How to Play Blackjack (21): Rules & Tips to Win

blackjack-rules

16 minutes

Last Updated: March 17, 2024

Checked by: Zvonimir Potocki

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino table games in existence. Not long after hitting casino floors, blackjack has become one of the players' favorites, its popularity comparable to only one other game, roulette.

Simple to play just like 3 Card Poker, yet way more exciting, blackjack has a very special appeal because it is one of the rare games played against the house where your decisions can actually make a lot of difference.

There is a famous story where MIT students formed a team and crushed casinos around the world using their math skills.

So, it's not just a game of luck but a game of skill as well, at least to a degree.

Not surprisingly, the game had no problems finding its way to online casinos very early, and those wanting to play blackjack online have always had plenty of opportunities. If you're new to blackjack and looking to get started, this extensive guide will provide you with all the information you need.

We will teach you the basic rules but show you how to play blackjack in the optimal way to reduce the house edge as much as possible and give yourself the best chances of winning or, at the very least, losing the minimum.

Blackjack Rules: Learn How to Play 21 Card Game

rules of blackjack

After this introduction to the game, it is time to get down to business and explain how to play blackjack if you’ve never had a chance to play this hugely popular game.

The good news is that blackjack rules are very easy to learn as far as the play is concerned.

The game begins with the players placing their bets and the dealer dealing each of the players at the table one card face up and taking one card himself, also face up.

Then, another round of cards is dealt to the players face up while the dealer takes his second card face down.

The objective of the game is to get as close as possible to 21 without going over. Card values in blackjack card game are as follows:

  • Aces are counted as 1 or 11, whichever is more favorable to the player
  • All picture cards have a value of 10
  • All other cards have their face values (2s through 10s)

Once the player receives his or her first two cards, they have a few options. They can either take another card (“hit”) or pass the action (“stand”).

The player can keep taking new cards for as long as they like until they reach 21 or go over. If the total count goes over 21, the player is “busted.”

Once all the players have made their decisions, the dealer will turn over their second card and proceed to play following very strict blackjack dealer rules:

  • If the dealer’s total is 16 or less, they must take another card.
  • If their total is 17 or higher, they are done, and they can’t take any more cards, regardless of what other players at the table are showing.

If the dealer busts, everyone with a still active hand (not busted) wins. If the dealer has a score between 17 and 21, their total is compared to other individual totals.

If a player has a higher total than the dealer, they win and are paid even money on their bet. Otherwise, they lose.

If a player has the exact same total as the dealer, the hand is declared a “push,” and the player takes back their bet.

In modern games, blackjack is any combination of two cards containing any Ace and any card with a value of 10.

If you’re dealt a blackjack, the hand is immediately over for you, and instead of winning even money, you’ll be paid 3 to 2 in most casinos. So if you bet was $10, you will get $15 and so on.

If you understand these basic blackjack rules, you already know how to play the game.

However, there are a few more rules you should be aware of to make the game more entertaining but also give yourself the best chance to win the most money in any particular hand.

Special Blackjack Rules: Splitting

If you’re dealt two cards of the same rank, regardless of the suit, you’ll be allowed to “split.”

Splitting means you’ll be able to turn your single hand into two separate hands.

To do this, you’ll need to match your initial bet for the second hand, and from that point, you play each of the hands separately according to the same rules of blackjack described earlier.

An exception to this is when you split Aces, as in most instances, you’ll only be allowed to get one extra card for each of the hands.

Special Blackjack Rules: Doubling

The ability to double on a blackjack hand is exactly what it sounds like. You’re given an option to double your initial bet before receiving the next card.

With most blackjack card game variations, you’ll only be allowed to double when your first two cards amount to 11, 10, or 9.

If you decide to double, you’ll match your initial bet and receive just one more card.

Whatever your next card is, that will be your total, as you’re not allowed to ask for more cards once you decide to take the option to double and will have to wait until the hand plays out.

