Rule Summary

• Non-face cards are worth the number on the card, and face cards (royalty) are worth 10.
• An Ace is worth 11 unless it causes you to bust, and then it becomes worth 1.
• The maximum number of cards in hand is 5.
• A player Busts (loses) when their hand is over 21.
• When both hands are equal at the end of the game it is a Push (tie) and each player receives their bet back.
• The Dealer stands on 17.
• You can only Double Down when you have two cards in your hand.
• A Blackjack is when the initial hand consists of an Ace and a face card (royalty).
• Blackjack pays 3/2 times your bet.
• You can only bet an amount lower or equal to your budget.
• Chester is saved when your Budget reaches $50,000.
• When you budget is zero or less then you lose the game and must leave the casino... but you can come back again later if you want :)

The Full Rules

Sifl and Olly's Blackjack game is played similar to regular Blackjack in that the objective is to get the closest to a total hand value of 21 without going over. In Blackjack each numeric card is worth that amount of points, so a 4 of clubs is worth 4 points and a 7 of hearts is worth 7 points. The face cards, or royalty, are each worth 10 points, so a Jack is of equal value to a King. Also the suit of the card doesn't change the value of a card in Sifl and Olly's Blackjack.

That leaves the Ace: which in Blackjack can be worth either 1 or 11 points, which is determined according to your discretion. However, to simplify Sifl and Olly's Blackjack game, an Ace is always worth 11, unless that 11 points would make your total hand value over 21. So an Ace and a 4 card is worth 15, but hitting again and receiving a 7 card would make your hand worth 12 (since 22 is greater than 21).

Basic play is handled by dealing each player two cards with the first card for each player dealt face down. Now you can look at your face down card, but you cannot look at Dealer's face down cards. In Sifl and Olly's Blackjack there is no need to hide your first card (the Dealer can't see it) so it is always face up. However, the Dealer's first card is always hidden until you Stand, or lose the game. After both players have been dealt two cards, it is up to you to Hit and receive another card; or you can Stand and keep the hand you have and hope it is better than a hand the Dealer can make. You can continue to Hit and add cards to your hand until your hand value is greater than 21, known as a Bust, or until you have 5 cards in your hand (the maximum number of cards in hand allowed in Sifl and Olly's Blackjack). Once you stand, it is the Dealer's turn to make a hand. Then once the Dealer is done, if no player has busted then both hands are compared to see who has the hand closest to 21 without going over. If both players have the same hand value, then it is a tie, or Push, and you receive your initial bet back.

Another rule of Sifl and Olly's Blackjack game is that the Dealer will hit until his hand is greater or equal to 17. The Dealer will always stand on 17 or higher (never lower).

A Double Down is a way to double the amount of your winnings, but it also is a way to double your loss. A Double Down can only be played when you have 2 cards in your hand. When you Double Down you double your bet and receive 1 more card, for a total of 3 cards in your hand. If you win, then you receive twice your winnings, but if you lose you lose twice your initial bet.

The game Blackjack gets its name from the hand value that a player gets when their initial hand dealt consists of an Ace and a face card (royalty). This is called a Blackjack and the player receiving the Blackjack automatically wins the game, and if the player wins then they receive 3/2 times their bet.

A rule for betting is that you can only bet an amount that is equal or lower than your current Budget. A similar rule applies to a Double Down in that you cannot Double Down if the total bet from the Double Down is larger than your Budget. Finally, if your Budget reaches zero or below zero, then you lose the game and you must leave the casino. But don't worry, you can return later and play again :)

Remember: Chester will be saved when your Budget reaches $50,000. So good luck and have fun!