Blackjack: explained

Learn to play the game of Blackjack

Learning the basic rules and how to play Blackjack is fairly straightforward, thanks to the game’s simple objective. Using two or more cards in your hand, you need to get to a value of 21 without going over. To ensure that you win the game, you also need to get a hand value that is higher than that of the dealer.

Throughout the rest of this guide, we’ll explain how to play Blackjack with a step by step tutorial. However, to begin with, it’s important that you understand that this game is played between a player and a dealer.

Even if there are multiple players sitting at the table or participating in a Live Blackjack game, each one is always playing exclusively against the dealer.

What is the table layout?

Online and Live Blackjack games are played on a table that normally always looks the same. Some variants may make use of a different table, but throughout this guide, we’ll focus on the classic version of 21.

The table has several slots where individual players can place their bets. In front of these slots, each player can see his or her cards. Next to these cards are the dealer’s cards, and next to the dealer is the unused deck of cards.

Typical Blackjack games make use of between six and eight standard 52-card decks in order to increase the speed and efficiency of the game.

The table also features other elements, such as Insurance, which we will go through later on in this guide.

Understanding the value of the cards

Before we get to the part of the guide where we provide you with how to play blackjack step by step instructions, you need to understand the value of each card.

Cards with numbers 2 to 10 retain their indicated value. Face cards, namely the King, Queen, and Jack, each have a value of 10. The Ace can have a value of either 1 or 11, depending on which is better based on the hand.

Blackjack gameplay

One round of Blackjack is played out through the following steps:

1. The player places a bet at the start of the game.

2. Cards are dealt by the dealer.

3. The player can decide what actions to take, eventually ending his or her round.

4. The dealer plays his or her hand according to stipulated rules.

5. The winner of the game is determined, and any payouts are made.

The difference between a newbie player and an expert is what happens in Step 3. Everything else is beyond the player’s control.

Dealing cards

When the dealer deals the cards, he or she will begin by giving each player one card facing up in a clockwise pattern. The last person to get a card is the dealer, and this card is also placed facing up. Each player will then receive the second facing-up card, but the dealer’s second card will remain facing down.

Betting options

Once you’ve placed your bet and received your first two cards, you need to decide on your next course of action.

Natural cards

As you’re learning how to play Blackjack, it’s important to understand the meaning of a Natural Hand, as well as their value. If your first two cards are an Ace and either a 10 or a face card, you’ll immediately get a hand equal to 21. When this happens, the value of the card is 11, as it gives you an advantage.

If you get this Natural Hand and the dealer does not, you’ll instantly receive 1.5x your wager. Should the dealer also have such a hand, your bet is returned to you due to a tie.

The dealer will only look at the face-down card early on if the face-up card is either an Ace or a card with a value of 10.

Hit

If your hand is not a natural one, you can ‘Hit’, which means asking to be dealt another card. This action makes sense when you have a low hand value and it’s likely that you will lose to the dealer’s likely higher-hand value.

You can request multiple additional cards, but be careful not to go over 21. If you do, you’ll go ‘Bust’ and instantly lose the game, irrespective of what the dealer’s hand holds.

Stand

When you’re happy with your hand, you can ‘Stand’. This action means ending your turn and letting the dealer play his or her hand. Once you take this action, you cannot request additional cards or change your bet.

Split

If your first two cards happen to have the same identical value or face, you can split them to play two hands at a time. In doing this, you’ll need to double the value of your wager.

Once you split your cards, you’ll begin by playing the hand on your left. You’ll need to decide whether to ‘Hit’ or ‘Stand’. Once you stand or go bust you’ll move to play the hand on your right in the same way.

Double Down

After you’ve received your first two cards, you’ll have an opportunity to double the value of your wager. This is the only moment in the game when you can increase your wager, other than when you’re splitting your hand.

You can only double down when the value of your hand has a total of between 9 and 11. By taking this action, the dealer will deal you another card facing down, but this will also end your turn.

Insurance

As we’ve mentioned earlier in this step by step guide, the table features an optional action called Insurance. When the dealer’s facing-up card is an Ace, this action becomes available to you.

Insurance is an optional side bet where you can wager up to half the value of your original bet. To win this bet, the dealer’s face-down card must be one with a value of 10. This would mean that the dealer’s hand is a Blackjack and that you would likely lose your original bet.

Winning insurance bets pay out 2:1, but most Blackjack strategies advise against ever placing this bet due to its statistical improbability.

The dealer’s play

Once you’ve completed your actions, it’s time for the dealer to play his or her cards. The possible actions that the dealer can take are highly restricted. Splits and double downs are not available to the dealer and hitting or standing is only possible under particular conditions.

The dealer begins by turning up the face-down card. If the total hand has a value of 17 or more, the dealer must stand. However, if the hand’s value is 16 or lower, the dealer takes one or more cards, until the value reaches or surpasses 17.

If the dealer has an Ace, he or she must count it as 11 if this would bring the hand total to 17 or more, but not if it would mean going bust.

Basic Blackjack strategy

Once you’ve learned how to play Blackjack by understanding the basic rules and gameplay, you should remember to use basic Blackjack strategy. Doing this will decrease the likelihood of placing mathematically unrealistic wagers.

Many strategies require you to consider both your own hand and the dealer’s face-up card. For example, when the dealer has a valuable card, such as a 7, 8, 9, or 10, or an Ace, you should continue to ask for more cards until your hand has reached a total of 17 or more.

On the other hand, if the dealer’s face-up card has a low value of between 4 and 6, you should only ask for more cards until your hand has a value of 12. The reason for this is that you’re much more likely to go bust with any cards once you’ve surpassed this value. Given the hand rules that the dealer must adhere to, it’s much more likely that the dealer will go bust.

Should the dealer’s face-up card be a 2 or 3, you should stop asking for cards once your hand has a value of 13 or more.

If your hand is a soft one, which means it includes an Ace, you should keep hitting until you’ve reached a value of 18 or more.

When it comes to doubling down, you should take this action when your hand value totals 11. It is also a good idea to double down when your hand value is 10, and the dealer’s face-up card is not an Ace or has a value of 10. Doubling down when your hand has a total of 9 is only recommended if the dealer’s face-up card is a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

Finally, you should always split Aces of 8s. Identical cards with a value of 10 or 5s, or 4s should never be split, as these are more valuable if you double down.

Splitting 2s, 3s, or 7s is a good idea as long as the dealer’s face-up card is an 8, 9, Ace, or has a value of 10. 6s should only be split if the dealer’s up-card has a value of between 2 and 6.