Blackjack rules: How to play Blackjack?

Whether you’re just getting started with Blackjack or just need a refresher, this article will help you bring your game to the next level. Blackjack rules are straightforward and easy to follow, combining elegance and simplicity in a way you don’t often see in card games. Discover the beauty of Blackjack through this article and our selection of the finest online Blackjack tables.

How to Play Casino Blackjack

Let’s learn all of the casino Blackjack rules:

Blackjack Objectives

The main objective of the game is to beat the dealer by getting as close to 21 as possible. Below you can see the flow of a typical Blackjack game:

• Dealing: You are dealt two cards face up. The dealer also gets two cards, but only one is face up (the up card) while the other is face down (the hole card).
• Decide how to play: Stand (no more cards), Hit (add a card), Double Down (double your initial bet and get one more card), Surrender (recover half of your starting bet), or Split (split Aces or other pairs into two hands)
• Dealer’s Turn: After you’ve finished your actions, the dealer reveals their hole card. The dealer must hit until their hand totals 17 or higher. If the dealer busts, you win.

Blackjack Cards Explained

Card	Value
2-10	Face value
J	10
Q	10
K	10
A	1 or 11 (player’s choice)

Dealing Rules

When it comes to Blackjack rules in a casino, you will be playing solo against the dealer. In live versions, there may be other players at the table that you can talk to, but they will also have their individual game with the dealer.

So, the dealer will first deal two cards to each player. Once that’s done, it’s time for the dealer’s face-up card and hole card to be dealt. Then, there may be more dealing, depending on your and the other players’ actions. Finally, the dealer deals until they bust or the dealer wins.

Understand Blackjack Table

The main purpose of Blackjack tables in online casinos is to recreate the authentic casino feel. Both virtual and live Blackjack games will usually include elegant and classy tables that add to the atmosphere.

The key elements of a Blackjack table include:

• Betting Area: This is where you place your chips to make your bet. You’ll see virtual chips that you can click and drag to your betting spot. If you’re playing Blackjack at a live table, then you’ll see that each player has a designated betting area, usually marked with a circle or box.
• Player Hands: Your cards will be dealt in your area on the screen. If there are other players (or virtual ones in single-player mode), their hands will also be visible in their respective areas.
• Dealer’s Hand: The dealer’s cards are dealt at the top or center of the screen. As we already mentioned, you’ll see the dealer’s face-down card and up card.
• Action Buttons: These buttons allow you to make decisions during the game.
• Information Display: This area shows your current balance, the amount of your bet, and sometimes the history of the previous hands.

Bets in Blackjack

There are different types of bets that you can use in your Blackjack strategy:

• Main bet: This is your original bet that you place at the start of each round. Basically, you are betting that your hand will be closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand.
• Insurance bet: This bet helps you recover half of your original bet if the dealer has a blackjack.
• Side Bets: This is an additional bet that you can place at the beginning of each hand. Use it to predict the exact outcome of your or the dealer’s hand. Take a look below to see the potential payout and most common side bets.

Blackjack Payouts

Alright, you’ve learned how to play Blackjack, but how much can you actually win and when does the game payout?

The payout when you beat the dealer with a Blackjack depends on the casino and game you are playing. Generally speaking, it looks something like this:9999998

Payout	House Edge
3:2	0.5%
6:5	1.9%
Even Money	2.8%

Any additional bet you make will come with its own payout. Here are the most common ones:

Side Bet	Typical Payout
Insurance	2:1
Mixed Pair	5:1
Colored Pair	10:1
Perfect Pair	30:1
21+3 Flush	5:1
21+3 Straight	10:1
21+3 Three of a Kind	30:1
21+3 Straight Flush	40:1
21+3 Suited Triple	100:1

Blackjack Types

If you already have some experience with this game, you’ll benefit from learning to play Blackjack variants. They’re the perfect way to keep things fresh. You’ll find the most famous variants below.

American Blackjack

This variant can be played with up to eight decks. The main rule is that the dealer has to stand on 17. On top of that, there is a late surrender option, meaning that you can forfeit half your bet even after the dealer shows their cards and checks for blackjack.

Spanish 21

Spanish 21 is a card game that includes six to eight Spanish decks. Unlike a standard bet, there are only 48 cards here, as there are no 10s. The rest of the rules a standard, but there’s an additional match-play option. It lets you double your bet if you’re sure you’re going to beat the dealer’s hand.

