Blackjack Rules

Here are listed the basic blackjack rules, just in case you didn't ever played this classic card game.

Blackjack can be played with one to eight decks of cards. Cards of rank 2 through 10 are scored according to their face value. All face cards (Jack, Queen and King) are 10 points. Aces are like wild and can be worth either 1 or 11 points. The best hand in blackjack is an ace and any 10-point card and is called blackjack. A winning blackjack pays 3:2. If both player and dealer have a blackjack the bet is a push. A normal winning hand pays even money. The player wins if his hand has more points than the dealer, without going over 21. Thus, a 21-point hand is the highest and is why the game is sometimes called 21. If either the player or dealer go over 21 it is called "bust" and a busted hand automatically loses. If both the player and the dealer bust the player loses. If the player and the dealer have the same score, the bet is a push.

A round of blackjack begins with each player placing a bet. Then the dealer will give each player and himself two cards. Usually, player cards are dealt face up. One dealer card is dealt face up (the up card) and the other face down (the hole card). If the dealer has a ten or an ace as the up card it is possible he has a blackjack, and only a player with another blackjack won't lose. In some casinos the dealer will check for blackjack immediately, if one is possible, and will collect all losing bets immediately if he does have a blackjack.

In the event the dealer has an ace as the up card he will allow the players to insure their hands against a blackjack. The insurance bet in blackjack pays 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack. After all players have had a chance to accept or decline insurance the dealer will check the hole card.

After it has been established that the dealer does not have a blackjack the players in turn may play their hands. The following options are available.

• Stand: If the player is satisfied with his hand as-is he may stand . In land-based casinos if you wish to stand, wave your hand as if to wave the dealer away. In a single deck game, tuck your cards face down under your bet.

• Hit: If the player want to take another card he may continue to do so until he either stands or busts. In land-based casinos if you want hit, tap the table with your finger. In a single deck game, scrape your cards lightly against the felt.

• Double: If the player needs just one more card then he may double his bet and be dealt one more card. This option is only offered on the first two cards, and sometimes on the first two cards after splitting. In land-based casinos in order to double, place another wager next to your original wager of equal value. In single deck, place your cards face up by your bet.

• Split: If the player's first two cards are of equal point value he may split them into two hands. Now, each card is the first card of a new hand. The player must also make another wager, of equal value to the first wager, for the second hand. Splitting after splitting is allowed; but, re-splitting aces is almost ever an exception. The player may usually split up to 2 or 3 times if another splits opportunity happens. Doubling after splitting is usually allowed.  In land-based casinos, if you want to split put the additional wager next to the original wager. In single deck, place your cards face up by your bet.

• Surrender: Some land-based and online casinos offer the player the option to surrender on the first two cards. If the player feels like his going to lose, he may forfeit half the bet as well as his cards. This option is generally only offered after the dealer checks for blackjack, known as "late surrender."

After all players have played their hands,  the dealer will play his hand. The card dealer must always play by the house rules. Usually the rule is that the dealer must hit until he reaches 17 or more. Some casinos stipulate that if the dealer has a soft 17, an ace and any number of cards totaling 6, he must also hit. If the dealer busts, all players that did not bust automatically win.