Backjack rules are similar to the popular game of 'Pontoon' or '21'. The object of the game is to draw cards totalling 21 or as close as possible, without going over or bust. Card values are as follows: Jack, Queen, King each count 10, Ace counts as 1 or 11. All other cards have their face value. The players place their bets to receive a card face up, dealing clockwise, starting with the first player ending with the bank. A second card is then dealt face up to the players excluding the bank. The dealer then offers each player in turn the opportunity to draw and receive more cards. If they want another card the player says 'Hit' (these are dealt face up) or if not they say 'Stand'.
		The player may draw as many cards as he wishes until he thinks he has a score closer to 21 than the dealer will make. If a player draws his first two cards of the same number he may 'split the two', (a player may only split once), and can bet the original stake on both hands. If two aces are split the player receives only one card on each. If one is a 10, in this instance, it will be reckoned as 21 and not as a Blackjack.
	The dealer then draws his second card face up. The dealer must draw on 16 or less and stand on 17 or over. If a player's total is closer to 21 than the dealer's, he wins even money. If the player and the dealer have the same total the bank wins. If a player has a Blackjack (Ace and any card valued 10 or over), and the Dealer has not, the player receives odds of 3-2. If the dealer has a Blackjack and the player has not but holds cards totalling 21, the player loses his stake. If both have Blackjacks, no money passes. A player may double his stake 'double down' only if his first two cards total 9, 10 or 11, but he can only draw one more card. The dealer will find more than one deck of cards in the package. Be sure to only use one deck at a time. Load the deck of cards with the backs facing the players, so when you draw a card from the shoe it will lay unrevealed, face down, on the baize. Change the deck at intervals throughout the evening as required. Before using a new deck remember to check that you have received all the cards back from the deck previously in use. (This will avoid any player retaining a card by mistake).