Blackjack

Blackjack stands as the most widely played table game in casinos.

Introduction

Blackjack is the most popular casino table game. It's offered at almost every online casino. With its low house edge and manageable variance, blackjack is an excellent option for meeting bonus wagering requirements when permitted.

Rules and Play

Blackjack hands are scored by totaling the values of the cards. For instance, a hand with a 4, 5, and 6 would be scored as 4+5+6=15. Face cards are each worth 10 points. Aces can count as either 1 or 11, meaning an ace and a 7 could be valued as either 8 or 18. The goal in blackjack is to achieve the highest total without exceeding 21. A total over 21 results in 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 ranks as the highest hand. Players receive a bonus for achieving blackjack, which pays 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 for the player to see. Under standard rules, if the dealer shows an ace or a 10-point card, they check for a potential blackjack. If the dealer has an ace showing, the player can purchase "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 in play. Therefore, buying insurance is generally not advantageous for the player, except in specific situations where the deck is known to be rich in 10-value cards (such as 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 immediately. If not, the player decides how to proceed with their hand. The available options are:

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

Hit -- The player takes an additional card. They can continue hitting until they reach 21 or bust.

Double -- The player doubles their initial bet and receives one more card. The hand concludes after this third card is drawn. Players cannot hit after doubling and may only double on a two-card hand.

Split -- When the player has two cards of equal value, they can split them into two separate hands. The original bet is doubled to cover both hands. After splitting, each hand receives an additional card, forming two two-card hands. If the player splits a pair of aces, each hand ends after the second card is dealt. For any other split pair, the player can choose to hit, stand, or double on each resulting hand. A second split may also be allowed in some cases.

Strategy

Despite the complex rules, the optimal strategy for blackjack is surprisingly straightforward. Players don't make decisions about which specific cards to take or whether to hit or stand based on unknown factors. Instead, you place your bet on either the banker or player, then the dealer reveals the cards to determine if you've won. Under typical conditions, banker bets carry a slightly lower house edge than player bets, as explained below. The optimal strategy is simply to always bet on the banker.