Atlassino Academy · Blackjack · Lesson 2

How a round goes, province by province

Bet, deal, your turn, the dealer’s turn, settlement — at a Córdoba table, and the lines where two other rulebooks deal the round differently.

  • About 14 minutes
  • Illustrated hosts: Leo and Maya
  • Last checked 25 October 2026

You sit down at a Córdoba blackjack table with chips in your hand. What happens, in order, until your bet is paid or taken?

The short answer

Five steps. You bet before the first card. The dealer deals two cards face up to every bet and two to the house hand, the second of them face down. You play your hand — declaring an ace if you hold one — while the dealer waits. Then the dealer turns the face-down card and draws by a fixed rule, and every bet still in is settled against the house hand.

Leo stands behind the left of three identical tables with one hand open over the middle table, and Maya stands behind the right-hand table; in front of the seat at every table lie the same two face-up cards, a three of hearts and a four of spades, while across the felt the left table carries a six of clubs alone and the middle and right tables carry a six of clubs beside one face-down card, with a small sign bearing a single bar standing above the middle and the right table and none above the left.
Leo smiling, explaining with an open hand.

Leoformer dealer · rules and maths

Every round I dealt went through the same five steps, and the rulebook says what happens inside each one. Learn the steps first; what each move does is the next lesson, and why the order of the steps is the price of the game is lesson 5.

The five steps of a round

  1. Bet

    Chips into your betting spot before the first card comes out; after it, no bet is accepted on this round. A seat at the table means a bet on every round.

  2. Deal

    One card face up to every bet, from left to right, and one face up for the dealer. If your first card is an ace, the side bet on your second card is offered at that moment, before the card comes. Then a second card face up to every bet, and the dealer’s second card face down.

  3. Your turn

    With an ace among your first two cards you declare it 1 or 11; then you take cards or stop, and on two cards that make 11 you may double, on two of equal value split. The decisions are yours alone.

  4. The dealer’s turn

    The dealer turns the face-down card and draws to 16 or less, stopping on every 17 or more; if every player has gone over 21, the dealer draws nothing.

  5. Settlement

    A higher total than the dealer’s is paid 1 to 1, a blackjack 3 to 2; a hand over 21 was lost before the dealer played, and a dealer over 21 loses to every hand still in.

At Córdoba tables a game starts only with at least three seated players betting.

The deal, and the card you cannot see

The deal is where these tables differ most from what a film shows. The dealer’s first card is face up and the second face down, and the face-down card stays that way until every player has finished.

Dealer

99

You

101066

What you see when you decide: your two cards, and one of the dealer’s.

That one card changes what a dealer blackjack does. Nobody checks for it before you play, so a blackjack turned up at the end takes every bet on your hand — a double or a split bet included. And two things happen at the deal only when an ace shows on your side: with an ace as your first card you are offered a side bet on your second card (a lesson of its own), and with an ace among your first two cards you declare it 1 or 11 before you play.

Three rulebooks, three rounds

The five steps are the same in every rulebook we read. What happens inside them is not, and three of the lines that differ change the price of the game.

Three rulebooks, three roundsWhere the documents part company; the round on this page follows the first column
The roundCórdobaPBAEntre Rios
Decks in the shoeat least eighteightnot in the document
The dealer’s second cardface down, turned over after the playersface down, turned over after the playersface down, turned over after the players
A dealer blackjack takesevery bet on the hand, doubles and splits includedthe first bet only; a double or a split bet comes backnot in the document
Your blackjack against the dealer’sa tie: the bet comes backpaid 50% of the beta tie: the bet comes back
The side bet when an ace showson your own second card, after your first card is an aceinsurance against the dealer’s blackjack, when the dealer’s card is an aceon your own second card, after your first card is an ace
The house edge, every hand by the full chart2.08%0.37%1.44%

A cell that says “not in the document” is a document that is silent, not one that forbids. The house edge assumes every hand played by the full chart for those rules, and cards shuffled after every hand.

The house keeps its edge; the chart only makes it smaller. The edge in the last row is the price of each rulebook with every hand played by its full chart; a single evening lands a long way from it in either direction.

At the table, with Maya

Maya smiling, explaining with an open hand.

