Blackjack Rules for Dummies
Are you hoping to jet off to the best blackjack tables across the world but you’re unsure of what the casino blackjack rules are? Fear not, as we have got you covered with our guide to the rules of blackjack.
Our guide on casino blackjack rules gives you a clear insight into how you get your classic blackjack journey started. We also introduce you to different versions of the game and share everything from the basics of how to play to sophisticated tricks that you can use to stay ahead of the pack.
How to play Blackjack 21 – a clear guide
Blackjack is one of the most popular table games in the world and has been for some time. The game is pretty straightforward to understand especially if you are playing the conventional version of the game. There are a couple of other variations on blackjack that we will get to shortly in our guide. For now, let’s take a look at the rules for this exciting table game.
The point of blackjack – basic rules and premise
The rules of blackjack are very simple. Instead of playing against other players like you would with Texas Hold’em poker, you are instead playing against the dealer. You are dealt 2 cards to start with, with the dealer also receiving 2 cards but with 1 face down. From then on you need to decide if you want to receive another card or if you want to stick with what you have. The point of the game is to try and get as close to 21 as possible without going over that number. If you actually hit the number on the head then you have made your blackjack and you immediately win the hand.
While you are trying to get to 21, the dealer is too and so you win by being closest to 21 or by the dealer going bust (going over 21) and you lose (or draw) because the dealer has hit his 21. The dealer will keep dealing to themselves until they has at least over 17 points. So, it’s important to know when you should stick and when you should “hit” (ask for another card). If you decide to stick on 18 and the dealer gets to 19, the dealer wins. If you have the same points value as the dealer after 17 then your stake is returned. If you go bust at any point, you lose, irrespective of what the dealer has.
In an instance where your bet is still standing, the dealer makes a flip on his card that was lying down. If the dealer has a ‘bust,’ he pays the amount won to you and the other players who have not yet surrendered or lost their bets through a bust.
The blackjack rules, in most cases, pay 1:1 on a normal win and 3:2 in the case that you land a blackjack 21. For instance, if you have a two-card 21 and have placed a 5-dollar bet, then you win 7.5 dollars. In this case, if the dealer has 21, then it is considered as a tie, and you get your bet back – if you had placed 5 dollars, you get your 5 dollars back. It is prudent to keep it. Keep in mind that if the dealer has three or more cards with a total value of 21 and you have a blackjack, you still win.
The dealer is responsible for paying out bets and has certain restrictions in the game. The dealer is not allowed to take insurance. They cannot split their hand, double down or surrender – which would give them half of their bet back.
The dealer also faces another quagmire in the game regarding the hit or stand
rule of the casino blackjack; the dealer has to have less than 17 points regardless of the points that make the hand.
The card values of blackjack:
Now you know that the point of the game is to get as close to 21 as you possibly can but you need to know what the card values are before you get cracking. As you might have guessed, cards 2-9 represent the value of their number. So, 2 is 2 points, 5 is points, 9 is 9 points and so on. 10 to the king all represent 10 points. So, jack, queen and king are all 10 points and are known as face cards.
The ace is where things get a bit more creative. An ace can either represent 1 point or 11 points. So, if you received an ace and a king with your first two cards you would then have blackjack. If you receive an ace and a 5 then you would either have 16 or 6, the choice is yours.
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Other important rules to remember – The passage of play
1. Chips and betting
The first step is to understand how much each chip is; it helps you make decisions that are well-informed and can act as a money management tool. The red chips are divided into fives for transparency. But sometimes, it is easier to track them in such groupings. The greens are the only exception to the split rules and are always stacked in fours. You and other players are required to put your bets on the table, and none should be allowed to play without having placed their bets as per the casino rules of Blackjack.
2. Shuffling and dealing
The second step in dealing is card shuffling done by the dealer, followed by cutting the deck, which is an important part of playing Blackjack. Card shuffling is one of the blackjack rules that are to be adhered to.
The deals always run from left to right and depending on where the dealer stands. They always start with the player who is farthest to the left side of the dealer. You can test this out through the
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that offers you an overview of the entire process.