Pontoon

If you want to play Blackjack pontoon, you’ll first need to learn all the British terminology. Instead of “hit”, you’d say “twist”, for example. Aside from the linguistic difference, Pontoon also allows you to double down only on 9, 10, and 11. The biggest difference is that you can’t split Aces or other pairs!

Blackjack Techniques

Blackjack splitting

Splitting pairs is one of the most basic and smartest casino rules of Blackjack. Whenever you get two of the same cards, you can split them into two hands. This gives you more play options and decreases the chance you’ll bust.

But, the trick is that you have to place a bet on the second hand of the same value as your original wager.

This technique is the most useful when you split Aces, as this card can be counted as either an 11 or 1, depending on the value of the other cards in your hand. You get an additional and higher chance to beat the dealer!

Doubling down

If you want to get another card after the first two are dealt, you can double down and place a wager not higher than your original bet.

This is usually done when the first two cards are a total of 9, 10, or 11, as it gives you more space to reach 21.

Surrendering

The more you play, the easier it becomes to recognize when some hands just aren’t going anywhere. So if you don’t want to lose your whole bet, you can surrender before drawing new cards.

In this case, half your original bet is returned, and the other half stays with the dealer. This is a great strategy for beginners who are still learning, but also for advanced players who want to mitigate their risk of losing.

Side bets

Depending on which game you choose, you may also get some Blackjack side bets you can take advantage of. The rule is that you need to place your wager before any cards are dealt, so you’ll need to decide on your side bets at the beginning of the game.

These wagers let you predict which cards the player and (sometimes) the dealer will get. Generally speaking, side bets are a better move for more experienced players, as newcomers may get overwhelmed with all of the choices.

There are several common side bets in Blackjack:

• Insurance: Place half of your original wager on the insurance bet and get a payout of 2:1 if the dealer has a Blackjack. This is a great way to reduce the house edge, too.
• 21+3: In this side bet, you have to take a look at what hand your two cards and the dealer’s revealed card form. For example, if you predict they’ll form a Flush (all cards of the same suit), you’ll get a 5:1 payout. The highest you can win here is 100:1 if all three cards are the same value and suit (Suited Triple).
• Perfect Pairs: This side bet pays out if you have two of the same cards. It can either be a Mixed Pair (same value, different color and suit), Colored Pair (same value, same color), or Perfect Pair (identical cards).

Blackjack Tips

Learn the Basic Blackjack Strategy

Without knowing the Basic strategy (when to hit, when to stand, etc), you won’t get very far with Blackjack.
That’s because the basic blackjack strategy is mathematically proven and easy to follow even if you’re an absolute beginner.

Set Your Budget

To practice responsible gambling, extend your gameplay, and ensure the game stays fun, always set your budget. Never chase losses and always stop betting when you meet your limit.

Look for Tables with Favorable Rules

Some tables are worth your while more than others. Here’s what to look for:

• Payouts of 3:2 for Blackjack instead of 6:5.
• The dealer stands on soft 17 (a hand with an Ace valued at 11).
• The option to double down on any two cards.
• Surrender options allows you to forfeit your hand and get half of your bet back.

These rules can significantly reduce the house edge and improve your overall chances of winning!

Learn When to Split and Double Down

To maximize your chances of winning, you should:

• Always split Aces and 8s: Split Aces for a chance to hit Blackjack, and split 8s to avoid a total of 16, which is a weak hand.
• Double down on 11: When you have a total of 11, it’s a good opportunity to double your bet because the chances of getting a 10 (and hitting 21) are high.

FAQ

What are the basic rules to Blackjack?

The most basic rules of Blackjack are that you need to have a higher hand than the dealer, without going over 21. When your cards are dealt, you can either hit (get more cards) or stand (keep your hand).

Is Blackjack the same as 21?

Blackjack is the same as 21. In fact, the game used to be called 21, but there was a special bet called “Black Jack” (the Jack of clubs or spades) in 18th-century casinos. The bet was so popular the name stuck around.

Is Blackjack luck or skill?

The truth is— it’s a bit of both! You have to have some luck to get a good hand, but you still won’t get far without having a developed Blackjack strategy.

Is Blackjack hard to learn?
Learning and playing Blackjack isn’t hard, you just have to pay attention to the cards and practice. By picking up a basic strategy, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the game.

What is a Soft 17?

A Soft 17 is when your hand includes an Ace and a 6. Since Aces are counted as 1 or 11, you can hit without worrying you’re going to bust. If the next card is 4, you get 21. But if it’s higher than that, you can count your Ace as a 1 and still stay in the game.