Mayaformer floor supervisor · manners, money and breaks

The round runs on its own rhythm, and the only part of it that is yours is your hand. Put the bet down before the deal, keep your hands off it once the cards are out, and make your decisions without anyone else’s help — the rulebook gives them no weight anyway.

  • Your bet stays as it is. Once the deal has started, a bet is not raised, lowered or taken back, except by a double or a split.
  • Seated players only. At these tables nobody bets from behind the chairs or into another player’s spot.
Maya with a hand on her chest, speaking gently and seriously.

Mayaformer floor supervisor · manners, money and breaks

A round is quick, and rounds add up. Decide how much the evening gets and how long it lasts before the first bet, and stop when either runs out. If the money starts to feel like money you need, stop and call one of the lines below.

If it stops being fun

If gambling stops being entertainment, help is available. Minimum entry age: each province sets its own. Where we found the rule or regulator that sets it, we cite it on the page; those we found set it at 18. More on responsible gaming.

Show all provinces
0800-666-6006Buenos Aires City (CABA) · Línea de orientación por juego problemático (LOTBA) · Monday to Friday, 9 to 17
0800-444-4000Buenos Aires Province · Programa de Prevención y Asistencia al Juego Compulsivo (IPLyC)
0800-777-2983Cordoba · Línea 0800-777-AYUDA (Lotería de Córdoba) · 24 hours
0800-268-5640Santa Fe · Línea gratuita de la APRECOD (Santa Fe) · Every day, 8 to 24
0800-888-2202Entre Rios · Departamento Juego Responsable (IAFAS, PREVENJUEGO)
0261-424-7536Mendoza · Programa de Juego Responsable (IPJyC) · Monday to Friday, 8 to 14
0800-888-5836Misiones · Programa de Juego Responsable del IPLyC S.E. (0800-888-LUDO)
0800-888-2008Chaco · Línea de Juego Responsable (Lotería Chaqueña)
0299-403-8900Neuquen · Líneas de contacto, orientación y tratamiento (IJAN, juego responsable) · Monday to Friday, 8 to 15
0800-222-1700Rio Negro · Línea de Orientación al Jugador Problemático (Lotería de Río Negro)
02901-433515Tierra del Fuego · Departamento Juego Responsable (IPRA, Ushuaia)
0800-555-7678Tucuman · Juego Responsable, Ley 8986 (Caja Popular de Ahorros)
0800-999-1314San Juan · Línea gratuita del Programa Provincial de Juego Responsable (Caja de Acción Social) · Monday to Friday, 08 to 12

If you are thinking about suicide, call 135 or 0800 345 1435 from anywhere in the country

Practice table

Moments from a round at a Córdoba table, in the order they happen: before your turn, then the dealer’s turn and settlement. Nothing is scored; each answer comes with the line of the rulebook behind it.

The practice table needs JavaScript. Here is one moment from it, with the answer.

Level 1 · Before your turn

Córdoba · rules published by Lotería de Córdoba

Dealer

88

You

66

The dealer has already dealt the first card to every bet. You push chips into your spot now. Are they a bet on this round?

The answer: No: a bet has to be down before the first card comes out.

No. A bet goes down before the dealer deals the first card, and once the deal has started the bets on the cloth are fixed.

No se permitirán apuestas realizadas posteriormente a la extracción de la primera carta.-

Free translation: No bets made after the first card has been drawn shall be permitted.

Lotería de Córdoba S.E. (portal) · Reglamento del juego «Black Jack» · read

Level 2 · The dealer’s turn and settlement

Córdoba · rules published by Lotería de Córdoba

Dealer

77

You

10105599

Every player at the table has gone over 21, you included. What does the dealer do with the house hand?

The answer: Nothing: the dealer draws no cards.

Nothing. Every bet is already lost, so the dealer draws no cards for the house hand: there is nobody left to play against.

Cuando todos los Jugadores se pasaren de puntaje ( más de 21 ), el Pagador no tirará cartas para sí, por cuanto no hay con quien jugar.-

Free translation: When all the Players have gone over the score (more than 21), the Pagador shall not draw cards for himself, since there is no one to play against.