The cards are laid diagonally while ensuring that each card is visible to the dealer and the player. If you have Blackjack, then it is a win unless the dealer has Blackjack too, and that becomes a push, and therefore, nobody wins.
3. Player Options
Once the dealer gives you the cards, you can decide on what to do; you can decide to:
- Hit
– This involves getting extra cards from the dealer to a point where you get cards with points above 21. But you can keep getting cards if your card points are less than 21 as per blackjack rules.
- Stand
– At this point, you are not going to take any cards from the dealer. You keep the number of cards that you already have at hand.
- Split
– This is advisable if you have cards of similar value, and you place a card outside the betting box, and therefore, you play two hands. Your wager in this position is doubled.
- Double down
– you double your bet and then receive one more card placed in a sideways manner to indicate that you cannot receive another card at that given point and time while adhering to the casino rules of Blackjack.
- Surrender
– In this case, the house takes half of your bet and then gives the other half to you as a player.
4. The Payout
Once all players are through with the play, the dealer then pays off or collects from players who did not surrender or bust. The payments are always from left to right. In the same manner, the cards are handed over as a rule in the casino rules of Blackjack.
5. Reset
Once the dealing is done, the dealer collects all the cards and discards them and then allows you and other players to place your bets, and then the dealers dish out the cards to each player, and the game cycle continues.
Basic tips for responsible gambling with blackjack
There is always a reason why many people opt for Blackjack, and that reason is always about the edge that blackjack rules give the player. Being good at Blackjack does not just happen by chance. It takes time to master the art of improving one’s odds. By staying ahead means practicing
blackjack online
and offline with friends.
It is always prudent to have a clear plan; without a plan and a destination, the train leaves the station to nowhere, which is never economical. You must always treat the game as a business and have a well-laid plan and stick to it unless needed.
The fastest way to lose in this game and anywhere else is to forget the rules and, in this case, the Blackjack rules or – deviating from your plan in an instance where the game disorients you.
Learn to manage your finances as this helps you stay afloat, and you can always be able to get in the game when you spot your chances of winning. Without good financial management, you will always be locked out, even in instances when you were to win.
Keep your emotions in check
A winning player does not invest emotions in the game, therefore be the winning player and invest your winning edge into the game and always approach it not with emotions but from a professional standpoint; you can always try
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because it helps you deal with the emotions that come when real money is involved.
Do not depend on your gut feelings if you are to be better than anyone else; always rely on data and statistics. It is a game of numbers and not feelings. Reliance on statistics is one of the best ways to stay alive in this game of cards.
The winning edge – Advanced tips and tricks
Focus on the dealer’s potential
Although you are not always sure of the outcome, betting can be made easier, and winning margins increase if you focus not only on the numbers but on beating the dealer. The idea is to ensure that you do not make moves if the dealer has a higher card number that can give him 17.
This can be achieved by ensuring that you double down or split the hand at such instances. Focusing on beating the dealer and not getting numbers right gives you a chance to win and beat the dealer.
It is important to double down in instances when you have a soft hand, but that might not work all the time, especially when the dealer has an ace or a 10, and you have a 10 at hand. To benefit from such knowledge, you need to look out for the
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There is an old trick in the book on card counting. You might lose on this if you have an assumption that it is easy. Card counting is easy, but not until you practice adequately without getting caught. You need to put hours into practice and the learning process. As they say, perfect practice makes perfect.
To understand this trick, you need to test yourself or use a close friend who understands the blackjack rules to test your abilities. There are card counting classes offered online and are guaranteed to give optimal returns if taken seriously. If you cannot access the classes, there is software that can be used at zero cost in sharpening your understanding and skills.
Let’s now talk about insurance, which is a side bet that is usually offered when the dealer has an ace as an up-card. In this instance, you put half your wager and get paid on the deal of 2 to 1 if you win. This might vary in casinos but is still bound to follow the casino rules of Blackjack.
Keep to the 9 advanced play strategies
- Split the aces always
- Never split the tens
- Always split the 8s
- It is a good move to stand on a hard 17
- Stand on if you have a 13-16 unless the dealer has 2-6.
- Split 4s if the dealer has 5 and 6.
