One of the most popular casino games in the world is blackjack. It's an exciting game where you're up against the dealer and whoever gets to 21 first wins. On this page, you'll find a detailed guide to blackjack rules. We'll show you the ropes and explain the ins and outs of the game. Carry on reading to learn all about the rules of blackjack, then try it for yourself at one of our recommended online casinos for 2024.
Blackjack is a card-comparing game that combines both luck and decision-making. You're playing against the dealer and while you get to make decisions, the dealer doesn't; they have to follow set rules. The aim of the game is to get closer to 21 than the dealer but without going over 21 as per all standard Blackjack casino rules. It's because of this that the game is sometimes called 21. Below are all the basic rules and you can practice by playing free blackjack games with no download in demo mode.
Like other games, blackjack has many variations. Each one of these has something that sets it apart from the standard version of the game. There could be a change to the way the game runs or an extra feature, for example. If you're new to the game, it's a good idea to play the standard version first. Once you've learned how to play 21 and you feel confident, you should then move on to others.
In any game of blackjack, the first thing you'll do is place your main bet. The amount of money you can wager varies from one game to the next. The size of your main bet determines how much you stand to win.
At the start of each round, you and the dealer are both dealt two cards. One of the dealer's cards is usually dealt face-up so you can see what it is. After receiving your two cards, you'll look at them and decide what to do next. There are five actions you can perform.
These are hit, stand, double down, split and surrender. Hitting is where you get dealt another card. If you're happy with your hand, you'll stand and receive no more cards. Doubling down is where you double your bet and get dealt one more card. If your cards have the same value, you can split your hand in two and play two hands at once. Finally, surrendering is an option to consider if your hand is poor and you want to quit the game early.
Once you're done, it's time for the dealer to move. The blackjack dealer rules are fixed so the dealer has no say in what they do. This is the same whether it's a real-life croupier you're up against or a digital one on a computer.
When the dealer has finished performing their actions, it's time to reveal both players' hands. The dealer's face-down card will be revealed along with any other cards of theirs, as will your hand. Whoever is the closest to 21 wins; if you both have the same total value, it's a tie.
To play blackjack, you need to know about card values. This is necessary so that you can decide the best course of action when playing the game. When playing in real-life casinos at a blackjack table, you have to keep track of your hand value yourself. If you're playing online, the game will show you the value of your hand, which makes things a bit easier.
The table below lists all of the blackjack card values.
Add the values on your cards together to get your hand value. Most of the time, your first two cards won't get to 21 and you'll have to decide what to do. Each card in your hand contributes to the value. Therefore, if you decide to take another card, you could run the risk of going over 21.
The list below shows the two-card hands with a total value of 21.
If you have three cards, there are many more ways you can make 21. For example, you can have 10-9-2, 10-8-3 and so on.
According to the standard blackjack rules chart, a hand can be hard or soft. The next sections below describe these hand types in detail which is important to understand when it comes to applying blackjack strategies.
A hard hand doesn't contain an ace or it has an ace, but it must be counted as 1 to prevent you from going over 21. An example of a hard hand without an ace would be 7-Jack; this hand is worth 17. An example of a hard hand with an ace would be 6-9-Ace; in this case, counting the ace as 11 would give a total hand value of 26. This particular hand's ace must be counted as 1.
A soft hand contains an ace that can be counted as 1 or 11 without you going over 21. An example of a soft hand is 5-Ace. Counting the ace as 1 gives you a total hand value of 6; counting it as 11 puts your value at 16, which keeps you in the game.
In this section, we'll cover basic blackjack rules. We'll give summaries of the five key actions that you can perform, so you can see how they work.
If you hit, the game will deal you one extra card. You can't request multiple cards at a time; it's one card only per hit. Every time you hit, the total value of your hand will increase. The aim of hitting is to get your hand as close to 21 as possible, though there's always the risk of your hand going over 21. This is why you should think carefully before deciding to hit.
If you're happy with your hand and don't want any more cards, you can stand. You're allowed to do this right away or after hitting and receiving any number of extra cards. Once you stand, you can't do anything else with your hand.
The blackjack double down rules are simple. Just increase your bet by 100% and take one final card. Once you've done this, you have to stand. In some games, you can increase your bet by an amount that's smaller than 100%, e.g. 50%. Standard games, however, only have the 100% option available.
According to blackjack split rules, splitting your hand is only possible if your two cards have the same value, e.g. 5-5. If you do this, each card will form a new hand and will have a second card dealt to complete it; you'll end up with four cards in total. You'll also have to place an extra bet equal to your first to cover the new hand. The two hands are treated independently; you could win with one and lose with another, for example.
In some games, cards that are worth 10 need to have the same rank for you to split them: you can split 10-10, for example, but not J-10. Check the rules to find out what the game's approach to splitting is before playing.