Lotería de Córdoba S.E. (portal) · Reglamento del juego «Black Jack» · read

Every moment in the practice table, its answer and the words behind it
The momentWhat happensThe words it rests on
The dealer has already dealt the first card to every bet. You push chips into your spot now. Are they a bet on this round?No: a bet has to be down before the first card comes out

No. A bet goes down before the dealer deals the first card, and once the deal has started the bets on the cloth are fixed.

No se permitirán apuestas realizadas posteriormente a la extracción de la primera carta.-

Free translation: No bets made after the first card has been drawn shall be permitted.

Lotería de Córdoba S.E. (portal) · Reglamento del juego «Black Jack» · read
Your first card is an ace, and your second has not been dealt yet. What may you do now?Bet half your stake that your second card will be a ten-value card

The desafío: a side bet of half your stake that the second card dealt to you will be a ten-value card, paid 2 to 1. Your hand plays on as usual whatever the second card is.

puede desafiar al pagador que la segunda será una figura ( K, Q, J o 10 ), para lo cual deberá colocar otra apuesta igual a la mitad de la postura original fuera del casillero, si acierta gana en proporción 2 por 1

Free translation: may challenge the pagador that the second card will be a face card (K, Q, J or 10), for which he must place another bet equal to half of the original stake outside the box; if he is right he wins at odds of 2 to 1

Lotería de Córdoba · Reglamento del juego «Black Jack» · section Otras apuestas, 4) Desafío o seguro · read
Your two cards are an ace and a six. What does the dealer ask you before you play?To declare the ace 1 or 11

To declare the ace: 1 makes the hand a 7, 11 makes it a 17, and the choice cannot be taken back during the hand.

En el caso de que alguna de las dos primeras cartas del apostador sea un " AS ", el pagador solicitará a aquél que defina su puntaje , haciendo valer al " AS " como Uno ( 1 ) o como Once ( 11 ).

Free translation: If either of the bettor's first two cards is an " ACE ", the dealer shall ask the bettor to define his score, counting the " ACE " as One ( 1 ) or as Eleven ( 11 ).

Esta decisión será irrevocable hasta la completa definición del pase.

Free translation: This decision shall be irrevocable until the hand is completely settled.

Lotería de Córdoba · Reglamento del juego «Black Jack» · section Desarrollo del juego, 10) · read
Every player at the table has gone over 21, you included. What does the dealer do with the house hand?Nothing: the dealer draws no cards

Nothing. Every bet is already lost, so the dealer draws no cards for the house hand: there is nobody left to play against.

Cuando todos los Jugadores se pasaren de puntaje ( más de 21 ), el Pagador no tirará cartas para sí, por cuanto no hay con quien jugar.-

Free translation: When all the Players have gone over the score (more than 21), the Pagador shall not draw cards for himself, since there is no one to play against.

Lotería de Córdoba S.E. (portal) · Reglamento del juego «Black Jack» · read
You stood on 18. The dealer turns the face-down card: a 10 and a 7, 17. What does the dealer do?Stops on 17

Stops. The dealer draws on 16 or less and stops on every 17 or more, whatever is in front of the players — and your 18 is paid.

Si la sumatoria de las cartas es 17, 18, 19, 20, o 21 ( Black Jack ) habrá definido su jugada no pudiendo extraer mas cartas .-

Free translation: If the sum of the cards is 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21 (Black Jack) he will have settled his play and may not draw more cards.

En caso de que la sumatoria sea menor a diecisiete ( 17 ) extraerá cartas hasta llegar a esa cifra o más, en cuyo caso plantará definiendo su juego.-

Free translation: If the sum is less than seventeen (17) he will draw cards until reaching that figure or more, in which case he will stand, settling his hand.

Lotería de Córdoba S.E. (portal) · Reglamento del juego «Black Jack» · read
El Tallador debe obligatoriamente pedir naipes siempre que su puntuación fuere de DIECISEIS (16) PUNTOS O MENOR. Habiendo obtenido 17, 18, 19,20 ó 21, está obligado a PLANTAR. Cuando se diese un AS, deberá utilizarlo como ONCE en la medida que no se exceda.

