Contents

General Info

Each player competes against dealer — players do not compete with each other.
Dealer distributes cards to each player face up. The dealer's first card is face down, and second card is face up
Dealer will always hit on a soft-17. A soft-17 is a hand with an ace valued at 17 (i.e. ace + 6).

When to Hit

"Hit" (ask for additional cards), if the dealer's face up card is not a 3, 4, 5, or 6.
Always assume that the dealer's hidden card is a 10.
Continue to ask for additional cards until your hand is valued at 17 or higher.

"Hold" your hand (keep your existing cards) if the dealer's face up card is a 3, 4, 5, or 6.
When these cards appear, odds are that dealer will bust (go over 21)
From personal experience, continue to request additional cards until your hand is valued at or above 15. This way, if the dealer does not bust, you still have an improved chance of winning.

If player receives two cards with the same value (i.e. jacks, queens, dueces, etc), then the player can split the hand
When splitting a hand, player bets same amount on two sets of hands. For example, if opening bet is $10 and player is delt one hand with 2-jacks, player splits hand and bets $10 on each jack. Dealer distributes additional cards for each jack.
Player should always split two aces. Be aware though that some casinos only allow one card to be delt on each ace once a hand is split.
Good hands to split are 10's, jacks, queens, and kings. This is because the maximum value on the subsequent card is 11, creating a 21.
Splitting is also a good strategy when dealer.

Player can "double down" (double bet) on any two cards (does not have to match like split).
After doubling down, player can only receive one additional card (3 cards total).
After your hand is delt, player has the option to double their bet.
Player can only double down after receiving the inital hand – doubling down is not permitted after a 3rd or 4th card is delt.
Player will only receive 1 additional card after double bet is placed.
Doubling down can also be done on a split hand. For example, if splitting two aces, player can double down on one or both hands.

If dealer's face up card is an ace, then players have the option to buy insurance
If a player buys insurance and the dealer has a 21, then insurance is collected and the player keeps his bet.
If a player buys insurance and the dealer does not have 21, then the insurance is collected and the player continues to play his hand.
If a player does not buy insurance and the dealer does not have a 21, then the player continues to play his hand.
Overall, insurance is a losing investment.
Only consider buying insurance if you have a hand worth insuring. For example, you have a hand valued at 20.

Player can tip dealer. To do so, player places chip on circle that outlines actual bet.
If player loses hand, dealer keeps bet.
If player wins hand, bet is doubled and dealer keeps the doubled value.
Tips can only be placed before the hand is delt.