uses a single deck of cards that is shuffled after the completion of every hand.