Free translation: The Tallador must draw cards whenever his score is SIXTEEN (16) POINTS OR LESS. Having obtained 17, 18, 19,20 or 21, he is obliged to STAND. When an ACE is dealt, he must use it as ELEVEN as long as he does not go over.

IPLyC Buenos Aires (Sistema de Normas) · Resolución 1452/12, Anexo I: Marco Normativo de los Juegos de Azar Artesanales y Electrónicos · section Capítulo 9, Black Jack modalidad carta descubierta: Reglamento del Juego (9.1 a 9.14) · read
Por su parte el crupier tiene reglas rígidas a las que atenerse: si su puntuación inicial fuera 16 o menor está obligado a tomar otra carta, y se plantará siempre que su puntuación alcance 17.

Free translation: For its part, the croupier has strict rules to follow: if his initial score is 16 or less he is obliged to take another card, and he will always stand once his score reaches 17.

IPJyC Mendoza (SAPIA, Res. Dir. 812-16) · Información sobre juegos vivos o de paño: JUEGOS CARTEADOS, pagos, probabilidades · read
Si la sumatoria de las cartas es 17, 18, 19, 20, o 21 ( Black Jack ) habrá definido su jugada no pudiendo extraer mas cartas

Free translation: If the sum of the cards is 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21 (Black Jack) he will have settled his play and may not draw more cards

cuando el puntaje de las cartas anteriores más el "AS" considerado como Once (11) suma diecisiete (17) o más: "PLANTA"

Free translation: when the score of the previous cards plus the "ACE" counted as Eleven (11) adds up to seventeen (17) or more: "STANDS"

Lotería de Córdoba · Reglamento del juego «Black Jack» · section Desarrollo del juego, 12 b) y 13 c) · read
You doubled your 11 and made 20. The dealer turns the face-down card: an ace and a king, a blackjack. What happens to your two bets?Both are lost: the dealer’s blackjack takes every bet on the hand

Both bets go. At these tables the dealer’s second card lies face down until every player has finished, and a blackjack turned up then takes every bet on the hand — doubles and splits included.

dará una segunda carta descubierta para cada una de las apuestas y una para sí cubierta.

Free translation: will deal a second card face up for each of the bets and one face down for himself.

Una vez determinados los puntajes de los apostadores, el pagador definirá el suyo de acuerdo con las siguientes reglas

Free translation: Once the bettors' scores have been determined, the pagador will settle his own according to the following rules

Descubrirá su segunda carta y efectuará la sumatoria de ésta y la primera.

Free translation: He will turn up his second card and add it to the first.

Cuando el pagador finalice con su juego, descubrirá la carta tapada del jugador y comparará el puntaje obtenido con el suyo, valiendo para la definición lo establecido en el punto catorce (14) del Desarrollo del Juego.

Free translation: When the pagador has finished his play, he will turn up the player's face-down card and compare the score obtained with his own, the provisions of point fourteen (14) of the Game Procedure applying to the settlement.

Lotería de Córdoba · Reglamento del juego «Black Jack» · section Desarrollo del juego, 8), 12) y 14); Otras apuestas, 1) · read
You stood on 13. The dealer goes over 21. What happens to your bet?It is paid, even money

Paid, one to one. A dealer over 21 loses to every player still in the game — which is exactly why a hand that went over 21 earlier is not among them.

Una vez efectuadas la apuestas, el Pagador procederá a distribuir una carta descubierta por cada una de las apuestas realizadas, de izquierda a derecha y una para sí descubierta.

Free translation: Once the bets have been placed, the Pagador will proceed to deal one card face up for each of the bets made, from left to right, and one face up for himself.

Posteriormente, dará una segunda carta descubierta para cada una de las apuestas y una para sí cubierta.

Free translation: Afterwards, he will deal a second card face up for each of the bets and one face down for himself.

Cada apostador, en posesión de sus dos cartas, está habilitado para solicitar mas cartas siempre que las mismas no sumen veintiuno ( 21 ) ( BLACK JACK ) con lo cual el juego estaría definido o, " Plantar " con el puntaje obtenido con sus dos primeras cartas.

