How to Play Blackjack

The Objective

The goal in blackjack is to beat the dealer's hand — not to hit exactly 21, and not to beat other players at the table. You beat the dealer by having a higher total than them without going over 21 ("busting"), or by the dealer busting while your hand stands.

Each player at the table plays their own hand against the dealer independently. What the player next to you does has no bearing on whether you win or lose.

Card Values

The Deal

Each player places a bet before the cards are dealt. The dealer then gives two cards to each player and two to themselves — typically both player cards face up, and one dealer card face up (the "upcard") with the other face down (the "hole card").

If your first two cards are an Ace and a 10-value card, that's a "blackjack" (or "natural") — the best possible hand, usually paid at 3:2 unless the dealer also has one, in which case it's a push (tie).

Your Options: Hit, Stand, Double, Split

Hit

Take another card. You can hit as many times as you like until you either stand or your total exceeds 21 (a bust, which loses immediately regardless of what the dealer does afterward).

Stand

Take no more cards and lock in your current total. Play then moves to the next player, or to the dealer.

Double Down

Double your original bet in exchange for exactly one more card, after which you must stand. Most tables let you double on any first two cards; some restrict it to totals of 9, 10, or 11. This is a powerful option when the odds are in your favour — for example, an 11 against a dealer's weak upcard.

Split

If your first two cards are a pair (e.g. two 8s), you can split them into two separate hands, each with its own bet equal to your original wager. You then play each hand independently. Some casinos limit re-splitting, and most only allow one additional card on a split pair of Aces.

Insurance & Even Money

If the dealer's upcard is an Ace, you may be offered "insurance" — a side bet of up to half your original wager that pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack. If you have a blackjack yourself in this situation, you may instead be offered "even money," which locks in a 1:1 payout regardless of the dealer's hole card.

How the Dealer Plays

Unlike players, the dealer has no choices to make — they follow fixed rules. The standard rule is: the dealer must hit on 16 or less, and must stand on 17 or more. Some tables specify the dealer must also hit on a "soft 17" (e.g. Ace + 6) — this slightly increases the house edge, so it's worth checking which rule is in play (see our Variants page).

Settling the Hand & Payouts