Special Blackjack Rules: Surrender

In some blackjack variations, players are given an option to surrender their hand when the dealer’s up card is ten or an Ace.

Basically, you’re betting on the dealer having blackjack, and you can decide to give up on the hand, losing only half of your initial bet.

Although some game variations might feature some additional rules, this is pretty much a full answer to how to play blackjack.

If you memorize these rules, you’ll be fully ready to play blackjack online or at your local casino. But, there is more you should know before you put your money on the line.

As a quick note, surrendering your hand is almost always a bad idea since it adds an additional edge to the casino, so you will be fine if you never surrender.

If you want to learn more about specific games in the US, make sure to check a dedicated site for US online casinos and read in-depth guides for blackjack rules and blackjack strategy.

Blackjack House Edge – Understanding The Numbers

There is one thing every player should know whether they play blackjack online or in a live casino. No matter what you do, the casino always retains an edge in the game.

The only exception to this rule is if you’re really good at counting cards (which will be addressed later), but this isn’t a strategy you can use online.

In a usual blackjack game with between six and eight decks, the house edge will be between 0.4% and 0.5%.

Of course, this stands true only if you fully understand and always stick to the basic blackjack strategy.

While you won’t be losing a lot with the optimal play, and you’re guaranteed to have many more winning sessions, you still won’t be able to beat the house.

That said, 21 card game offers much better odds than most casino options, so if you enjoy table games as it is, blackjack is definitely one of the top options.

How To Play Blackjack: Make Math-based Decisions

how to play blackjack

Casinos prefer players who only know how to play blackjack in terms of rules and not much else. This gives them a significantly bigger edge than what was mentioned at the beginning of this article. Depending on your decisions at the table, the house edge in 21 card game can actually increase to five or six percent, which is quite huge.

To avoid this and to give yourself the best chance when playing, the only route you can go is called blackjack basic strategy. You can forget about all the fancy things you’ve seen in the movies or read in the books.

Blackjack basic strategy is exactly that – basic and quite easy to learn. Of course, you’ll need to put in some effort but, realistically, this strategy can be easily learned in a few days.

The basic strategy for blackjack relies on the known information, the cards you’re dealt and the card the dealer is showing, and you should make your decisions based on how these two stacks up against each other.

So, all you have to do to improve your play is to learn what to do when you’re holding a particular hand, depending on the card shown by the dealer. In the simplest of terms, the basic blackjack strategy breaks down as follows:

Splitting Pairs

  • Always split Aces & never split 10s
  • Always split 8s
  • Always split 9s, unless the dealer is showing a 7, a 10, or an Ace
  • Split 7s if the dealer is not showing a card from 8 to an Ace
  • Split 6s if the dealer is not showing a card from 7 to an Ace
  • Split 2s and 3s if the dealer is showing 4, 5, 6 or 7
  • Never split 4s

Playing Blackjack ‘soft’ hands

In blackjack, ‘soft’ hands are the ones containing an Ace, which means the total can be counted twofold. For example, an A and an 8 can be both 9 and 19. You can never go bust when taking a card holding a ‘soft’ hand.

  • Always stand on soft 20 (A, 9)
  • Always stand on soft 19 (A, 8) unless you’re allowed to double; if you can, double
  • Either stand or double (if allowed) on soft 18 (A, 7) if the dealer is showing 2 through 6; hit on 7 and 8; otherwise, stand
  • Soft 17 (A, 6) – always hit and double if the dealer is showing 3 through 6
  • Soft 16 (A, 5) – always hit and double if the dealer is showing 4 through 6
  • Soft 15 (A, 4) – always hit and double if the dealer is showing 3 through 6
  • Soft 14 (A, 3) – always hit and double if the dealer is showing 5 or 6
  • Soft 14 (A, 3) – always hit and double if the dealer is showing 5 or 6

