Blackjack

1 Objective

Beat the dealer by getting a hand value closer to 21 without exceeding it (busting). You are not competing against other players, every player at the table plays their own hand against the dealer independently.

You win if: your hand is higher than the dealer's without busting, or the dealer busts.

2 Card Values

• 2–10, face value
• Jack, Queen, King, 10 each
• Ace, 1 or 11 (whichever helps your hand)

A soft hand contains an Ace counted as 11 (soft 17 = Ace + 6). A hard hand has no Ace, or an Ace that must count as 1 to avoid busting (hard 17 = 10 + 7, or Ace + 10 + 6 where the Ace = 1).

A natural blackjack is an Ace + any 10-value card dealt as your first two cards.

3 The Deal

Players place their bets before any cards are dealt. The dealer deals two cards to each player and themselves. Player cards are typically dealt face-up. The dealer receives one face-up card (the upcard) and one face-down card (the hole card).

If the dealer's upcard is an Ace, players may take insurance (see below) before play continues.

If the dealer has a natural blackjack, all non-blackjack hands lose immediately. Players with a natural blackjack push (tie).

4 Player Actions

Hit

Take another card. You can hit as many times as you like until you stand or bust (exceed 21).

Stand

Keep your current hand and take no more cards. Your turn ends.

Double Down

Double your original bet and receive exactly one more card, then stand automatically. Available on your first two cards only (most casinos). Best used when the math is strongly in your favor (see Basic Strategy).

Split

When your first two cards have the same value, you may split them into two separate hands by placing a second bet equal to your original. Each hand is played independently. Aces are usually limited to one additional card per hand after splitting.

Surrender

Some casinos allow late surrender, fold your hand and recover half your bet after seeing the dealer's upcard (but before the dealer checks for blackjack in some rules variants). Use it when your hand has very low odds: hard 16 vs. dealer 9, 10, or Ace; hard 15 vs. dealer 10.

Insurance

When the dealer shows an Ace, you may bet up to half your original bet on insurance. Pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack. In most situations, insurance is a losing bet, the house edge on insurance is approximately 7%.

5 Dealer Rules

The dealer has no choices, their actions are fixed by the house rules:

• Dealer must hit on 16 or less
• Dealer must stand on hard 17 or more
• Soft 17 rule varies by casino: S17 (stand on soft 17) is player-favorable; H17 (hit on soft 17) increases house edge by ~0.2%

If the dealer busts, all remaining players win regardless of their hand value.

6 Payouts

• Win → 1:1 (even money)
• Natural blackjack → 3:2 (Ace + 10-value on initial deal)
• Push (tie) → bet returned
• Insurance → 2:1 (on the insurance bet only)

⚠️ Avoid 6:5 tables. Some casinos pay only 6:5 on blackjack instead of 3:2. This single rule change increases the house edge by ~1.4% and is one of the worst deals in the casino.

7 Basic Strategy Chart

Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal play for every possible blackjack hand, derived by computer analysis of millions of hands. Using it correctly reduces the house edge to approximately 0.5%, the best odds of any casino table game.

Casinos allow you to use a strategy card at the table. These charts assume 4–8 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split allowed, standard conditions at most Vegas and online casinos.

Hard Totals

Your hand total has no Ace (or Ace counted as 1). Dealer's upcard shown across the top.

Soft Totals (hand contains an Ace counted as 11)

Soft hands can't bust on one hit, the Ace drops to 1 if needed.

Pairs

You've been dealt two identical cards. Should you split? Never split 5s or 10s. Always split Aces and 8s.

Key Rules to Memorize First

• Always split Aces and 8s, no exceptions
• Never split 5s or 10s, 10 is a strong hand; treat 5-5 as a 10 and double
• Always stand on hard 17+
• Double on 11 against any dealer card except Ace
• Stand on soft 18 (A-7) vs dealer 2–8; hit vs 9, 10, Ace

8 Side Bets

Side bets are optional wagers placed before the deal. They typically carry much higher house edges than the main game.

• Perfect Pairs, bet that your first two cards will be a pair. Pays 5:1 to 25:1 depending on type. House edge: ~6%
• 21+3, your two cards + dealer's upcard form a poker hand (flush, straight, three of a kind, etc.). House edge: ~3–13%
• Lucky Ladies, bet your first two cards total 20. Pays up to 200:1 for two Queens of Hearts when dealer also has blackjack. House edge: ~17–25%

Side bets are entertainment, not strategy. Avoid them if minimizing the house edge is your goal.

9 Common Variations

• Spanish 21, all 10s removed from the deck; compensated with liberal bonuses (5-card 21 pays 3:2, suited 7-7-7 pays large bonus)
• Pontoon, British variant: both dealer cards are face-down; "pontoon" (blackjack) and "five-card trick" (5 cards without busting) pay 2:1
• Double Exposure, both dealer cards are face-up; ties lose; blackjack pays even money
• Single-Deck Blackjack, better basic strategy odds but often paired with 6:5 payouts, which erases the advantage

10 Common Mistakes

• Not splitting Aces, always split them; two soft hands starting at 11 each is far better than one 12
• Splitting 10s, you already have 20; splitting turns a near-certain winner into two uncertain hands
• Taking insurance, mathematically a losing bet in almost all circumstances
• Standing on soft 18 vs. dealer 9–Ace, soft 18 looks strong but is actually a hit situation against high dealer cards
• Playing at 6:5 tables, the payout difference is enormous over time; find 3:2
• "Mimicking the dealer", always hitting 16 or less and standing on 17+ ignores the strategic advantage players have (doubling, splitting, surrender)