How to Play Blackjack | Rules and Detailed Guide

Welcome to our blackjack guide, where you’ll find everything you need to know about how to play blackjack.

Here, you’ll be able to get to grips with the basic rules, how to play blackjack, the leading strategies, and even where to practice online. So, come on! Scroll down and get started on your blackjack journey.

Blackjack Rules | Cards and Hands

Below you can find a detailed description of the rules of blackjack. This step-by-step guide covers the goal of the game, the card values, and what choices you must make during a hand.

The objective is to beat the dealer’s hand by scoring 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over. When any hand goes over 21, that is called a bust. The goal is to beat the dealer and not bust. You can do this in two ways:

• Have a higher hand than the dealer

• Don’t go over 21 when the dealer does

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Blackjack Card Values

All of the face cards and 10’s get a value of 10. Aces can be 1 or 11, depending on the situation. Every other card is worth its face value. If you have a seven and a six, you have a total of 13. A blackjack occurs when you have an Ace and any 10 valued card. This combo is also known as a natural 21.

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Common Blackjack Hands Explained

As you know, an ace can be either a 1 or 11. That one card defines the first type of hand in blackjack, hard or soft.

Hard Hands

Most blackjack hands are hard hands. If you don’t hold an ace, then it’s a hard hand.

If you’ve received a third card and the value is 12 or more, then the hand is hard. These hands have no room for error because they can bust on the next card. 

Soft Hands

A soft hand is one where the ace is worth one. For example, when you have an ace and a six, you have a “soft 17.”

The value of the soft hand is that it can’t bust. If you receive a card that would make the hand worth more than 21, you can choose to make the ace worth 1 instead of 11. 

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Notable Hands to Look Out For

Best Hand in Blackjack

The best blackjack hand is a two-card 21, meaning an ace and a card with the value of 10. That means King, Queen, Jack, or Ten.

When you receive a two-card 21, it’s called a blackjack or a “natural blackjack.” This hand beats every other hand in the game. 

Worst Hand in Blackjack

The worst blackjack hand is 16. If you stand, you face high odds that the dealer will have a stronger hand. If you hit, you face high odds that you’ll bust.

This is why you should always split 8s – not because of the strength of a hand worth 8, but because you avoid the worst hand.

Best Hands to Split

Always split aces and 8s in blackjack. Roughly one-third of all cards in a deck have a value of 10. If you split aces, this means you have two excellent chances at a 21.

Also, since 16 is a lousy hand, you split the 8s to give yourself two opportunities to improve on 16. 18s aren’t perfect, but they win more hands than 16s will. 

Finally, while splitting other numbers depends on the dealer’s up-card, you should never split tens, fours, or fives. Two tens are a good hand, two fives equal ten, and two fours equal eight, so these have better chances of winning than most other hands.

Decisions You Must Make During a Hand

During the game, you have to make decisions about their hands before the dealer progresses. Usually, you’ll look at all your options in order. First, determine if you want to surrender. Then, check for an opportunity to split or double down. Finally, take extra cards by hitting before eventually deciding to stand.

1

Surrender

When a player believes they have little chance of winning, they can choose to surrender their cards. You will lose half of the initial bet.

2

Split

You can split if you receive two cards of the same rank. This divides the two cards into separate hands. To split, you must provide an additional bet.

3

Double Down

Your next choice may be to double down, which means you double your bet after the initial deal if you think you can win with the next card.

4

Stand

When the player is satisfied with their cards and decides to pass on making other decisions. In this case, you don’t take any more cards.

5

Hit

When you take another card from the shoe/deck to add to your hand. You can hit multiple times before deciding to stand.

6

Insurance

When the dealer has an Ace as their up card, you can take insurance. You can place a bet, and up your wager, in case the dealer has a blackjack.

Playing Options in Order

There is a general suggestion around the order you choose to make decisions. Look at your hand and assess whether to surrender, split, double, hit, or stand in that order.

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Blackjack Hand Signals Guide for Playing in Person

When playing in person, players use hand signals to tell the dealer which move they wish to make. In a noisy casino, these help communication and cut down on mistakes, making them mandatory in most establishments.

