Blackjack, known for its rapid play rate and straightforward rules, is one of the most popular casino games.
So, if you’re a beginner, you might wonder exactly how blackjack is played. And what is the best way to play blackjack?
Whether you’re an intrigued novice or 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, and then offer a step-by-step guide to help you play confidently.
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 in which players aim to beat the dealer by getting a hand that 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 most.
So, the fundamentals of how to play blackjack are 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 heard the game referred to as 21.
First, 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 on to the next player.
Generally, players hit when holding a hand of 10 or 12-16, then stand if they have anything beyond 17. Of course, this 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; 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), you can split them and treat them as two separate hands when your turn comes around. 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 can remain in the game and continue playing.
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 players are confident that an additional card will help them beat the dealer. It’s important to highlight, however, that the dealer cannot 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 you have a weaker hand than the dealer, you can 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.
Players usually slide a pointer finger horizontally across the table to signal to the dealer that they want to surrender in a casino environment.
Soft 17
A soft 17 is a blackjack hand worth 17 that 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 that lacks an Ace or includes one but could still bust when the next card is taken.
How do you play blackjack?
Now that you know the different rules, let’s dive into a step-by-step guide on how to play blackjack.
- Cards are shuffled, and play begins:
Before any cards are dealt, the dealer thoroughly shuffles all pack portions.
Then, in a traditional casino setting, players must place their plays (or 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, and then the dealer will deal 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, they receive 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; 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 the player nor the dealer busts, the person with the highest value hand wins the round! After the round ends, all cards will be collected and reshuffled ahead of the next.
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 regularly played from the comfort of people’s homes.
In a casino environment, the dealer is the permanent bank. 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 role 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 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 with Sweeps Coins, later having an opportunity to exchange those 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.