Chinese is a variation of blackjack played with two decks of fifty-two cards. On many Online Casinos in Chinese blackjack, players act as the dealer, with play starting with the shuffle and cut. The dealer deals each player two cards face down after each player places a bet within table limits.

In Chinese blackjack, cards are valued at face value. Unlike regular blackjack, however, aces vary in value. The value of the ace fluctuates depending on the number of cards a player has received. If a player has to cards, the ace is valued as a ten or eleven count. For players holding three cards, one of which an ace, the ace is worth one or ten. Should a player hold four or more cards, the ace’s value is fixed at one.

Players act on their hands face down from the dealer, choosing to hit or stay at will. Dealers must hit hands totaling fewer than sixteen. Should a dealer obtain a hand value between 16 and 21, he may choose to stand or may reveal some or all player hands prior to continuing or standing.

Special Hands in Chinese Blackjack
A player holding a pair of aces has a hand known as ban-ban. This hand pays three to one immediately to the player from the dealer. The exception to this payout is when the dealer has ban-ban as well, or obtains an escape hand. Should the USA Online Casino dealer receive Ban-Ban, each player pays the dealer three to one. Those players also having Ban-Ban or having an escape hand do not pay the dealer in the instance of dealer Ban-Ban.

Ban-Nag
Ban-Nag occurs when a player has a face card with an ace. This is blackjack in traditional blackjack games. Ban-Nag is paid two to one immediately by the dealer. As was the case with Ban-Ban, should the dealer also hold Ban-Nag or an escape hand, the hand is a push. The dealer may also obtain Ban-Nag, at which time the players pay the dealer two to one for his hand.

Escape Hand
If player or dealer has a hand totaling fifteen points in value, they hold an escape hand. This is similar to surrender in that the player may escape the hand; however, it costs nothing for the player to escape. In the event the dealer obtains an escape hand, the hand is declared dead and the cards reshuffled. It should be noted that players and dealers alike may choose to exercise their right to escape or they may choose to continue in the hand. The escape is an option – not mandatory.

Five Card Dragon
Should player or dealer receive five cards totaling under twenty-one, they are paid out two to one. If player or dealer totals twenty-one with exactly five cards, they are paid three to one on their money. Such combinations are known as the five-card dragon.