Below are the blackjack hand signals you should learn, along with their meaning. If you forget these signals, ask the dealer for a reminder. It’s in their best interest that they understand your gestures. 

• Hit

  Gently tap the table in front of you. It indicates you want another card.

• Stand

  Wave your hand over your cards. It means you don’t want another card.

• Double Down

  Pick up the correct amount of chips (the same as your bet) and place them on the table next to your original wager. These should be outside the betting box but next to it. Players double-down on their bet when their cards are good, and the dealer’s face-card looks weak.

• Split

  If you receive a matching pair of cards, you have the option to split. It creates two hands, each with the same-sized bet matching the original wager. The dealer distributes a card apiece to each of the new hands. To indicate you want to split the pair, point with your fingers in a V sign to show you want to divide your hand instead of doubling down.

Blackjack Rule Variations to Lookout For

Blackjack has many rule variations depending on the casino or the table you choose. Each one either helps you or the house in one way or another. Here’s an explanation of the most common variations you should look for and which are best for the player.

3:2 vs. 6:5 Blackjack Payouts

The amount the casino pays you when you get a natural blackjack ultimately affects the house edge. You want to play at tables with 3:2 payouts. Many casinos have moved to less player-favorable 6:5 payouts to gain an extra 1.5% advantage.

Does The Dealer Hit or Stand on Soft 17?

The dealer must hit or stand when they have a 17 with an Ace counting as 11. This rule frequently changes from table to table. You may even find both options at a single online casino.

Is Surrendering an Option?

This blackjack rule is a variation because not all games offer surrender, but it’s advantageous when you can do it. If you have a losing hand, you can recoup some of your bet with a timely forfeit.

When Can You Double Down?

The option to double down is available at almost every blackjack table, but some places restrict it. Common restrictions include only doubling on your first two cards or doubling only on 9, 10, and 11. 

Can You Always Split a Pair of Cards?

Most games let you split any pair on your first two cards. Some allow re-splitting of pairs created from a previous split, while others restrict the re-splitting of Aces. 

Push on 22

You may see the term “push on 22.” When the dealer busts with a 22 and the player has a score of 21 or less, the outcome is considered a push. This only applies to some blackjack variants.

Betting Limits

There are different types of betting limits, depending on the variations and table rules. You can find blackjack tables with max bets of $1,000 a hand, but limits in most casinos range from $1 to $500.

Blackjack Table

Blackjack table layouts are similar at every casino, but it is essential to know where things go. An area above is where the dealer’s cards go, and the areas below are for each player’s cards and bets. Take a look at the following blackjack table chart to understand the layout for this type of game entirely:

How to Bet in Blackjack

Blackjack betting systems help make the most of your bankroll. With any system, you should consider how much money you bring to the table. Try one of the following betting options and stick to it during a session, and you’ll eventually find a favorite. 

Flat-Betting System

This is the most straightforward system because you bet the same amount on every hand. You don’t have to be too attentive to betting limits and bankroll. Plus, it limits losses.

Positive-Progression Wagering

This takes advantage of winning streaks. Every time you win a hand, you increase the size of your bet. Then when you lose, return to the original bet amount. Stick to that until you win again.

Negative-Progression Wagering

With this option, you have to increase the size of your bet after you have lost the previous hand. When you win, return to the bet amount you started with and bet that until you lose. We recommend this system for bigger bankrolls or smaller bets.

Oscar’s Blackjack Betting Method

The main idea is to be ahead after a series of bets. Start by betting one unit; if you win, continue betting one unit. If you lose, keep betting one unit until you win, then bet two units and increase the bet each time you win until you make a profit.

Blackjack Side Bets

A blackjack side bet is an additional wager that is available in some variations of the game. They vary based on your title of choice and are a smart choice when the odds are in your favor.

They enhance stakes and help cover for bad cards, and they can pay huge bonuses, as much as 5000:1. They are usually optional and have limits. Below we’ve listed the best types of blackjack side bets that players can use to their advantage.

