When California passed laws making the Blackjack Online illegal, the casinos of California struck back by creating a game now known as California Blackjack. This style of blackjack managed to operate within the scope of the written California Law.

In California Blackjack, six decks of card are utilized in the blackjack shoe. The California Blackjack deck is a deck of 53 cards, as opposed to the standard 52-card deck used in normal blackjack games. The fifty-third card is a joker.

The object of California is the same as traditional casino blackjack, as the player attempts to come as close to twenty-one without going over. The highest-ranking hands in California Blackjack are a pair of jokers, as well as a joker with an ace, and additionally a pair of aces. It should be noted that the joker is a wild card in California Blackjack, as any additional card combined with a joker equals twenty-one. This is true even with a card such as a two or three, as the joker runs the total up to twenty-one. It should be noted that the “natural 21″ which is combinations of jokers, aces, and ace joker must be called by the player immediately. Additionally, the traditional blackjack (Ace – face) does count as twenty-one, however this hand totaling twenty-one merely pushes or ties with the dealer in the event he or she has a hand also totaling twenty-one.

The dealer in California blackjack passes between players, as the house dealer does not receive cards. The house, however, does collect a fee of $1 per hundred dollars bet, which is rounded up to favor the house. Additionally, the player dealer pays a dealer’s fee of $3 and must act as the house or bank during the hand. A player may serve as the bank for up to two hands before the deal is passed.

If a player of California Blackjack is dealt a natural, he is paid two to one. In the event the joker is face up for the dealer, the dealing player turns their hand over and players having a hand value less than twenty-one lose their bets immediately.

When a player goes bust by drawing to a value over 21, the hand is marked bust, until the dealer plays. If the dealer draws to a value greater than 21, the busting hands are declared a push.

Players have the ability to double down, as well as split or surrender in California Blackjack. The surrender is not permitted, however if the dealer shows a joker.