Blackjack is the most widely played table game in casinos.

Introduction

As the most popular casino table game, blackjack is featured at nearly all online casinos. Its low house edge and manageable variance make it ideal for clearing bonuses when permitted.

Rules and Play

Hands in blackjack are scored based on the total value of the cards. For instance, a hand with a 4, 5, and 6 totals 15. Face cards are each worth 10 points. Aces can count as 1 or 11, meaning an ace and a 7 can be either 8 or 18. The goal is to have the highest total not exceeding 21. A total over 21 is a bust, and the player loses their bet regardless of the dealer's hand. A two-card 21 is called a "blackjack"—the highest hand—and pays a 3:2 bonus, while other winning hands pay 1:1.

After placing a bet, both the player and dealer receive two cards, with one of the dealer's cards face-up. When the dealer shows an ace or 10-value card, they check for blackjack. If the dealer has an ace showing, players can buy insurance, which pays 2:1 if the dealer's hole card is a 10 or face card. The house edge on insurance ranges from 2% to 15%, making it unfavorable except in specific situations like ten-rich decks or card counting. See the insurance exceptions page for details. If the dealer has blackjack, the hand ends; otherwise, the player chooses from the following options:

Stand — Keep the current hand and end the turn.

Hit — Draw another card, continuing until reaching 21 or busting.

Double — Double the bet and draw one more card, ending the hand afterward. Doubling is only allowed on two-card hands, and hitting after doubling is not permitted.

Split — With two cards of equal value, split them into two separate hands, doubling the bet. Each hand receives an additional card. Splitting aces ends the hand after the second card; for other splits, players can hit, stand, or double on each hand, with re-splitting sometimes allowed.

Strategy

Despite its complex rules, optimal blackjack strategy is straightforward. There are no choices about which cards to take or whether to hit or stand. Simply bet on the banker or player, wait for the dealer to reveal the cards, and see if you win. Banker bets typically have a slightly lower house edge than player bets, so the best strategy is to consistently bet on the banker.