Best Blackjack Side Bets

• Insurance – This option covers you against blackjack when the dealer has an upturned ace, but is generally considered a sucker bet that you should not take. If you do take insurance, you put up half your original stake and get paid 2:1 if the dealer has 21.
• Perfect Pairs – If your first two cards are of the same rank, you are paid up to 25:1. 
• Royal Match – This pays when your two cards are of the same suit, more for a suited king and queen.
• Over/under 13 – If you predict whether your cards add up to above or below 13, you are paid even money.
• 21+3 – This involves the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s upturned card. You are paid for suited cards, consecutive cards, three of a kind, consecutive suited cards, and the highest payout for three of the same rank and suit.
• Super Sevens – When you get a 7, you win, more for two 7s, and more for two suited 7s. If the third card also comes up 7, that pays 1000:1, and if they are all suited, it’s 5000:1.
• Lucky Ladies – House pays 4:1 if your cards add up to 20, 10:1 if they are suited, and 25:1 if they are the same rank and suit. Two queens of hearts pay 200:1, and two queens of hearts plus a dealer blackjack pay 1000:1.

How to Play Blackjack | Step by Step Guide

This step-by-step guide teaches you how to play blackjack like a pro. If you haven’t had the opportunity to experience it before or just need a quick refresher, here’s a description of how a hand goes.

1. Place The Initial Bet

   Each player places a bet on the table before the cards are dealt. This wager goes in a small circle in front of the chip stack called the betting area. Each table has a minimum and maximum bet size.

2. The Dealer Deals The Cards

   After all the bets are on the table, the dealers give each player two cards and deal two cards to themself. Player cards are both dealt face up while the dealer cards are dealt one face up and one face down. The face-down card is called the hole card.

3. Players Make Their Decisions

   At this point, each player decides what they want to do with their hand. This step is where you choose to stand, hit, split, double, surrender, or take insurance.

4. The Dealer Plays Out Their Hand

   Once all players are done making decisions, the dealer plays their hand. They have no options and must follow the table rules. If their hand is less than 17, they must hit. Some casinos have different dealer rules for soft vs. hard 17.

5. Winners & Losers Are Decided

   If the player beats the dealer, they get a 1 to 1 payout. If you win with a natural 21, the payout is 3 to 2. When a player busts, they lose. When a person doesn’t beat the dealer, they lose. If you and dealer have the same total, the hand is called a push or a tie. In the case of a push, no money is won or lost.

Tips to Better Understand Blackjack Rules

Now you know how to play the game in its most basic form. What’s next? How do you get better at blackjack, beat the casino, and win money? Aside from managing your bankroll, There are three main ways gamblers hone their skills. Check out the following pages:

Strategies & Charts

Take your gameplay to the next level with some basic strategies. We have an easy-to-use blackjack chart that helps you make the right decisions every time.

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Blackjack For Free

Want to play a few hands before you decide to wager real money? Online casinos make it easy to practice blackjack for free. Get everything here.

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Counting Cards

Counting cards is considered an advanced strategy, but it isn’t tricky to learn. Learn about the tactic so strong that casinos watch closely for players using it.

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The Best Online Blackjack Casinos 2024

Playing blackjack for real money online is exciting because you get to keep the prizes when you win! You can sit at a cash table on both desktop and mobile in the US. Log in and choose a variant you enjoy, or find a live table when you’re ready.

You already know the rules of blackjack and how to play. Next, you’ll want to find a gambling site that suits you. OUSC goes to great lengths to review and recommend only the best blackjack online casinos.

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Can You Hit, Stand, Double, and Split Your Way to Victory?

Now you know the blackjack rules and how to play, and you have all the resources you need to start your journey to becoming a top-notch expert. What’s the next step?

Start practicing! Maybe study some strategy or how to count cards at a live dealer table. Make sure to have fun whatever you do!

Blackjack Rules FAQ

Below are some quick answers to common questions about the game’s rules, how to play, and bets. Visit our complete Blackjack FAQ for even more information.