Blackjack is one of the most popular casino table games. It’s fun, simple to play, and unlike many games, offers a chance to beat the house through skill. All you need is some knowledge and confidence to make smart choices. Start right here.

The only time the player will not receive an immediate payout on a blackjack 21 hand is when the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace, or any card worth 10 points. The reason for this is that if the dealer also holds a blackjack hand, then the round is considered to be a draw or a “push.”. Basic Blackjack rules. In order to understand how the best strategy is computed, lets have a look at the Blackjack rules. Blackjack is played with 1 to 9 decks of 52 cards each. The values of the cards correspond to their numerical value from 2-10. All face cards (Jack, Queen, King) count 10 and the Ace either 1 or 11, as the holders desires. Face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) are all worth ten. Aces can be worth one or eleven. A hand's value is the sum of the card values. Players are allowed to draw additional cards to improve their hands.

The Object of the Game

In Blackjack, also known as 21, the object of the game is to beat the dealer, not the other players. There are two ways to win: Get a hand of cards with a higher total points value (up to 21) than the dealer; or not to “bust”, i.e. get a total over 21 points, before the dealer does. That’s it.

How the cards work

In Blackjack, only the card’s face value counts, not the suit. So, for example, the 8 of spades is counted as 8 points. The total number of points of the cards equals the value of the hand.

Numbered Cards

Clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades numbered from 2-10 are worth their face value.

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Picture Cards

Picture cards are worth 10 points each, so the King, Queen and Jack are each valued at 10 points.

Aces

The ace is worth either 1 point, or 11 points: it’s the player’s choice and depends on the hand.

What's in a hand?

What's a bust, a push or a soft hand? Before you play the game, get a handle on the terms:

Blackjack

A hand of two cards that adds up to 21

Soft hand

A hand of two cards, one of which is an ace

Hard hand

A hand of two cards, without an ace

Push hand

When your total is the same as the dealer’s

Bust hand

A hand that totals more than 21

How to play Blackjack in four steps

• Start with a game plan; set a budget in advance and stick to it.

• Know how a round is played, from the points value for every card and hand, to what it takes to beat the dealer.

• Hit, stand, split or double down: Learn all the right moves and how to use them.

• Choose the right Blackjack table, starting with the lowest minimum if you’re new to the game. Feel free to watch at first to get the feel of the play.

1. Start with a Plan

Blackjack is exciting. Be sure to have a game plan before you play, so you don’t get carried away. Start with a budget.

Set a budget

Decide how much you want to spend in advance. Treat this as part of your entertainment budget: Money you’d spend on a night out, not expecting to bring it home.

Don’t bring credit cards

To make sure you only spend what you bring, use cash and leave the cards at home.

Set a win limit

It’s no fun to be up and then lose it all. When you’re winning, decide in advance when it’s time to walk away. Some players set this at the point when they double their money.

2. How to play a round

Let the games begin. A round of Blackjack starts with the dealer. If the dealer doesn't have Blackjack to start, then regular play begins.

The action starts with players placing bets, using chips purchased from the dealer, until the dealer signals “no more bets”. The dealer then deals two cards facing up to each player, and two to herself, with one card face up, the other face down.

If she has a ten or an ace, she will check to see if the face-down card adds up to a Blackjack, or 21 points. If so, the round is over and all players automatically lose – unless one of the players also has Blackjack, in which case they get to keep their original bet.

If the dealer goes over 21 points, then any player who didn’t already bust, or exceed 21, will win. If the dealer doesn’t bust, then the higher point total between the player and dealer will win. If point totals are the same, it’s a tie, or push, and the player keeps their original bet.

3. Know the moves

Each player, starting from the dealer's left, starts with two cards face up and must decide their next move from four possible options:

Hit

This is to request another card from the dealer when you have a low hand, such as 10 points or less. If this card takes your total points above 21, then it’s a “bust”, or loss. The move: Tap your finger on the table behind your cards.

Stand

A player is satisfied with their points total, such as a hand of 17 or more, and will “stand”, or stay with the hand as is. The move: Wave your hand over the cards, palm down.

Split

A player with two similar cards can choose to separate these into two individual hands, called a split. With this move, a player must make another bet equal to the original bet.

The dealer will automatically give the first hand a second card, which the player may hit, stand, or double, before moving to the second hand. The move: Show the dealer a splitting gesture of your index and ring finger.

Tip

When splitting aces, each ace gets only one card. If the player gets a ten and ace after splitting, then it counts as 21 points (not a Blackjack).

Double Down

Double the initial bet in return for receiving one, and only one, draw card. The move: Place a chip next to the original chip bet on the hand.

Tip

You can only double down after you receive your first two cards and before drawing another card.

Not all Blackjack tables are created equal. Before you sit, select a Blackjack table for its posted minimum and maximum bets. New players might prefer to start with the lowest minimum table, usually with bets from $5 to $15. That way, the play can last longer.

Tip

For new players, it’s a good idea to watch a few rounds and get comfortable with the table, the play and the other players before getting into the game.

Tip

Many think avoiding a table where the dealer is on a “hot” streak is the way to go. But what happens in the game is only in the cards – not because of a “hot” or “cold” dealer.

What is Blackjack insurance?

