The basic rules of blackjack are simple and easy to learn, but the greatest thrill in blackjack comes from the fact that by playing strategically it is possible for the player to beat the house.

The Basic Rules of Blackjack

In blackjack the objective is to get a hand that is as close to the value of 21 as possible. Go over 21, however, and you bust, that is to say, you lose. You determine the value of your hand by counting up the cards dealt to you. The values of the cards in blackjack are as follows:

• Number cards have the same value as their numbers (2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10)
• Picture cards (jack, queen, king) all have a value of 10
• For the Ace the player can choose whether the value is 1 or 11 depending on their hand
• The suit of the cards is irrelevant

Thus, the best combination possible is an Ace and any 10-value card, since the combined value is 21. A hand where an Ace can have a value of either 1 or 11 is called a “soft hand”, because a player can always ask for another card without busting.

The Game Begins

In blackjack you do not play against the other players, but against the dealer. First the players place their bets, and after this is done the dealer deals the cards. All the players are dealt two cards with the faces up, while the dealer is dealt one card face up (the Up Card) and another face down (the Hole Card). If your initial two cards add up to 21 you have “Blackjack”, also known as “A Natural”, and are immediately payed out 3:2.

You can see the face up card of the dealer, and based on this information and the cards in your own hand, you make a decision whether to hit (ask for another card) or to stand (keep the cards you have). The dealer may check if he has blackjack, and if this is the case all the players lose their bets.

When the cards have been dealt, play moves to the player to the dealers left and moves around the table until all of the players have had their turn. Finally the dealer will play his hand, pays out the winning players and collects the bets of the losing ones.

The Dealer’s Actions

Though the odds of the game are stacked in the dealer’s favour, the players have an advantage over the dealer that a good blackjack player can make use of: The dealer’s play is determined by strict rules, and has no choice as to how to play his hand. When the value of his hand is under 17 the dealer must always hit, when it is over 17 he must always stand. The player, on the other hand, has far more options.

The Player’s Actions

Aside from hitting or standing, a player has a number of other options as well. In the chart in our blackjack strategy section you will able to see when it is best to take these actions.

• Double Down: After the first two cards have been dealt, you can double your bet and receive one additional card only with which to beat the dealer.

• Split: When dealt two cards of the same value, a pair of 8s, for instance, you can pay an additional bet and split your cards into seperate hands. The dealer will then deal another card to each of your hands, to make them two-card hands again. After this is done you can play out both hands like normal hands.
• Surrender: The player may pay half of his bet to surrender his cards before taking any action. With early surrender the player surrenders before the dealer has checked for blackjack. With late surrender the player surrenders after the dealer has checked for blackjack.

Insurance and Even Money

Insurance may be offered when the dealer’s face up card is an Ace. The player additionally bets half of his initial bet to “insure” that bet. If the dealer has blackjack he doubles your insurance bet, and the loss of your original bet is offset by the insurance bet. If the player doesn’t have blackjack you lose the insurance bet and play on as you normally would.

Even Money may be offered when the dealer has an ace showing while you have blackjack. Instead of paying out 3:2 for your blackjack you accept a 2:1 deal in exchange for which you will not lose if the dealer turns out to have blackjack.