In this game of cards you are only competing against the dealer. Your objective is to draw cards until your hand ads up to 21 or beat the dealers hand by getting as close to 21 as possible, without going bust (exceeding 21). If you bust, you lose, whatever the dealers and totals.
How to play - the basics
The game is over 300 years old, and over time strategies for getting the best out of the game have been developed. These strategies are based on the following rules of the game which you should keep focused on at all times.
The dealer must continue to take cards until they reach 17 or more
Once the dealer gets to 17 or more, they must stop, irrespective of the hand the player has.
Blackjack is achieved with an ace and a ten-value card (this includes the Jack, Queen and King).
Whilst other hands pay ‘even money’ (i.e. you win whatever your stake was), Blackjack plays 3 to 2 (i.e. you win three chips for every two you have staked).
Aces are worth either 1 or 11.
Ten value cards are the most common (remember, all picture cards are worth ten).
You may double down your stake if your first two cards total 9, 10 or 11 (called ‘double down’). This can be worthwhile if you believe you are likely to be dealt a ten on the next go (thus getting 19, 20 or 21), but keep an eye on the dealers card too! If your hand includes an ace you cannot double. Note also that if you choose to double, you will only receive one card.
If you are dealt two cards of the same value (although picture cards must match), you can choose to split them. This in effect doubles your stake and thus your opportunity to win, but again, keep an eye in the dealer’s card before splitting.
If the dealers’ first card is an ace, you will be given the option of placing a side bet. This is called insurance. When the dealer has an ace, he is considered to have a good chance of getting blackjack. If the dealer does get blackjack, insurance pays 2 to 1. If you buy insurance and the dealer fails to get blackjack, you lose your insurance. Insurance bets are always half the value of your initial stake.
You play at your own pace. Don’t worry if you need to consider for a while whether to ‘hit’ or ‘stand’, you can play the game in your own time.
Basic strategy
Want to know whether to ‘Hit’ or ‘Stand’? Experts from around the world have developed a basic strategy to help increase your chances of winning. This strategy can act as a guide when deciding on whether to ask for an additional card or not. The value of your hand is shown in the left hand column; the dealer’s is on the top row. You can print this chart out and keep it alongside as you play. The chart below is purely a guide to making decisions playing blackjack. Whilst we hope you find it useful, many blackjack players have their own strategies and systems — in fact, if you check out our guides section, you may find quite a few of them!
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