Blackjack stands as the most widely played table game in casinos.
Introduction
Blackjack is the most beloved table game found in casinos. You can play it at almost any online casino. Thanks to its low house edge and manageable variance, Blackjack is a great option for clearing bonuses when permitted.
Rules and Play
In blackjack, your hand's total is the sum of your cards' values. For instance, if you have a 4, 5, and 6, your total is 4+5+6=15. Face cards—Jack, Queen, King—are each worth 10. Aces can count as 1 or 11, so an Ace and a 7 could be 8 or 18. The goal is to get a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. If your hand exceeds 21, you "bust" and lose your bet immediately, regardless of the dealer’s hand. A two-card 21, known as a "blackjack," is the best possible hand. Blackjack pays 3:2, while other wins pay even money (1:1).
Once you place your bet, both you and the dealer receive two cards. One of the dealer's cards is face-up for you to see. Under standard rules, if the dealer shows an Ace or a 10-value card, they check for blackjack. If the dealer's upcard is an Ace, you can take "insurance"—a side bet that pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack. However, insurance generally carries a house edge of 2–15%, so it’s not recommended unless you know the deck is rich in 10-value cards (as in certain single- or double-deck games or when card counting). See our insurance exceptions page for details. If the dealer has blackjack, the round ends. Otherwise, you decide how to play your hand. Your options are:
Stand – Keep your current cards and end your turn.
Hit – Take another card. You can keep hitting until you reach 21 or bust.
Double – Double your initial bet and receive exactly one more card, after which your turn ends. You can only double on a two-card hand.
Split – If your first two cards have the same value, you can split them into two separate hands, doubling your bet. Each new hand gets an additional card. If you split Aces, you only get one more card per hand. With any other pair, you can continue to hit, stand, or double on each hand. Re-splitting may also be allowed.
Strategy
Despite the many rules, optimal blackjack strategy is surprisingly straightforward. With baccarat, you don’t choose which cards to take or whether to hit or stand. You simply bet on the Banker or Player, then watch as the dealer reveals the cards to see if you’ve won. The Banker bet usually has a slightly lower house edge than the Player bet. Therefore, the best strategy is to always bet on the Banker.
