Blackjack

Blackjack stands as the most widely played table game in casinos.

Introduction

Blackjack is the favorite casino table game, featured at almost every online casino. Its low house edge and reasonable variance make it a great option for clearing bonuses when permitted.

Rules and Play

In blackjack, hands are valued by adding up the card point totals. For example, a hand with a 4, 5, and 6 totals 4+5+6=15. Face cards are each worth 10 points. Aces count as either 1 or 11, so an ace and a 7 could be totaled as 8 or 18. The goal is to achieve the highest sum without going over 21. A total above 21 is a bust, where the player loses their bet regardless of the dealer’s hand. A two-card 21 is called a “blackjack” and is the top-ranked hand. Players receive a bonus for having blackjack, which pays 3:2, while other winning hands pay even money (1:1).

After placing a wager, the player and dealer each receive two cards. One of the dealer’s cards is face-up and visible to the player. Under standard rules, if the dealer shows an ace or 10-value card, they check for a potential blackjack. If the dealer shows an ace, the player may take insurance against a dealer blackjack. Insurance pays 2:1 if the dealer’s hole card completes a blackjack. For single-hand games, the house edge on insurance ranges from 2% to 15%, varying with deck count and cards in play. Thus, buying insurance is not normally advised except in situations where the deck is known to be rich in 10-value cards, such as certain single- or double-deck games with few tens drawn, or when counting cards. For more details, see the insurance exceptions page. If the dealer has blackjack, the round ends. If not, the player must decide how to proceed with their hand. The options include:

Stand — The player keeps their current cards and ends their turn.

Hit — The player takes an additional card. They may continue hitting until reaching 21 or going bust.

Double — The player doubles the initial bet and receives exactly one more card, after which the hand ends. Doubling is only allowed on a two-card hand, and hitting afterward is not permitted.

Split — If the player has two cards of the same rank, they can split them into two separate hands, doubling the bet to cover both. Each split hand gets an additional card. If splitting aces, the player only receives one more card per ace and the hand concludes. For other pairs, the player may hit, stand, or double on each hand following the split. Re-splitting may also be allowed.

Strategy

Given blackjack’s complex rules, proper strategy can seem challenging. However, basic strategy guides are available to help players reduce the house edge. By following charts that prescribe the best move for every possible player hand against the dealer’s upcard, players can optimize their decisions on whether to hit, stand, double, or split. This approach significantly lowers the casino’s advantage over the long run.