Blackjack consists of a combination of luck and skill, leading it to be one of the most popular card games among casino patrons. If you are wondering how to play blackjack, this is your go-to guide to understand and play this game.
With our guide, not only will you learn how to play blackjack, but we will also take you through the essential rules, strategies, and game structure. So even if you are a complete beginner to the game, you will be ready to make your first steps.
Understanding the Basics of Blackjack
People worldwide are drawn to blackjack because it is a perfect blend of skills, strategy, and, of course, the magic ingredient, chance. This is exactly what makes this game so appealing to both beginners and seasoned players alike. Its simple rules and the fact that each round lasts only a few minutes, creating a fast-paced environment, ensures that you can have fun, no matter if you have been playing for ages or are just starting out.
The history of blackjack goes back in time for several centuries. It is believed to have descended from games like “Vingt-et-Un” (21) which was quite the rage during the 18th century in France. However, nothing could beat the popularity it amassed when it landed in the USA and drew attraction due to its easy rules and engaging gameplay. Nowadays, blackjack makes up around 31% of casino table games actions, while the online blackjack market is also booming.
You may also come across another name for blackjack, which is “21”. This perfectly sums up the main goal of the game: to beat the dealer’s hand and get as close to 21 (the blackjack) as possible without going over.
Blackjack Rules for Beginners
The basic rules for blackjack are as simple as can be. Your goal in blackjack is to get as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it, and there are a few things you should take into consideration when playing.
Card Values and Their Roles in Blackjack
Blackjack card values mostly coincide with the general rules. All numerals, or pip cards, count at their face value from 2 to 10. Face cards, that is, Jacks, Queens, and Kings, are worth 10 points each. Aces can be counted as either 1 or 11, depending on what’s better for your hand.
Due to this peculiarity of this card, hands that include an ace (except when the other card is valued at 10) are called “soft hands”. For example, “a soft 17” is an ace plus a six, because it can be counted both as 17 (11+6) or 7 (1+6). If your next hit creates a bust (going over 21), you can count the ace as 1 to avoid it.
After all players get their first two cards, they can perform one of the standard blackjack moves: hit, stand, double down, split pairs, or surrender. Your strategy of choosing which action to perform is largely based on the value you have got in hand. We will dive into the most common strategies later in our blackjack guide.
How to You Play Your Hand in Blackjack
Five main ways of playing your hand in blackjack include hit, stand/stay, double down, split pairs, and surrender. Here what each of these actions mean:
- Hit: Take another card to get closer to 21.
- Stand/stay: Hold your hand without taking additional cards if the total is strong enough.
- Double down: Double your bet and take another card. You can’t take more cards after that.
- Split pairs: Split a pair with same-value cards into two separate hands.
- Surrender: If you think your initial hand isn’t good enough and you don’t want to improve it with a hit, you can drop out of the round and get half of your bet back.
How to Make Your Move in Blackjack
In blackjack, players signal their moves with hand gestures rather than verbal requests. The dealer won’t react to your verbal requests because the cameras pointed at the table have to catch your intentions as well. Thus, you need to memorise the gestures for each move:
- Hit: Tap the felt next to your card with a finger.
- Stand: Wave your hand or put an open palm on the felt.
- Double down: Put an equal wager to the left of your initial one. The dealer will put your card sideways, indicating that you can’t take more.
- Split: Put an equal wager next to your first one and make a V sign with your fingers on the felt to indicate that you require a split, not doubling down. The dealer will divide your hand into two and add a card on each.
- Surrender: Draw a line on the felt behind your bet. To avoid your gesture being mistaken for a hit, you can say the word “surrender” but make sure to still accompany it with the gesture.
How a Blackjack Table is Set Up
You can recognise a blackjack table setup at any casino due to its unique design. The table has a semicircular shape, with the players sitting on the outer side. Most commonly, blackjack tables will accommodate seven players, though tables that only allow five players or tables that have spots for as many as 12 players do exist.
The dealer stands in the centre on the inner side of the semicircle. When dealing the cards, the dealer will start from the farthest player to their left hand and move in a clockwise direction. After all players get one card, the dealer takes one card too.
How to Play a Round of Blackjack
Now that we have reviewed the basics, let’s take a look at each step that makes up a round of blackjack.
Placing a Wager
Players place their bets before the cards are dealt. The table has a special designated betting area, usually a circle or sometimes the casino logo, where you place your chips. The minimum and maximum bets are indicated on the far left or far right side of the table. These may differ per casino, so make sure you familiarise yourself with the sign.