Insurance is a side bet that the dealer has Blackjack and is treated independently of the main wager. It pays 2:1 (meaning that the player receives two dollars for every dollar bet) and is offered if the dealer’s up card is an Ace. This is a bet that the dealer’s down card, or “hole” card, is valued at 10.

BLACKJACK VARIATIONS & SIDE WAGERS

Blackjack is so popular that it’s spawned a number of variations, from additional side bets to more complex versions with unique betting options and play dynamics.

Blazing 7s Blackjack Progressive Side Bet

Blazing 7s Blackjack offers a progressive side bet that pays out depending on how many 7s are in your hand and the dealer’s hand – the more 7s, the more you win!

Free Bet Blackjack

Free Bet Blackjack plays the same rules as normal, except that it gives you free splits and double downs!

Xtreme 21 + 3 Side Bet

Xtreme 21 + 3 is a side bet that adds a little poker excitement to your standard Blackjack game – if your first two cards and the dealer’s face-up card combine into an eligible three-card poker hand, you win!

Blackjack Switch

Blackjack switch let’s you make the most of two hands, by swapping out the second card dealt to each.

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Spanish 21

Remove the tens from the deck, add some new play options and bonus prizes, and what do you get? Spanish 21.

Zappit

Zappit follows standard Blackjack rules with one major twist: under the right circumstances, your opening cards can be exchanged for new ones.

War Blackjack

This exciting version of Blackjack lets you combine two bets to increase your chances of winning – one on a hand of Casino War and another on a standard hand of Blackjack.

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Ready To Play?

Blackjack, also popular as Twenty-one, is one of the most famous casinogames worldwide. Blackjack is played against the Dealer only, not against other players.This is not a poker game – points are important, not the poker hands.

Objectives

The Blackjack goal is to beat the Dealer by gathering the more points possible, withoutexceeding 21. If your hand gains more points than the Dealer’s does or the Dealer’s handhas more than 21 points, you win. If your hand counts more than 21 points, you go bankruptand lose your bet.

Cards

Blackjack is played with a standard 52-card deck, mixed after each game. The suitdoes not count, only the card points. Different cards gain different number of points.

• Cards with numbers – from 2 to 10 – gain respective points (have their face value).
• Jack (J), Queen (Q) and King (K) gain 10 points.
• Ace (A) might be counted as 11 or 1 point, depending on the value needed for a best hand.

If you have 7 and Ace (A) – this makes the sum of 7 + 11 = 18 points. But, if you get 9afterwards, this will make the sum of 26 points, meaning higher than 21. In this second case,the Ace (A) would be counted as 1 point and the sum would become 7 + 1 + 9 = 17 points.When you have 7 and Ace (A) you have 18 soft points, because the points may vary.If you have 8 and 10 you have regular points.

Blackjack is a combination of two cards with 21 points value that consists of an Ace anda 10-point card (10, Jack, Queen, and King). You might have a Blackjack only in the beginningof the game, when you receive your first two cards. If you reach 21 points on a later stage,it would not be counted as Blackjack.

Game

Blackjack starts with a bet. You enter the game with this bet. After determining your bet,push the Deal button to deal cards. Two face-up cards are dealt to you and two cards – to the Dealer.One of the Dealer’s cards is faced-up and one is hidden.

• Hit – click the Hit button to receive a next card and add its points to your score.
• Stand – click the Stand button to show that you need no extra cards and stop playing.It is next player’s or Dealer’s turn.
• Double – click the Double button to double the bet; you receive only one more card andfinish the game. It is next player’s or Dealer’s turn.

Dealer checking for Blackjack

If the Dealer’s faced-up card is Jack (J), Queen (Q), King (K) or Ace (A), he/she might check for Blackjackby viewing his/hers second card. In case of a Blackjack the second Dealer’s card is turned over and his/herhand is compared to yours.

If Dealer’s faced-up card is Ace (A), you have the right to secure yourself in case of a second 10-point card.This happens by clicking Yes or No buttons, related to the question Insurance?The insurance costs money and is equal to half of your entrance bet. If you choose to insure yourself and theDealer has a Blackjack (the second card is a 10-point card), your insurance returns 2 to 1.

Dealer’s game

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The Dealer starts his/her game after all players have completed their hands. He/she gets additional cards untilreaching 17 points. At 17 or more points the Dealer stops, no matter if the points are soft or regular, andthe hand comparison begins.

Hands comparison

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• If your hand holds more than 21 points (bankruptcy), you lose your bet, no matter of Dealer’s hand.
• If Dealer is bankrupt, but you are not, you win the bet.
• Blackjack is paid off 3 to 2 – if you have betted 10 points and you have a Blackjack, your bet is returnedand you win extra 15 points or the sum of 10 + 15 = 25 points in total.
• Regular hand is paid off 1 to 1.
• In case of equal hands only the bet is returned.
• Insurance is paid off 2 to 1 – if you have betted 10 points and you need insurance, you have to betadditional 5 points. If the Dealer has a Blackjack, the 5-point insurance would be returned and 10 more pointswould be won or the total sum would be 5 + 10 = 15 points. If you don’t have a Blackjack, and the Dealer has,you are going to lose your primary bet, but the insurance will return money to you. This way you neither win,nor lose.