Home » Blackjack » How to Play Blackjack
The game of blackjack is relatively simple. The goal is to beat the dealer, and any hand with a card total over 21 instantly loses.
The only twists are easy enough to understand (hard vs. soft Aces, splits, doubles, Insurance, etc...). For more detailed explanations, see our Rule or Glossary pages.
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- 0. Before you begin, make sure to acquaint yourself with any house rules, table rules, minimums and maximums. Know how many decks are being used, whether you can use insurance, when the dealer hits and stands…all good information that can save you a hand or two of foolish losses and hard lessons.
- 1. Start by placing your bet. In a land-based casino, there is a specific spot on the table for every type of bet (it’s usually pretty obvious where it goes). At an online casino, your chips will always go to the right place.
- 2. The dealer deals the first two cards of each hand (in the most common form of blackjack, you will be able to see both of yours but only one of his — and vice versa).
- 3. Your next move is based on the total value of your cards. A ‘natural’ 21 is a “blackjack“, which wins (or ties, called a “push”) and ends the hand immediately. Many tables give an extra amount (like 3 to 2, or 150% or your bet) for a Blackjack win.
- 3a. SPLIT: If each of your cards has the same value (a pair), you may “split” (bet on two separate hands, each with one of the pair plus one or more additional cards).
- 3b. DOUBLE: If you want to double your bet and take ONLY one more card, you’ll “double down”.
- 3c. HIT: If you want another card, you’ll hit. If the next card brings you over 21, you’ve busted (lost) and the hand is over. You can repeat this step (if you haven’t “doubled down”) as many times as you like until you either Bust or decide to Stand.
- 3d. STAND: If you don’t want another card, you’ll stand. The dealer then gets to make his moves (i.e., hit or stand)
- 4. If the dealer busts, you win the hand. If the dealer beats your total, you lose. If your totals are the same, the hand is a push. Note that you can win AND lose on a Split, or win and tie, or tie and lose…
- 5. Profit! (or not…)