Blackjack

Blackjack is the most widely played table game in casinos.

Introduction

Blackjack stands as the most popular casino table game worldwide. You can find it at virtually every online casino. With its low house edge and manageable variance, blackjack is an excellent option for clearing bonuses when permitted.

Rules and Play

Blackjack hands are valued by adding up the points of each card. For instance, a hand with a 4, 5, and 6 totals 15. Face cards are worth 10 points each. Aces can count as 1 or 11, so an ace and a 7 could be 8 or 18. The goal in blackjack is to have the highest total without going over 21. A total exceeding 21 is a bust. If the player busts, they lose their bet, regardless of the dealer's hand. A two-card 21 is called a "blackjack" and is the highest-ranking hand. Players receive a bonus for getting a blackjack. Blackjacks pay 3:2, while other winning hands pay 1:1.

After placing a bet, both the player and dealer 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 a 10-value card, they check for a possible blackjack. If the dealer shows an ace, the player can buy "insurance" against a dealer blackjack. Insurance pays 2:1 if the dealer's hole card is a 10 or face card, completing a blackjack. In single-hand play, the house edge on insurance ranges from 2% to 15%, depending on the number of decks and cards already played. Thus, buying insurance is not advantageous for the player, except in specific situations where the deck is known to be rich in 10-value cards (such as in multi-hand games with 1–2 decks and few tens drawn, or when card counting). For more details, see the insurance exceptions page. If the dealer has a blackjack, the hand ends. If not, the player decides how to play their hand. The available options are:

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

Hit — The player draws another card. They can continue hitting until they reach 21 or bust.

Double — The player doubles their bet and draws one more card. The hand ends after this third card. Players cannot hit after doubling and may only double on a two-card hand.

Split — If the player has two cards of the same value, they can split them into two separate hands. The player's bet is doubled, with one bet on each new hand. After splitting, each hand receives an additional card. If the player splits a pair of aces, the hand ends after the second card is drawn. For any other split, the player can hit, stand, or double on each resulting hand. A second split may also be allowed.

Strategy

Despite the complex rules, optimal blackjack strategy is surprisingly straightforward. There are no decisions about which cards to take or whether to hit or stand. You simply place a bet on the banker or player, wait for the dealer to reveal the cards, and see if you win. Banker bets typically have a slightly lower house edge than player bets, as explained below. The optimal strategy is to always bet on the banker.