Blackjack Hard hands

Hard hands are the ones not containing Ace, so you’ll be playing hard hands more often at a blackjack table. Totals you should know are as follows:

  • Always stand on 17
  • 13 through 16 – stand if the dealer is showing 2 through 6, otherwise hit
  • 12 – only stand if the dealer is showing 4 through 6, otherwise hit
  • 11 – always double
  • 10 – double unless the dealer is showing a 10 or an Ace
  • 9 – double if the dealer is showing 3 through 6, otherwise hit
  • 8 and lower – always hit

If you’re completely new to the blackjack rules and strategy, the whole thing may seem a bit confusing at first.

However, once you start using it, you’ll begin to recognize certain patterns, which will make it much easier to do the right thing almost every single time.

With more time and practice, you should be able to play the perfect game of blackjack every time.

A good thing about living in a modern age is that you can apply the basic blackjack strategy while playing online, and you can actually have this text or a strategy chart open at all times.

That way, you can quickly consult it before you make your decision.

Keep in mind, there is absolutely nothing illegal about using the blackjack basic strategy, and some land-based casinos will even let you take a blackjack strategy card with you to the table, but most people are ashamed to do it.

By perfectly using the blackjack strategy, you’ll seriously reduce the house edge, bringing it down to around 0.4%. You still won’t be beating the casino, of course, but you’ll be playing in a game with much better chances.

P.S. – In blackjack, just like in poker, string bet is not an allowed option. So whenever you are placing your chips on the table, make sure to do it in one hand motion and avoid stacking one chip after another on the betting field. In most casinos, such action is not permitted.

Blackjack And Card Counting

Blackjack and counting cards go hand in hand, especially in popular culture. The ability to count cards, combined with the blackjack basic strategy, was the very thing that made it possible for various players and teams to make money off the casinos.

In a nutshell, card counting means keeping track of many good and bad cards are still remaining in the deck.

The exact breakdown depends on the counting system as there are more than one, but the good cards are always 10s and Aces, for obvious reasons.

So, can you take card counting principles and apply them to blackjack online just like the basic strategy? Sadly, the answer to this question is a resounding NO.

Computerized blackjacks are operated based on a Random Number Generator (RNG), which means once the hand is finished, all cards are back in the mix.

A traditional game of blackjack is played with six or eight decks. The dealer draws cards, and when the hand is over, he moves them to a separate pile, so you can know that a certain number of 10s or Aces (and other cards) is now not in play.

However, this is not the case with computerized games, as there are no actual cards, and every new hand is played with the full deck.

Choosing 21 Card Game Variations

Blackjack may have started its life as a single game, but different people and casinos have come up with different ideas slightly tweaking the basic rules over the years.

In general, if you know how to play blackjack, you’ll have no problems with any of the variations you might encounter, but it doesn’t hurt to know what you might come across as you play online.

Some of the most popular blackjack card games in existence today are:

  • Classic (following the rules as explained here)
  • Single Deck – played with a single deck but often with unfavorable rules for the player
  • Double Exposure Blackjack – both dealer’s card are dealt face up; however, blackjacks pay at even odds, and the player losses in the event of a push
  • Vegas Strip Blackjack – doubling down is allowed on all hands regardless of the total, and players can split up to three times
  • Atlantic City Blackjack – very similar to Vegas Strip
  • Super Fun 21 – just like classic blackjack, but with some differences in payouts that favors the player. Also, players BlackJack always wins against casino, Blackjack, so this is one of the best variants to play.

You might come across other variations as you play online at different internet casinos. The blackjack rules are always pretty much the same, and these subtle differences are usually announced clearly when you join the table.

Keep in mind, however, that some variations are more player-friendly than the others. We can’t explain all of this in one article, but a good rule of thumb is to do some research beforehand if you’re about to play a new blackjack format.

Choosing an Online Casino for Blackjack Play

how to play 21 card game

Now that you know how to play blackjack and are aware of the blackjack rules and strategies, you have the tools you need to play this popular game pretty much as good as it can be played.

