If you're just getting started in the game, you may wish to review the basic rules and controls for Player's Suite® Blackjack at DoubleDown Casino. If you're already familiar with the game, read on to learn more about the in-depth rules regarding splitting and insurance.
Rules for splitting hands
It is possible to Split twice within one hand. Say you are originally dealt a 10 and a Jack, and you choose to Split. You now have two hands in play (10 & J). If the next card you are dealt on your 10 is a Queen, you have the option to Split again. You now have three hands in play, all showing equal value (10, J, & Q).
However, it is not possible to Split again from a hand that was already split. That means that the hands showing 10 and Queen must be played; your options will be Hit, Stand, and Double Down. However, the Jack hand has still only been split once. If a King comes up on the Jack, you will have the option to Split again.
If you Split on two Aces, no further splits are allowed. A Split on two Aces acts similarly to a Double Down in that only one card will be added to each half of the split hand.
Insurance
If the dealer's first card is an Ace, you have the option to add insurance on your bet. Insurance costs half the amount wagered on the hand. If your initial wager was 10,000 chips, you can buy insurance for an additional 5,000.
Insurance protects you from losing if the dealer has a Blackjack. You must still have a viable hand, however; if you go bust before the dealer's Blackjack is revealed, insurance will not protect you.
If the dealer has a Blackjack, and your hand stands at 21 or under, the insurance will return your bet to you, including the cost of the insurance itself.
If the dealer wins the hand with anything other than a Blackjack, insurance does not cover the loss.