How to Play Blackjack (21)
Blackjack is the world's most popular casino card game. The goal is simple: get a hand value as close to 21 as possible without going over, and beat the dealer. With strategic decisions on every hand, Blackjack offers the perfect blend of luck and skill.
📋 Rules
Objective
Beat the dealer by getting a hand value closer to 21 without exceeding it. If your hand goes over 21, you bust and lose automatically. If the dealer busts, you win.
Card Values
Number cards (2-10) are worth their face value. Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10. Aces are worth 11 or 1, whichever is more favorable for your hand.
Blackjack
An Ace plus a 10-value card on your first two cards is called a Blackjack and pays 3:2 (1.5 times your bet). It beats any other 21-point hand.
Hit & Stand
Hit to receive another card. Stand to keep your current hand. You can hit as many times as you want until you stand or bust.
Double Down
Double your bet and receive exactly one more card. Available only on your first two cards. A powerful move when you have a strong starting hand.
Split
If your first two cards have the same value, you can split them into two separate hands, each with its own bet. You then play each hand independently.
Dealer Rules
The dealer must hit on 16 or below and stand on 17 or above. The dealer has no choice in their play, making the game purely about your decisions.
🧠 Strategy Tips
- Always stand on 17 or higher. The risk of busting is too great.
- Always hit on 11 or below. You cannot bust with one more card.
- Double down on 10 or 11 when the dealer shows a weak card (2-6).
- Never split 10s or 5s. Always split Aces and 8s.
- If the dealer shows 7 or higher, keep hitting until you reach at least 17.
- Watch your bankroll. Set a limit before you start and stick to it.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the house edge in Blackjack?
With basic strategy, Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of any casino game, around 0.5%. Without strategy, the house edge can be 2% or more.
Should I take insurance?
Insurance is generally considered a bad bet. It pays 2:1 but the odds of the dealer having Blackjack are less than 1 in 3, making it unprofitable in the long run.
What is a soft hand?
A soft hand contains an Ace counted as 11 (e.g., Ace + 6 = Soft 17). You can always hit a soft hand without risk of busting, since the Ace can revert to 1.