Free translation: Each bettor, holding his two cards, is entitled to ask for more cards as long as they do not add up to twenty-one (21) (BLACK JACK), in which case the hand would be settled, or to "Stand" with the score obtained with his first two cards.

Si la sumatoria de las cartas es 17, 18, 19, 20, o 21 ( Black Jack ) habrá definido su jugada no pudiendo extraer mas cartas .-

Free translation: If the sum of the cards is 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21 (Black Jack) he will have settled his play and may not draw more cards.

En caso de que la sumatoria sea menor a diecisiete ( 17 ) extraerá cartas hasta llegar a esa cifra o más, en cuyo caso plantará definiendo su juego.-

Free translation: If the sum is less than seventeen (17) he will draw cards until reaching that figure or more, in which case he will stand, settling his hand.

En caso de que la sumatoria de cartas extraídas supere veintiuno ( 21 ) habrá perdido ante cualquier puntaje de los apostadores en Juego.-

Free translation: If the sum of the cards drawn exceeds twenty-one (21), he will have lost to any score of the bettors in play.

Lotería de Córdoba S.E. (portal) · Reglamento del juego «Black Jack» · read
La obtención de un puntaje mayor al del pagador o habiendo este excedido el puntaje de veintiuno (21), beneficiará al jugador con el 100% de su apuesta.-

Free translation: If the player obtains a higher score than the payer's, or the latter has exceeded the score of twenty-one (21), the player shall be paid 100% of the bet.-

La obtención de Black Jack por parte del jugador, habiendo obtenido la Banca Veintiuno (21) o menos o haberse excedido ( mas de 21 ), beneficiará al jugador con el 150% de su apuesta.-

Free translation: If the player obtains Black Jack, whether the Bank has obtained Twenty-one (21) or less or has gone over (more than 21), the player shall be paid 150% of the bet.-

Lotería de Córdoba S.E. (portal) · Reglamento del juego «Black Jack» · read
Se paga el mismo importe de la apuesta: 1 x 1, a menos que el jugador lograre un Black Jack directo ('As" y 10 o "As" y figura : J,Q,K), el cual pagará 150%, salvo que la Banca también tenga 'Black Jack"; en este caso se produce un empate y el apostador conservará su apuesta.

Free translation: The amount paid equals the bet: 1 x 1, unless the player gets a direct Black Jack ("Ace" and 10 or "Ace" and a face card: J,Q,K), which will pay 150%, unless the Bank also has "Black Jack"; in that case there is a tie and the bettor keeps his bet.

IAFAS Entre Ríos · Black Jack / Juegos Tradicionales de Casinos (DOC-H8-GCA-CSJ-001 V00) · read
Todas las apuestas ganadoras cobrarán el cien por cien (100%) del monto total apostado. Excepto los Black Jack, que cobrarán el ciento cincuenta por ciento (150%).

Free translation: All winning bets will be paid one hundred percent (100%) of the total amount bet. Except for Black Jacks, which will be paid one hundred and fifty percent (150%).

IPLyC Buenos Aires (Sistema de Normas) · Resolución 1452/12, Anexo I: Marco Normativo de los Juegos de Azar Artesanales y Electrónicos · section Capítulo 9, Black Jack modalidad carta descubierta: Reglamento del Juego (9.1 a 9.14) · read
En el caso de obtener mayor puntuación el jugador cobra una cantidad igual a la apostada.

Free translation: If the player obtains the higher score, the player is paid an amount equal to the amount bet.

También existe la posibilidad de sacar blackjack, en este caso, el jugador cobra a razón de 3 a 2 según lo apostado.

Free translation: It is also possible to get a blackjack; in that case, the player is paid at a rate of 3 to 2 on the amount bet.

En el empate ni se pierde ni se gana.

Free translation: In a tie, the player neither loses nor wins.

IPJyC Mendoza (SAPIA, Res. Dir. 812-16) · Información sobre juegos vivos o de paño: JUEGOS CARTEADOS, pagos, probabilidades · read

Check yourself

Maya with a finger raised and a knowing look.

Mayaformer floor supervisor · manners, money and breaks

Five quick ones. Pick an answer, then check it. No timer, no points: just whether it stuck.

A question marked “New situation” asks you to use the lesson on a case it did not show.

