Key takeaways
- The aim is to beat the dealer's hand without going over 21, not to get to 21 exactly.
- A natural blackjack pays 3:2 at a good table and 6:5 at a poor one. Avoid 6:5.
- Basic strategy lowers the house edge to about 0.5%, but cannot remove it.
- Never take insurance and do not follow hunches, because both raise the cost of play.
- Blackjack gets through your money fast if you stake high, so set a budget before you sit down.
The rules in one minute
Blackjack is played between you and the dealer. You each start with two cards. You see both of yours and one of the dealer’s, called the upcard. You can then add cards until you are happy with your total, or you go over 21 and lose.
Card values are simple:
- Number cards 2 to 10 count their face value.
- Jack, queen and king each count 10.
- An ace counts 11, or 1 if 11 would take you over 21.
A hand with an ace counted as 11 is called soft, and one without is hard. A soft 17 is an ace and a 6. Once you have finished, the dealer reveals the other card and must follow fixed rules, usually hitting on 16 or less and standing on 17 or more.
How a round plays out
- 1
Place your bet
Choose a stake within the table limits before any cards are dealt.
- 2
Receive two cards
You and the dealer get two cards each. One dealer card is face down.
- 3
Make your decision
Hit to take another card, stand to keep your hand, double down to double your bet for exactly one more card, or split a pair into two hands.
- 4
The dealer plays
The dealer turns over the hidden card and draws until reaching 17 or more.
- 5
Settle the bet
If you are closer to 21, you win even money. A natural blackjack pays 3:2. A tie, called a push, returns your stake.
Your options in detail
Hit takes one more card. You can hit as many times as you like until you bust.
Stand ends your turn and keeps your total.
Double down doubles your bet, deals one more card and ends your turn. It is strongest on totals of 9, 10 and 11 when the dealer shows a weak card.
Split is available when your first two cards have the same value. You place a second bet equal to the first and play two separate hands.
Surrender, offered at some tables, gives up your hand for half your bet back.
Worked example: doubling down
Worked example: splitting
Basic strategy summary
Basic strategy tells you the best play for each hand against each dealer upcard. The table is a simplified version for a game with four to eight decks, where the dealer stands on soft 17 and doubling after a split is allowed. Check the strategy chart for your exact rules.
| Your hand | Dealer shows 2 to 6 | Dealer shows 7 to ace |
|---|---|---|
| Hard 8 or less | Hit | Hit |
| Hard 9 | Double on 3 to 6, otherwise hit | Hit |
| Hard 10 | Double | Double on 7 to 9, otherwise hit |
| Hard 11 | Double | Double on 7 to 10, hit on ace |
| Hard 12 | Stand on 4 to 6, hit on 2 and 3 | Hit |
| Hard 13 to 16 | Stand | Hit |
| Hard 17 or more | Stand | Stand |
| Soft 17 or less (ace plus 6 or less) | Hit, or double on 4 to 6 | Hit |
| Soft 18 (ace plus 7) | Double on 3 to 6, otherwise stand | Stand on 7 and 8, hit on 9, 10 and ace |
| Soft 19 or more | Stand | Stand |
| Pair of aces or 8s | Split | Split |
| Pair of 10s or 5s | Never split | Never split |
A few memory aids make the chart easier. Always split aces and 8s. Never split 10s or 5s. Stand on a hard 12 to 16 when the dealer shows 6 or lower, because the dealer is likely to bust. A dealer showing 6 busts about 42% of the time, while a dealer showing 10 busts about 21%.
Payouts and why 3:2 matters
The most important rule to check before you sit down is how much a natural blackjack pays. At most tables it is 3:2. Some tables use 6:5, which looks similar and is much worse.
| Bet | 3:2 payout | 6:5 payout |
|---|---|---|
| £10 | £15 | £12 |
| £25 | £37.50 | £30 |
| £100 | £150 | £120 |
A natural blackjack arrives roughly 4.7% of the time. The lower payout adds about 1.4 percentage points to the house edge, which turns a game costing 0.5% into one costing about 1.9%.
Worked example: the cost of 6:5
Rules that change the house edge
Not all blackjack tables are equal. Look for these before you play:
- Blackjack pays 3:2, not 6:5.
- The dealer stands on soft 17, which is better for you than hitting on soft 17.
- Doubling after a split is allowed.
- Late surrender is offered.
- Fewer decks, where the rule set is otherwise equal.
The figure of about 0.5% assumes good rules and perfect basic strategy. If you guess your decisions, the edge can rise to 2% or more, which makes learning the chart worth the effort.
Online blackjack and bonuses
Online RNG blackjack shuffles after each hand, so card counting does not work. Live dealer blackjack is streamed from a studio and uses real cards, but with continuous shuffling or frequent reshuffles in most cases. Casino bonuses usually count only 5% to 10% of your blackjack bets towards wagering, so a bonus is a poor fit for this game. Our guide to how casino bonuses work shows how to compare them. For the edge numbers behind every game, see RTP and house edge explained.
To play for real money, pick a licensed operator from our UK, US or Canadian casino lists.
Frequently asked questions
What is the goal of blackjack?
To finish with a hand worth more than the dealer's without going over 21. If you go over 21 you bust and lose, whatever the dealer does.
What does a blackjack pay?
A natural blackjack, an ace plus a 10-value card, normally pays 3:2. A £10 bet wins £15. Some tables pay only 6:5, which would pay £12 and raises the house edge.
What is basic strategy?
It is a set of mathematically worked-out decisions for every hand against every dealer upcard. Following it reduces the house edge to roughly 0.5% under good rules.
Should I take insurance?
Generally no. Insurance is a side bet that the dealer has blackjack, and it carries a house edge of around 7% to 8%, far above the main game.
Can I count cards at online blackjack?
Not in a useful way. Online RNG games reshuffle every hand, and live dealer games often use continuous shuffling or reshuffle early, so counting gives no advantage.
Is online blackjack available in the UK, US and Canada?
Yes at licensed casinos in the UK and Canada. In the US, online casino play is legal in only a handful of states, so check your state before you play.
About the author
Daniel WardFounder and Editor
Daniel Ward founded BettingSeeker and is responsible for everything published on it. He has spent his career in SEO and content for online betting and casino comparison sites, and today leads SEO for a portfolio of gambling comparison sites across several countries.
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