Blackjack, known for its rapid rate of play and straightforward rules, is one of the most popular casino games out there. So, if you’re a beginner, you might be wondering exactly how is blackjack played? And what is the best way to play blackjack?
Well, whether you’re an intrigued novice or perhaps a seasoned player looking for a quick refresher, we’ve got you covered. Below we’ll dive into exactly what blackjack entails, outline the rules, then offer a step-by-step guide to help you play with confidence.
Whether you’re hoping to play in a traditional casino, an online casino, or perhaps in an exciting free-to-play social casino environment like that of High 5 Casino, dive into our insights below!
What is blackjack?
Blackjack is a casino card game whereby players aim to beat the dealer by getting a hand which is as close to 21 as possible. Everyone plays against the dealer, and players strive to reach a total of 21 without going over. Exceeding 21 is called a Bust.
The standard 52-card pack is commonly used in blackjack, but several decks might be shuffled together, for instance the six-deck card game uses 312 cards. The card values are as follows:
- Number cards: each card (2-10) is worth its face value.
- Face cards: (Jack, Queen, and King) are each worth 10.
- Ace: this is worth either 1 or 11, depending on which value benefits you the most in the scenario.
So, the fundamentals of how to play blackjack is beating the dealer by ensuring you’re as close to 21 as possible. But remember if your totaled cards exceed 21, it’s game over.
What are the rules of blackjack?
Whether it’s in a casino setting, an online casino or perhaps a free-to-play social casino environment (like that of High 5) blackjack rules are as follows…
To win, players must have a higher hand value than the dealer, without exceeding 21. This rule is why you may have also heard the game simply being referred to as 21.
First of all, a player is dealt two cards. They can then choose to hit and receive additional cards in an attempt to near 21 (or even hopefully hit it head on). Alternatively, they may stand to keep their hand, signaling to the dealer that they should move onto the next player.
Generally, players hit when holding a hand of 10 or 12-16, then stand if they have anything beyond 17. Although this of course varies depending on the player, the game, and the unique situation.
The dealer also receives two cards, one of them sitting face up. If the player’s hand exceeds 21, they lose the game, and if the dealer busts, the remaining players win. If neither player nor dealer busts, the player with cards totaling the nearest value to 21 wins.
The rules of hit and stand are simple, but there are further blackjack actions you’ll need to understand to master the game. These include:
Splitting pairs
If your first two cards are the same numerically (such as two Jacks), when your turn comes around, you can choose to split them and treat them as two separate hands. If the split pair is Aces, you can only do a one-card draw on each hand.
Turning your hand into two separate hands gives you an extra chance to beat the dealer. So, if one hand busts, you have the opportunity to remain in the game and continue play.
Doubling down
If your original two cards you’re dealt total 9, 10, or 11, another option is to double your play mid-hand (not exceeding its original value). The dealer gives the player a face-down card, which is only turned over at the end of the hand.
This is commonly used when a player is confident that an additional card will stand them in good stead to beat the dealer. It’s important to highlight, however, that the dealer doesn’t have the option to split or double down.
Insurance
If the dealer has an Ace, a player may make a play of up to half the value of the original spin that the dealer’s face-down card is a ten (therefore a blackjack for the house). If it is a ten, all players who called it win, and receive double their half-play.
If a blackjack occurs for the dealer, the hand is over. This is unless a player also has a blackjack, in which case there will be a stand-off.
Surrender
If the odds are stacked against you and you feel as though you have a weaker hand in comparison to the dealer, there’s the option to surrender one half of your original play after receiving your first two cards.
So, as an alternative to the classic moves of hit or stand, the surrender rule allows you to abandon half of your hand. To signal to the dealer that you want to surrender in a casino environment, players usually slide a pointer finger horizontally across the table.
Soft 17
A soft 17 is when you have a blackjack hand worth 17 which contains an Ace (when counted as 11), for instance an Ace + 6. Players may choose to hit or stand based on their estimate of the dealer’s potential hand, giving them extra flexibility.
Alternatively, a hard hand is one which lacks an Ace or includes one but could still bust when the next card is taken.
How do you play blackjack?
Now that you’re aware of the different rules, let’s dive into a step-by-step guide on exactly how to play blackjack.
- Cards are shuffled and play begins:
Before any cards are dealt, the dealer thoroughly shuffles all portions of the pack. Then, in a traditional casino setting, players must place their plays (or simply spin in a free-to-play, online social casino).
- Receive your cards:
Next, it’s time to receive your cards for the round. Each player will be dealt one card, face up, in a clockwise rotation, then the dealer deals one card face up to themselves.
Another round of cards is then dealt to each player, and the dealer takes another card (but this time places it face down).
- Evaluate your options and plan your moves:
If a player is dealt an ace and a ten-card (totaling 21) this is called a natural or an immediate blackjack. When a player has this and a dealer does not, the player receives one and a half times the amount of their original play. And if a dealer has a natural, it’s a blackjack for them!
Otherwise after receiving your two cards, add up their total and choose whether to hit to receive additional cards, or stand and keep your hand. Starting from the player on the left, the dealer will go around and ask each person what their next move is.
- It’s time for the dealer’s play:
After all players have made their moves, it’s the dealer’s turn. First, they must reveal their face-down card, and if the total is 17 or greater, they must stand. But if the total is less than 16, they must hit and choose a card, continuing to do so until the total is 17 or more.
If the dealer gets a blackjack, all players lose the round as mentioned (this is assuming they don’t have a blackjack themselves of course).
- Finally…
If neither player nor dealer busts in the process, the person with the highest value hand wins the round! After the round ends, all cards will be collected to be reshuffled ahead of the next one.
So that’s all the basics on blackjack rules, but if you’re looking for further insights, we’ve got a guide on blackjack strategy which is filled with information on mastering the game.
How to play blackjack at home
While it’s a common casino game, blackjack is also a game regularly played from the comfort of people’s own homes.
In a casino environment, the dealer is the permanent bank, and they are in charge of running the whole game, coordinating everything from shuffling to dealing. But when it comes to playing at home, all players have the opportunity to deal (this is called a changing bank).
At-home game setup
- First things first, choose a player to be the dealer. This is a role which can easily be rotated after each round.
- The dealer then gives two cards to each player and themselves, following the same rules as outlined above.
- Each player takes it in turns to make their moves as routine, with the dealer going last.
Or, if you’re looking to develop your skills in a fun gaming environment, why not try one of our social casino games? At High 5 Casino, multiple games await you, and we offer a secure, FREE-to-play social casino gaming experience.
You can play with Game Coins for fun social play, or play with Sweeps Coins, later having an opportunity to exchange those which are redeemable for cash and other prizes. For more information, check out this video on how to play High 5 Casino’s live dealer games.
And if you enjoyed these insights, our guides on how to play roulette and roulette strategy might be of interest too. You can learn all the basics if you’re a beginner, then afterwards read about how to ace the game.