1At which moment does a bet stop being accepted for the round?

Show the answer

Answer: When the dealer deals the first card. The bets go down before the deal, and none are accepted after the first card.

  • When your own second card arrives Earlier than that: the line is the very first card of the deal, to anyone.
  • When the dealer deals the first card Yes: no bet is accepted after the first card has been dealt, and the bets on the cloth are fixed for the round.
  • When you take your first extra card Long before that. By then the deal is over and your bet has been fixed since its first card.
2How is the dealer’s second card dealt at Córdoba tables?

Show the answer

Answer: Face down, and turned over after every player has finished. Face down, with the players’ second cards, and turned over only when every player has finished.

  • Face down, and turned over after every player has finished That is the deal here. Which is why at these tables you play your hand without knowing whether the dealer holds a blackjack.
  • Not at all until the players have finished The dealer’s second card is dealt with everyone else’s second card — face down, not held back.
  • Face up, like the first Not at these tables: the dealer’s first card is face up, the second face down until every player has finished.
3You go over 21 with 24. A moment later the dealer goes over with 23. Who takes your bet?

Show the answer

Answer: The house: your bet was lost when your hand went over 21. A hand over 21 is lost on its own, and a dealer over 21 loses only to the hands still in the game.

  • You: the dealer went over as well A dealer over 21 loses to the players still in the game, and your hand was no longer in it.
  • The house: your bet was lost when your hand went over 21 Yes. A hand over 21 is lost on its own, before the dealer plays; the dealer’s 23 a moment later reaches only the hands still in.
  • Nobody: two hands over 21 are a tie There is no such tie. Your hand had left the round before the dealer played.
4You doubled, and the dealer turns up a blackjack. What does it take?

Show the answer

Answer: Every bet on your hand: the first bet and the double. At these tables the dealer’s blackjack takes every bet on the hand.

  • Only the double The first bet goes too: at these tables the rule takes every bet on the hand.
  • Nothing, because your 20 was made first The order of the turns protects nothing: the face-down card was dealt before you played, and it settles the round when it is turned.
  • Every bet on your hand: the first bet and the double That is the rule at these tables: a dealer blackjack, turned up after you play, takes every bet on the hand.
5You travel to another province and sit down at a blackjack table there. Whose rules does the round follow? new situation

Show the answer

Answer: The rules of the rulebook that province publishes for its casinos. The round has the same five steps everywhere; what happens inside them is the rulebook’s. The table above sets three of them side by side, and One game, three rulebooks prices every difference.

  • The rules of the rulebook that province publishes for its casinos Yes. Each province publishes its own rules, and the price of the game moves with them — from one rulebook to another by well over one percent of every bet.
  • The same rules: blackjack is one game across the country The game is the same; the rulebooks are not. They differ on the decks, on what a dealer blackjack takes and on the side bet when an ace shows.
  • Whatever the dealer decides on the night The dealer decides nothing: the rulebook sets the dealer’s line, and the room settles only what the rulebook leaves open.

Where to play, and further reading

18+ under each province’s rules · Play responsibly · the helplines are further up this page

Further reading

How it’s worked out

Rules, numbers and hosts

Rules. The round on this page is the one the Córdoba rulebook prints, step by step; the other two columns of the table are read from their own documents. A rulebook that is silent on a line is shown as silent: the room settles what its rulebook leaves open.

Numbers. The house edge of each rulebook is worked out when the page is built, by our blackjack engine, for that rulebook’s rules, with every hand played by the full chart for them and cards shuffled after every hand. Where a document names no number of decks, the engine uses six and the page says the document is silent; where it does not say what a dealer blackjack takes, the engine lets it take every bet on the hand.

What is deliberately absent. No pace of play and no price of an hour: no document we could read gives a number of rounds an hour for these tables.

Hosts. Leo and Maya are illustrated characters. Their backstories, a former dealer and a former floor supervisor, are written for the course: neither is a real person, and neither speaks for any casino. The rules and numbers on this page come from the sources it cites, not from their experience.

No promise. Blackjack is played against the house. Knowing how a round runs tells you where your money is at each step; nothing on this page makes the game cost nothing, and nothing here says how an evening will end.

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