To start playing Blackjack place your cash chips on the box you wish to play. The minimum bet is £3. The dealer will then start to deal the cards.

He does this by dealing a card to each box that is in play, one to himself and then a second card to each of the boxes.

The dealer will then ask all of the boxes in turn if they would like additional cards on their boxes to obtain a higher score. When the dealer has completed this process with all of the boxes, he then moves on to his own cards.

The dealer must follow certain rules for this. He must draw cards if he has a total that is 16 or less and stand on anything above 16, i.e. 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21. When the dealer has finished with his cards he will pay you if your total is higher than his, if it is the same it will stand or the bet will be taken if you have a lower total.

If when the first two cards are dealt you have an ace and a picture or a ten, this is a Blackjack, a combination that pays 3 – 2 as long as the dealers first card isn’t a 10, face card or ace.

If this happens you can take a payout of even money, as the dealer has the chance of making Blackjack when they draw their second card. Or you can make an insurance bet. This means betting half f your original bet, and if the dealer does get Blackjack, you receive 2 to 1 for your insurance bet.

TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

• Cards count at face value, with all pictures counting as 10.
• Aces count as 1 or 11, and will always revert to 1 when it would take you over 21.
• When your first two cards total 9, 10, 11 you get the option to double down. This entails you matching your original bet and only getting 1 card.
• You may split any pair, except 4’s, 5’s, 10’s and picture cards, by placing a bet equivalent to your original stake.