Dealing the Cards
After all wagers are placed, the dealer distributes the cards, starting from the player to the farthest left from them and moving in a clockwise direction.
Players get their cards face up, while the dealer, who is the last to receive a card, gets it face down. The second card is dealt in the same manner, only this time the dealer’s card also lies face up.
Playing Your Hand
Starting from the person on the left from the dealer, the players will now each make their move, depending on the hand they got. If somebody got a blackjack, i.e. 21 points, the round will end. Otherwise, the dealer points at each player in turn and waits for their move.
Start by adding the values of the two cards you have. If you think your hand is strong enough, you can stand, meaning you don’t take additional cards. If you want to improve your hand by adding more value, you hit, or in other words, take another card.
If after hitting you think your hand can be improved further, you can’t get another card from the dealer straight away. Instead, you will have to wait until your next turn. However, you can add as many cards as you want until you reach 21 or bust (go over 21).
You can also double down or split your cards. We will discuss these moves and when it is better to make them below.
Dealer Playing Their Hand
The dealer doesn’t have the liberty of choosing their moves. Once all players are served, they reveal their face down card. If their total is 16 or lower, the dealer must hit until their hand reaches 17 or higher. If the hand is already 17 or higher, they have to stand.
Determining the Winner
After the dealer makes their move, all the players who haven’t busted or surrendered their hand compare their cards to the dealer’s. The one with the value higher than the dealer’s wins the round.
Key Strategies for Beginner Blackjack Players
After everyone gets the first two cards, your decision on the next move will depend on the face up card of the dealer and the value of your own hand. While no strategy guarantees a foolproof win, they can help you enhance your game rather than make random decisions.
When to hit
If the dealer’s visible card is a 7, 8, 9, or ace, consider hitting until your hand totals at least 17 to increase your chances of competing.. If the dealer holds a poor card, be more conservative in how you hit. Never take another card if there is the slightest possibility it will bust your hand. If you are holding a soft hand, it is advised to hit until you have at least 18.
When to stand
In a typical round of blackjack, it is recommended to stand if the hand total is between 17 to 20. Standing is also preferred if you have a hard hand of 16 or if you have 12 or 13 and the dealer’s face card is 7 or higher.
When to double down
Doubling down is very recommended if the cards total 11. You may also choose to double down if your hand total is a soft 16, 17, or 18. With a hand totaling 10, you can opt to double down unless the dealer also holds a ten-card or an ace. Doubling with a hand worth 9 is only reasonable if your dealer’s hand is poor (from 2 to 6).
When to split
Usually, a split is performed if there are aces and 8s, as two 8s have a thin chance of winning. Players typically avoid splitting if they get two 10s as 20 is almost a winning hand. It is not recommended to split 5s and 4s, as they are a good hand to continue playing with. 2s, 3s, or 7s are okay to split, except when the dealer’s hand includes 8, 9, any card worth 10, or an ace. And finally, 6s are usually not recommended to split unless the dealer holds one of the poor cards (from 2 to 6).
For a more detailed approach, beginners can use the basic strategy charts that are readily available on the internet. While not being a foolproof plan, they help you by providing the optimal moves for each scenario between the player and the dealer.
Common Blackjack Variations
The charm of this game is that it has more than a hundred variations across worldwide casinos. Popular variants include European blackjack, Spanish 21, and progressive blackjack, to name a few. The rules vary, so different variants can affect the way players hit or stand.
In European blackjack the dealer gets their second, face down, card only after the players have made their move. This may seem like a minor difference, however, it can greatly affect both the game dynamics and the house edge. Another notable difference is that players are never allowed to surrender.
The reason why Spanish 21 got its name is because it is usually played with a Spanish deck of 48 cards, instead of the French 52-card one. If the dealer doesn’t get a blackjack, players are allowed to surrender their hands. This is known as “later surrender”. Some experts advise to stay away from this game because all the pip tens are removed from the deck, lowering the players’ chances to get a blackjack.
The biggest differences between the classic online blackjack and progressive blackjack are the following:
- Minimum and maximum bets are strictly set, whereas in classical blackjack they can vary in range greatly.
- The highest payout in classical blackjack is 3 to 2 for a natural blackjack. In progressive blackjack, payouts for side bets can be anywhere between 5x to 5,000x.
- Progressive blackjack includes a variety of side bets, for example, having one (or more) aces in your hand. All side bets are usually aimed at the progressive blackjack jackpot.