- 11 always doubles
- 8 always hit
- The 9th rule is always to keep learning and practicing.
Blackjack variants
Much like many other table games, there are plenty of variants on blackjack. It’s important that we touch on some of these variants so that you don’t end up playing a version that you don’t understand. There are over 20 different variations on blackjack but we will touch on some of the most popular ones.
Classic blackjack:
This version of blackjack is the version that we have just gone into. You are trying to get as close to 21 as possible while also beating the dealer’s points total. We won’t go into much more detail on this as we already have but this version is called classic blackjack which is the standard version of the game.
European blackjack: The version of the game is widely considered to be more player favoured. This is because the dealer is only pulling cards from two different decks which makes predicting the cards a little easier. The other notable difference from the classic version is that the dealer won’t announce if he has blackjack. This means that you will continue to play a hand not knowing that the dealer has you beat already. This is the one downside. Aside from that, there are very few rules for blackjack that differ from the European version.
Face-up 21: This version of blackjack is very player favoured but it does have its downsides. It is player favoured because the dealer starts with both cards face up. This gives you a lot more information when checking whether or not you want to stand or hit. However, the dealer can hit on a soft 17 in this version of the game. A soft 17 is simply when the dealer has an ace and 6 which makes his hand more flexible. Another downside here is that the dealer blackjack will always beat the player blackjack. So, if you hit 21 but the dealer does too, then you lose. If you win with blackjack it only pays even money as opposed to the typical 3:2.
Perfect pairs blackjack: This is a pretty interesting variation on the classic version of the game. All the rules are essentially the same but with an added betting twist. You can place a side bet before the start of each hand. You are betting on whether or not the hand you receive will be the same value or a pair. So, if you receive two 9’s your side bet wins. However, you can also win if the two cards have the same value i.e. a face card and a 10.
Each variation pays out differently. A value pair pays out at 5:1. If the cards are the same value and the same colour you get paid out at 10:1. The biggest jackpot you can win is 30:1 and this is when the two cards are the same value, same colour and the same suit. For example, a 10 of hearts and jack of hearts.
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Are there more guides I can use at Betting.net?
Here at Betting.net we don’t just give you a guide to online casino blackjack rules but to every online casino game you can think of. Our guides cover everything from the
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Conclusion – brush up on your knowledge of the game
Our journey through the rules of blackjack has now reached its final destination. Hopefully our trip through these casino blackjack rules has been informative for you. You should now have a decent grasp on the rules for all the variations and a very clear picture on the rules for classic blackjack as well.
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Blackjack rules FAQ
❓ Where can I find a guide on the rules of blackjack?
Here at Betting.net, we have put together a guide on the rules of blackjack so that you can better understand this exciting online casino game. We have a blackjack rules chart that will make your life much simpler when trying to understand the game itself. So, be sure to check out our guide so that you can become a legend on the blackjack tables in no time. We can also help the brand new players to the world of online gambling with our
casino beginners guide
as well.
⚖️ Is online blackjack legal?
Many players will ask themselves about the legality of online blackjack. This is a fair concern and one that we can help put to rest for you with our guide on the rules of blackjack. Many countries and states have differing views on the legality of online blackjack gambling so check out our guide on the rules of blackjack to find out whether or not you can join in on the fun.
🎯 Is there more than 1 version of blackjack that I can play?
Our guide on casino blackjack rules will shed some light on whether or not you can sink your teeth into a couple of different game variations. You’ll find that our guide on the rules of blackjack is thorough and as such we won’t leave out any other exciting variations of the game that you might be able to play with your online casino. So, check out our guide which will make understanding blackjack rules simple enough.
👀 How do the rules differ from game to game?
Our guide on casino blackjack rules will give you a clear look at whether or not there are major rule differences between each blackjack variant. We don’t want our readers going into these games blind which is why we clearly detail the differences in blackjack game rules between these variants.
💯What is the best blackjack betting strategy?
There are plenty of ways for you to approach a game of blackjack, that is why our guide on the rules of blackjack sheds some light on what kind of strategies you can employ to beat the dealer. We try to equip our readers the most valuable knowledge to use in their pursuit of betting success.
