Blackjack Rules - How to Play Blackjack

Blackjack is a gambling or betting card game played with one or more 52-card decks, with the aim of beating the dealer, preferably by making a natural 21 (a blackjack) or getting as near to 21 as possible without busting (scoring over 21 points).

The point values in blackjack correspond with the card face values, except for picture cards and Aces - Jacks, Queens and Kings count for 10 points each while Aces count for 1 or 11 points each, which makes them the best cards you can be dealt.

A ‘soft hand’ relates to any hand that contains an Ace where the next dealt card - no matter its value - cannot put your total card count over 21. A ‘hard hand’ relates to a hand which has the potential to be ‘bust’ by the very next card dealt.

At the start of each hand you must place a bet which can fluctuate depending on the respective blackjack table limit. Once you’ve placed your bet (on one or more hands if you’re playing at a multi-hand table) the dealer will deal the cards.

They’ll deal you two cards face up so everyone can see them and themselves two cards, one face up and the other face down (a hole card). Depending on your two cards and the dealer’s up card, there are many actions you can take.

For instance, if you get an Ace and a picture or a 10 card, you’ve made a natural blackjack and will be paid out - unless the dealer also has a blackjack. In that case, the hand is considered a Push (a tie), and the dealer will refund your bet.

If you show a pair, you can choose to either Split them to make two separate hands or play them as a single hand with a combined value. If you split them, however, you must double your initial bet and then play each hand independently.

If you haven’t made 21 with any of your hands (and have exercised your option to split or not split your initial cards), you can either Stand (do nothing), Hit (ask to be dealt one or more cards until you reach 21, get close to 21 or you bust).

You can also Double (double your bet for just one more card) or Surrender (give up your hand and retain half of your initial bet). If the dealer is showing an Ace, you can take out Insurance (at a cost of half your initial bet) against them making a natural blackjack.

Once you and the other players have had their turn, it’s time for the dealer to reveal their hole card. If they show a total of 16 or less (or even a soft 17 in some casinos), as per the rules of blackjack, they must deal themselves another card.

If they bust, any player still in the hand (who didn't bust already) will get paid. If the dealer doesn’t bust, it all comes down to the points. Players with more points than the dealer (closest to 21) win and get paid, and players with less lose.

There are three main pay-outs in blackjack, 3 to 2 for a natural blackjack, 1 to 1 for any other winning hand, and 2 to 1 for insurance. For instance, if you bet £10 and make a natural blackjack, you’ll win £15 (3 to 2) plus your original £10.

If the dealer also makes a natural blackjack, however, the hand will result in a push, and you’ll only get your original £10 back. For every other winning hand, you’ll win £10 (1 to 1) plus your original £10.

If you take out insurance for £5 (which is always half your initial bet) and the dealer makes a natural blackjack, you’ll be paid out £10 (2 x £5) but you’ll lose your original bet (unless you also make a natural blackjack).

There is another pay-out which is controversial because it favours the casino. Where most casinos – land and online – pay 3 to 2 for a natural blackjack, some only pay 6 to 5 (£12) which, on a £10 bet, is less than 3 to 2 (£15).

As such, we advise you to always seek out blackjack casinos that pay 3 to 2 so you can maximise your winnings. The good news is that you’ll find most if not all of the blackjack mobile and online casinos featured on this site pay 3 to 2.

Most land and online blackjack tables are printed with their respective pay-outs for easy reference.

You’ll discover that payouts fluctuate depending on the type of blackjack variant and its table limits. For instance, in the case of Blackjack Double Exposure, because you get to see both of the dealer’s cards, a natural blackjack only pays 1 to 1 as do all the other winning hands, and the dealer wins all ties except a tied blackjack.

Bet

Before the start of a hand, place your bet (in chips) to the demarcated area. Single play blackjack lets you play only one hand, while multi-hand blackjack lets you play up to five hands simultaneously. Every hand you play requires a separate bet.

Deal

Once you’ve placed your bet or bets, click the ‘Deal’ button and the dealer will deal two cards face up in front of each set of chips you placed. The dealer will also deal himself two cards, one face up and one face down.

Hope for a Blackjack!