The only side bet that you will find both in the progressive and classical online blackjack is the insurance bet. A player can place an insurance bet when the dealer’s face up card is an ace. In this case the players can bet that the dealer has a blackjack. If an insurance bet is made during the game, the dealer has to discreetly look at their face down card (sometimes also called a hole card).
If its value equals to 10, making the dealer’s hand worth 21, they will turn the card face up. The round is over, and the players who placed an insurance bet are paid 2 to 1. However, making an insurance bet requires advanced card counting skills, so most players are discouraged from making it.
Blackjack Tips for Beginners
While the main goal of the game is fairly simple, building your strategy can be confusing when you are just starting out. As a beginner, there are a number of aspects that you should pay attention to.
Every casino, in house or online, has its own minimum and maximum bet sizes. They are usually placed on the far left or right side of the table. Familiarise yourself with this information before you start betting to better understand your potential payouts and manage your bankroll efficiently.
There are a lot of basic strategy charts for blackjack online. Showing different hands the dealer and the player can have, they also advise on the best possible move for the player in each scenario. If you are just starting out, these charts can be helpful in developing your game strategy. However, remember that blackjack, like any other casino game, is a game of chance, so there are no strategies that will guarantee a 100% win every time.
Before you start placing actual bets, it is very advisable to play the free version and watch more experienced players to get the hang of the game. Only when you feel more confident is it okay to start betting.
Above all, don’t forget that blackjack should be regarded as entertainment and not a way of earning big money.
How Blackjack Payouts Work
While there are some general rules to blackjack payouts, ratios may vary per casino or even per table, so make sure you learn this information in advance.
The most common payouts are the following:
- If the dealer busted, all hands that are still in play (not busted or surrendered) will get 1x of their wager.
- If the player has a higher hand than the dealer (but not a blackjack), they will receive a 1:1 payout. But if the dealer has a higher hand, they collect all wagers.
- If the dealer and the player have equal hands, this is considered a tie, called “push”, and the player will receive their wager back, but no additional payout.
What is a Natural Blackjack?
A natural blackjack occurs when a player’s first two cards are an ace and any card with the value of ten (a face card or a 10 card). If a player has a natural blackjack, the game is stopped and they get a payout of 3 to 2, or 1.5 times of their wager.
If the dealer has a ten or an ace, they can check their hole card. If together with the face up card it doesn’t add up to 21, the dealer invites the players to make their moves. However, if a dealer has a natural blackjack, they turn the card face up and take away the bets of the players whose hands don’t amount to 21.
If both the dealer and one of the players have a natural blackjack, this is considered a push. In this case the player gets their chips back.
Responsible Gaming in Blackjack
It is always better to play any casino game with responsibility, so when you play blackjack, you can follow these responsible gaming practices:
- Consider blackjack as a fun and entertaining activity, rather than a money making business.
- Decide on a budget, make sure that you stick to it, and don’t run behind winning if you constantly lose.
- A blackjack hand can end quickly and the next one starts immediately, giving you little space to check up on the time, so make sure you set a time limit for blackjack sessions.
- Understanding the basic strategies can help you make better decisions, but remember, the outcome is never guaranteed.
What to Know More About Blackjack (FAQ)
What Is a “Bust” in Blackjack?
When your hand total goes above 21, it’s called a “bust” and you lose your bet.
How Much Is Each Card Worth in Blackjack?
Cards 2 to 10 hold their face value, King, Queen, and Jack are worth 10 each, and aces can be worth 1 or 11, based on your hand.
What Does It Mean to “Double Down”?
“Double down” means doubling your initial bet and acquiring another card. After that you can’t take more cards.
When Should I “Split” My Cards?
It’s always advised to split your aces and 8s because if you have two 8s, 16 has a very thin chance to win.
Can I Win At Blackjack Without Counting Cards?
Yes, you can win at blackjack without counting cards using other strategies, but you should know that there’s no 100% guarantee of winning.
Getting Started with Blackjack
Blackjack is a timeless game that combines strategy and chance and draws appeal based on its simple rules and fast-paced entertainment. Whether you’re exploring a baccarat guide or a keno guide, the same principle applies: treat the game as mere entertainment. Now that you know how to play blackjack, we would remind you again to start with small bets rather than risk a lot of your money.
If you chase winnings and earning money, it can turn risky pretty quickly. But when you play responsibly, you not only make the most of the game but also get a deeper understanding of how it actually works.
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