Online Blackjack Rules

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games because it gives players a chance to put their skills to the test. It is one of the few skill games in a modern casino, although the casino will still maintain an edge over the player, although this can be reduced greatly.

As you may already know, the object of the game is to get a hand with a value closer to 21 than that of the dealer, without exceeding 21. You are only competing against the dealer, as are the other players at the table.

The first step is to make sure you are actually playing blackjack. Typically, the table will have “Blackjack Pays 3 to 2”printed on it. There are a huge number of variants and each one has a different set of rules, so it is important to make sure you are playing standard blackjack. When playing online, this should be clear given that you have navigated to the game, but in a live setting, it may be a bit more ambiguous if you are not careful. Once you are sure you are at the right table (with appropriate betting limits) the first thing you have to do is place you bet.

This goes in the circle that is printed on the table in front of your seat. Once ready, the dealer will deal two cards to every player at the table, as well as to himself / herself. One of the dealer’s cards will be facing up while the other is facing down. Cards from 1 to 9 are worth their respective number. Jacks, Queens, Kings, and 10’s are all worth 10, and Aces can be worth either 1 or 11, depending on which is better for you hand.

Time to Make a Move

There are four primary moves that you can make at this point. The first of these is to simply surrender. This means forfeiting the hand and having half of your bet returned to you. You can only do this as your first move and in many cases it is not an option if the dealer was dealt a natural (a two-card hand worth 21). Assuming you don’t surrender though, the most common decision is whether to hit (receive one or more additional cards) or stand (choose to leave your hand unchanged).

For a very strong hand, you may decide to double down. As with surrendering, this can only be done with a 2-card hand (before any other action). This allows you to double your bet and receive exactly one more card. Technically you can double down with an additional bet worth less than or equal to your original wager, but when the right move is to double down, you might as well go for the full amount.
Finally, you may choose to split a pair. When you are originally dealt a pair, you can split them into two distinct hands and receive an additional card for each. Note that you must make an additional bet (equal to your original wager) to accompany the new hand. Often, you can also double down after the split. Additionally, many casinos allow you to split the new hands (if possible) for a maximum total of four hands with four equal bets.

Always Make The Right Move

Not sure what you should do? No problem. Just refer to a Basic Blackjack Strategy table to find the right move in any situation. Following a simple guide can reduce your house edge to a very small percentage. This is possible because the dealer’s behavior is predictable; he has to follow strict rules – either hitting until his hand is worth 17 or more, or hitting on soft 17’s (such as Ace, 6 or Ace, Ace, 5).

Blackjack is ultimately a game of decisions and your strategy should be to make the right decisions as often as possible. Once you have mastered the rules, you might want to move onto some of the many blackjack variations out there and see how these change the way the game is played.