Blackjack rules

The goal

Beat the dealer: finish closer to 21 than they do, without going over 21. The other players aren't your opponents; everyone plays against the house.

Card values

A hand with an ace counted as 11 is soft: ace + 6 is 7 or 17. It can't bust if you take one more card. Without an ace counted as 11, the hand is hard.

Blackjack

An ace plus a ten-value card as your first two cards. It's the best hand: it beats every other 21 and pays 3 to 2 ($15 won on a $10 bet). If the dealer also has blackjack, it's a push. Note: 21 made after a split doesn't count as a blackjack.

How a round works

1. You place your bet in your circle.
2. The dealer gives each player two face-up cards, one face-up card to themselves, and one face-down hole card.
3. If the upcard is an ace or a ten, the dealer peeks for blackjack. If they have it, the round ends: they beat everyone except other blackjacks.
4. Each player plays their hand in turn.
5. The dealer plays by fixed rules, then pays or collects.

Your options during a hand

Hit

Take one more card. You can hit as often as you like, as long as you don't go over 21.

Stand

Keep your total and end your turn.

Double down

On your first two cards, double your bet and receive exactly one more card. That's when you win big, typically with 10 or 11.

Split

With two cards of the same value, turn them into two separate hands and add a second, equal bet. Always split aces and eights, never tens.

Surrender

Where allowed, give up your hand right away and get half your bet back. Useful in the worst spots, like 16 against a 10.

Insurance

Offered when the dealer shows an ace: a side bet that pays 2 to 1 if they have blackjack. It's a losing bet in the long run: here's why.

What the dealer does

The dealer has no choices. They hit on 16 or less and stand on 17 or more. At some tables they also hit a soft 17 (ace + 6); that's printed on the felt ("H17"). If they go over 21, they bust and pay every player still in.

Payouts

Three examples

You have 10 + 6 = 16, the dealer shows a 10. A tough hand: you often lose whatever you do. Surrender if you can; otherwise, hit.

You have ace + 7 = soft 18, the dealer shows a 9. 18 looks good, but against a 9 you should hit: your hand can't bust with one card.

You have 8 + 8, the dealer shows a 7. Split: two hands starting from 8 are far better than one 16.

Rule variations

Number of decks, dealer hitting or standing on soft 17, blackjack paying 3:2 or 6:5, double after split, surrender, the European no-hole-card rule: these details change the house edge. The game lets you set each one and shows its effect live.

Next: basic strategy, then card counting.