If any of your hands add up to 21, you’ve made a natural blackjack and will be paid 3 to 2 on each. This is the best result you can hope for in blackjack, as all other winning hands pay out 1 to 1. However, if the dealer also makes a natural blackjack, the hand will result in a push (a tie), and you’ll get your original bet back, but no winnings.

If you don’t have a blackjack, play continues starting with your hand or player to the left of the dealer. Typically, you’ll be given three choices – to hit, stand or double.

Hit

If your card count is low and you want to chase 21, click the Hit button and the dealer will deal you another card. You can hit as many times as it takes to get you to a total you’re happy with, but hopefully without busting (going over 21).

Stand

If you’re happy with your card count and don’t want any more cards, click the Stand button which effectively finalizes your hand.

Double

If you’re initial two cards add up to 10 or 11 and you feel confident you’ll be dealt a 10 value card to get you to 21 or close, click the Double button. This automatically doubles your bet and you’ll be dealt one more card. If you beat the dealer, your winnings are doubled.

Split

When you’re dealt a pair in blackjack, you have the option to split them. By clicking the Split button, each split card becomes a separate hand and will be dealt another card. Every time you split your initial bet will be automatically doubled.

The general rule of thumb in blackjack is to split Aces and 8s, but never 4s, 5s or 10s. In rare cases casinos will give you the option to re-split already split cards, but beware of this because every time you split your total bet size increases.

Insurance

This only comes into effect if the dealer’s face up card is an Ace, which means they have a shot of making a natural blackjack. If you think the dealer’s hole (face-down) card has a value of 10, you can take out insurance for half your initial bet size, which pays 2 to 1. So if the dealer makes a blackjack, you’ll get your original bet back.

Surrender

Although not all blackjack variants offer the surrender option, this is where if you are unhappy with your initially dealt cards, you can choose to give them up and in so doing forfeit half your initial bet, no matter how good or bad the dealer’s hand.

Atlantic City Blackjack Rules

Named after the city in New Jersey where it is very popular, Atlantic City Blackjack is offered by a host of premier online and mobile casinos.

• Played with 8 decks
• Blackjack pays 3 to 2
• You can split your hand up to three times to play a maximum of four hands
• You can double down on any hand, including split cards
• You can only make a blackjack on a split ace + picture card, not a 10 card
• You can split Aces, but are only dealt one card for each
• Dealer must stand on soft 17 and hard 17
• Dealer can check hole card for a blackjack if their up card is an Ace or a 10

Blackjack Switch Rules

As its name suggests, Blackjack Switch is famous for its rule that lets you switch cards between hands to help you make winning combinations.

• Played with 8 decks
• Blackjack pays 1 to 1
• You must play two hands per round and bet the same amount on each hand
• You can switch the second cards in each hand to make your hands stronger
• You can double down on any hand, including split cards
• Dealer must hit on soft 17
• Dealer can make 22, which is a push against all hands except a blackjack

European Blackjack Rules

Similar to classic or regular blackjack, in European Blackjack you can only double down on hands showing 9,10 or 11, and there is no surrender option.

• Played with 2 decks
• Blackjack pays 3 to 2
• You can only double down only on hands worth 9, 10 or 11 points
• You can draw up to 9 cards over your initial 2
• You can split cards only once
• You cannot surrender your cards
• You can only split matching 10 value cards i.e. K K not K Q etc.
• Dealer must stand on soft 17 and hard 17
• Dealer cannot check hole card for a blackjack

Las Vegas Blackjack Rules

Named after the biggest and most exciting gambling city in the world, Las Vegas Blackjack is one of the most popular blackjack variants in the world.

• Played with 4 decks
• Blackjack pays 3 to 2
• You can re-split already split cards
• You can only split Aces once, which are then dealt only one card each
• You cannot double your bet after splitting
• You can take insurance
• Dealer must stand on soft 17
• Dealer can check hole card for a blackjack

Multi-Hand Blackjack Rules

Multi-Hand Blackjack is the ideal game if you’re looking to maximize your winning potential because it allows you to play up to 5 hands simultaneously.