Finally, there's the option to surrender. It's only available in some games and it lets you forfeit your hand, effectively quitting the game. If you do this, you'll receive half your bet back. Should you decide to surrender, it has to be the first thing you do in your turn.
According to basic blackjack strategy (more information on this later), surrendering is rarely considered the best option. It's only recommended if your hand totals 15 and the dealer's face-up card is 10 or A; if your hand is 16 and the dealer's face-up card is 9, 10 or A; or if your hand is 17 and the dealer's face-up card is an A.
When it's the dealer's turn to move, they have to follow specific rules. There's no decision-making involved here. Below is a list of the rules the dealer must stick to.
You should be aware of blackjack payouts before you start playing the game. Knowing what each bet pays will help you decide how to play the game.
1:1 Payout on Regular Wins : If you win by getting closer to the 21 than the dealer, or if the dealer goes over 21 and you don't, you earn this payout. It's equal to your initial bet, so if you bet $10, you'd end up with $20. This is made up of your initial bet plus the winnings. The chances of winning a game of blackjack are 42.22%
Blackjack Pays 3:2 : A blackjack is where your first two cards add up to 21, i.e. you've got a card worth 10 and an A you're counting as 11. If you get a blackjack with your first two cards and the dealer doesn't, you win and vice versa. For every $1 your bet, you'll receive $1.50 in winnings. When playing a standard six-deck version of blackjack, you have a roughly 4.53% chance of getting a winning blackjack.
Insurance : If the dealer's face-up card is an ace, you can place the insurance bet. This is an optional side bet whose outcome isn't affected by the main game. Insurance pays out 2:1 if the dealer's face-down card is worth 10, i.e. the dealer has 21. You can only place the insurance bet before your turn starts. It has to be worth half of your main bet or less. Generally speaking, it's not worth placing the insurance bet as the dealer's face-down card has a 31.5% chance of being worth 10.
Dealer Hits on 16, Soft 17 : The dealer must hit until their hand is worth 17 or more, at which point the dealer stands. In some games, if the dealer's hand is soft, i.e. it contains an A counted as 11, the dealer has to hit. There aren't any bets that pay for the dealer hitting on a hand worth 16 or a soft 17.
Like other casino games, blackjack has a standard version along with many variants. Each of these has a different set of rules. While the core gameplay is the same, there are some changes (minor or major) that you should be aware of before playing.
Now that you know about online casino blackjack rules, why not play the game yourself? There are lots of highly rated sites where you can play the standard version of the game as well as variants. Below are some of our recommendations. Join any of them and find the best blackjack games for you.
For every game of blackjack, there's a basic strategy. This is a chart that shows what the best move to make is based on statistics. To use it, simply find your hand total and the dealer's card, then see what action matches these. For example, if your hand is worth 12 and the dealer's is worth 10, basic strategy for a standard game would recommend that you hit. Check out our basic blackjack strategy chart which you can download as a PDF.
At most online casinos, you can play live dealer blackjack games. These are real-life games you can take part in through your account. There are other players, though everyone's playing individually against the dealer.
For the most part, live versions of blackjack follow the standard rules of the game. There are some unique games that only exist as live games. Lightning Blackjack from Evolution Gaming is a prime example. What sets it apart is that if you have a winning hand, a multiplier worth 2x, 5x, 8x, 10x, 15x, 20x or 25x will be applied to your payout.
It's also worth pointing out that the rules are the same across all devices. If you're playing on your mobile phone, for example, blackjack games work in the same way as they do on computers and laptops. This is also the case for apps.
With live dealer games, there's an element of sociability. You're able to interact with both the dealer and the other players through a text-based messaging system. In line with this, there are certain dos and don'ts you should stick to. Follow the hints below to learn how to play blackjack at a casino while sticking to basic etiquette.
Before you start playing any kind of live game, you should brush up on the rules. Read the paytable to see how the game's played. Even if it's a game you're familiar with, there could be different rules or new features. It's always best to familiarise yourself with everything before you join the game so that you don't have to ask questions.
When you join a live blackjack game, it's customary to greet the dealer. A quick 'hello' or 'hi' should do. Throughout your time playing a live game, you should be courteous and respectful to everyone else. Don't use offensive language or say something that might upset someone else. Also, celebrate your wins moderately and be sure to celebrate other players' wins in a reasonable way too.
Treat the other players respectfully and don't try to dominate the chat. Give other people a chance to post messages and express their thoughts. Don't complain about losing - no one likes losing, but going on about it won't go down well.
Finally, it's worth pointing out that you shouldn't criticize other players' choices. You should also refrain from encouraging people to make certain decisions or use particular strategies. One thing you absolutely should not do is persuade other players to cheat the game in any way. If you try to do this, you and the other players could be banned from the casino.
If you want to boost your chances of being successful at blackjack, use some tips. These can't guarantee that you'll win, but they can help you understand the game better and manage your money better over long-term play.
Below are some common questions to do with blackjack. Check them out for a quick recap of our blackjack guide.
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