Blackjack Rules

The game of online blackjack is by far the most popular table game offered in gambling establishments around the globe. If you are unfamiliar with the rules of casino blackjack or simply need some clarification on the finer points, you've come to the right place! Expert blackjack includes everything you need to know about playing the game, as well as describing the various rules that can differ from one online casino to another.

When playing Blackjack, each player competes only against the dealer (i.e. the bank/casino), not against other players. Your goal as the player is to draw cards until your hand adds up to 21, or comes as close as possible without exceeding 21. If your first two cards total 21, you have blackjack. If the dealer gets closer to 21 than you without going over themselves, they win.

Before any cards are dealt, the player must wager. He/she does so by placing a bet in the designated space in front of their table position. The dealer then deals two cards to each of the players, and two to himself (one of the dealer's cards is dealt face up and one is dealt facing down). Face cards (kings, queens and jacks) count as 10, ace counts as one or 11 (which ever has more of an advantage for the player) and all other cards are counted at their face value.

An explanation of some common terms are as follows

Blackjack - If the player's first two cards turn out to be an ace and a 10 or face card, they win. However, if the dealer also has a blackjack, it is either a push or a tie, and players receive their bet back. According to the most widely known blackjack rules, a winning blackjack usually pays the player with odds of 3 to 2.

Hit or stand - Hit means to draw another card, Stand means you don’t want any more cards, if the player hits and busts (goes over 21), they immediately turns there cards over and the wager is lost and the house wins.

Double down - The player is authorized to double the bet on the first two cards that have been given, and draw one additional card only to improve the hand. This is usually done if you are dealt an 11 or a 10, so your next card will most probably bring you to a total of 21 or 20. Always take into consideration the dealers up-card, if they are showing decent cards then it is a good idea to double down even if your total is as little as 9.

Splitting pairs - If the first two cards a player is dealt are a pair, you may split them up into two separate hands, bet the same amount on each hand and then play them as two separate hands. Aces receive only one additional card. After splitting, A-10 sometimes counts as 21 and not as blackjack, so you may not get paid 3 to 2 due top a technicality.

Insurance - If the dealer's upward facing card is an ace, the player may take out insurance, which is a bet that doesn’t exceed one-half of the original bet. If the dealer's down card is a 10 or any face card, the player wins 2 to 1. Any other card means a win for the dealer. Simple rule: never take insurance. It may be taken as a gesture of bad faith by the rest of the table, and statistically it is rarely an intelligent move, so a players best bet is to steer well clear.

Surrender- Where legal, a player may give up his first two cards and lose only one-half his original bet.