Some tweaks to the strategy depend on special rules and the exact number of decks, but you’ll be fine with it in most modern-day games.

So, the last thing remaining is to pick an online casino for your blackjack play. A couple of things are important, as not all casinos are equally good for blackjack players.

Blackjack Online Bonuses

First of all, there is the matter of the welcome bonus. Most casinos will let you have some extra cash when you first join, and this is issued as a welcome bonus.

For example, you deposit €100 and receive another €100 to play with.

Up to this point, this is all great, but the problem arises from the fact that all bonuses come with wagering requirements, which is the number of times you have to wager the bonus money before it is released.

For example, to be allowed to cash out that €100 and any winnings related to it, you might need to wager €3,500 or €4,000.

This still sounds great, especially if you consider the house edge when applying the blackjack basic strategy is really low.

However, casinos are aware of this fact as well, so often, your contribution when playing blackjack online will be counted at 10%, 5%, or not at all. So, instead of having to wager €4,000, you’ll need to wager €40,000. That’s a lot of money for a €100 bonus.

So, if you want to play blackjack online and are keen on taking advantage of the bonus as well, you’ll need to do some research.

Some casinos offer much better percentages, and there are even places with specialized table game bonuses where your wagering will be counted at full.

Usually, these bonuses are somewhat smaller, but it is still better than having to wager dozens of thousands just to clear a couple of hundred.

Selection of Blackjack Games

The second thing to look into is the variety of blackjack games offered by a particular casino. If you’re someone just learning blackjack rules, you might be fine with just a few basic variations, but as you learn more, you might want to venture into other varieties as well.

These days, many online casinos also offer live dealer blackjack tables.

These are great for players who already know how to play blackjack but aren’t too comfortable playing it online.

These games are dealt by flesh and blood dealers using real cards, so you don’t have to worry about random number generators, games being rigged, or anything of the sort.

It’s the same game you play at your local casino, but you get to play it from the comfort of your home, thanks to modern technologies.

Blackjack FAQ

When to bet in blackjack?

According to blackjack rules, you have to make your bet before the cards are dealt, and only then will be able to play.

That said, you can also make an additional bet in case you decide to split your cards or double the bet when it is allowed according to the rules. These additional bets are made after you receive your initial two cards.

How to deal blackjack?

Learning how to deal blackjack hand is quite simple, and you can follow these simple steps to make it right every single time:

  • Shuffle the cards.
  • Start dealing with the first player to your left and continue clockwise.
  • Deal one card to each player and one to yourself, placing all of it faced up.
  • Deal the second card to each player faced up, but put your card faced down.
  • Deal additional cards according to the player's actions and only play your own hand when every other player made their decisions.

As you see, dealing blackjack is quite easy, and you should have no problems if you follow these steps.

What are blackjack dealer rules?

Blackjack dealer rules are very specific guidelines that must always be followed:

  • The dealer always has to take another card if his count is below 17 points.
  • The dealer can’t take more cards if he has 17 points or more, no matter what other players has at the table.

Summary: Blackjack Rules, Tips & Tricks

After reading this text, you should not only know how to play blackjack, but you should know how to do it well.

From blackjack rules to basic strategy and finding the best casinos for blackjack players, this guide covers everything you need to get started with blackjack online and do it right from the get-go.

Now you can comfortably play this game to relax after an extensive poker training session or your grinding time and have some fun.

In the end, we can only summarize a few most important takeaways from this text and wish you the best of luck at the blackjack tables.

  • Pick an online casino with favorable bonus terms
  • Always stick to the basic blackjack strategy when playing
  • Remember that card counting at blackjack online is a futile effort
  • Surrendering your hand is a losing proposition a majority of the time
  • As with all gambling, never spend more than you can afford
  • Remember that no matter what strategy you use, the casino will always have a slight edge

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