• Played with 5 decks
• Blackjack pays 3 to 2
• You can play up to 5 hands at once
• You cannot double down on any of your hands after splitting
• You can only double down only on hands worth 9, 10 or 11 points
• You cannot re-split already split cards
• You cannot surrender your cards
• Dealer must stand on a soft 17
• Dealer can check hole card for blackjack if their up card is a 10, J, Q, K or Ace

Spanish Blackjack Rules

The main difference between Spanish Blackjack and Classic Blackjack are their pay-outs. The pay-outs in Spanish vary depending on the cards in each hand.

• Played with 6 to 8 decks
• Blackjack pays 3 to 2
• Your blackjack or 21 always beats the dealer's blackjack or 21
• You can double down at any time
• You can split and re-split Aces
• You can re-split up to three times
• You can surrender late unless the dealer has a blackjack
• You can surrender (and forfeit half your bet ) if you don’t like the next card
• Dealer must hit on soft 17
• 5 card hand totaling 21 pays 3 to 2
• 6 card hand totaling 21 pays 2 to 1
• 7 or more cards totaling 21 pays 3 to 1
• 3 x 7s of same suit pays 2 to 1
• 3 x 7s of mixed suit pays 3 to 2
• 3 x 7s of spades pays 3 to 1
• 6, 7, 8 of same suit pays 2 to 1
• 6, 7, 8 of mixed suit pays 3 to 2

Pontoon Rules

Pontoon is like blackjack in that it’s about getting 21 or close to it without busting, but it uses different terminology like twist (hit), stick (stand) and buy (double).

• Played with 6 to 8 decks
• Pontoon (Ace + 10 value card) pays 2 to 1
• Five card trick (any 5 card hand that doesn’t bust) pays 2 to 1
• You can only stick on a hand greater than or equal to 15
• You can re-split once (up to a total of three hands), including Aces
• Dealer cards are both dealt face down
• Dealer must twist on 16 and soft 17, and stick on hard 17
• Dealer wins all ties

Caribbean 21 Rules

Caribbean21 is very similar to blackjack except that in this game an Ace is only worth 1 point, in other words its face value. That said, it’s a dynamic and exciting game.

• Played with 255 decks
• Caribbean 21 (2 x 10 value cards + 1 x Ace) pays 3 to 2
• All other wins pay 1 to 1
• Cards are worth their face value (Ace = 1) and picture cards are worth 10
• You can split any two cards, including Aces, with one new card per split
• You can surrender your hand after splitting
• You can take insurance (half your initial bet) if the dealer's first card is an Ace. If the dealer makes a Caribbean 21, you’re paid 9 to 1
• Dealer gets dealt one card face up
• Dealer wins all ties

Face Up 21 Rules

The main difference between regular blackjack and Face Up 21, is with the latter you see both of the dealer’s cards so you know what total you need to chase and beat.

• Played with 8 decks
• Blackjack pays 1 to 1 (instead of usual 3 to 2)
• You win all blackjack ties
• You can double on a split
• You can only split Aces once, which are then dealt only one card each
• You can only double only on a 2 card total of 9, 10 or 11
• Dealer has both cards face up
• Dealer must hit on soft 17

Super 21 Rules

Super 21 is similar to many blackjack variants with the most notable exception that a blackjack in this game only pays 1 to 1. However, don’t be put off by this.

• Played with 8 decks
• Blackjack pays 1 to 1
• Blackjack with 2 x diamonds pays 2 to 1
• You can hit or double after splitting Aces and getting a card
• You can double on any number of cards.
• You can surrender at any time (and forfeit half of your bet)
• You win with 6 cards or more except after you’ve doubled
• You win with 21 made up of 5 cards or more except after you’ve doubled
• Dealer must hit on soft 17

Super Fun 21 Rules

Although in Super Fun 21 a blackjack only pays 1 to 1, this is offset by a number of rules that are more in your favour than many other blackjack games.

• Played with 1, 2 or 6 decks
• Blackjack pays 1 to 1
• Blackjack in diamonds pays 2 to 1
• You can double after a split
• You can re-split to up to four hands, including Aces
• You can hit and double down on split Aces
• You can double on any number of cards
• You can surrender late on any number of cards, even after doubling
• A hand of 20 or less with 6 cards wins, except after doubling
• A hand of 21 points of 5 cards or more wins, except after doubling
• Your blackjack always wins against the dealer’s
• Dealer must hit on a soft 17