The Casinos.com Ultimate Guide to Blackjack

Hit or stand. Stand or split. Double down or play it safe. It’s your cards and your call at the blackjack table. Quick thinking, dynamic gameplay, and player-friendly odds made the card game a stone-cold casino classic. Innovations and new variants have helped it stay as relevant as ever. 

My goal here is to introduce you to the game, share my love of it, explore some strategy, and highlight the best ways to play—online or in person.

Okay, it’s time to talk shop. I’ll get started by breaking down the rules of the game into bite-sized chunks that make it easier to understand the game as a whole. Don’t worry about how much gambling experience or playing cards know-how you’ve got… as I referenced above, one of the best parts of blackjack is that it’s easy to learn. 

The Objective of the Game

In every hand, the goal is to beat the dealer without going over 21. 

Card Values and Hand Totals

Deuces through 10s are worth their face value, while face cards are always worth 10, regardless of rank. Aces can be worth 1 or 11, depending on what benefits a hand the most. This is where the idea of a “soft” hand comes in, as any two-card combo that includes an Ace can take on two different values. For instance, an A-6 pair gives a player a soft 17, meaning the hand can also be worth 7, and cannot bust out by taking an additional card.  No soft hand can bust when a player hits, while “hard” hands don’t offer the same reprieve. 

Table Layout and Player Positions

Online or in-person, the layout of every blackjack table I’ve played at has been roughly the same. The blackjack dealer sits in the centre of the table, opposite the players. Players are arranged in a semicircle around the dealer, with individual betting spots in front of each seat. Sometimes, you’ll find designated spots for cards, split hands, and side bets. 

Last call for bets! This round’s about to start. Here’s a run-through of a typical hand of blackjack. 

Step-by-Step: From Bet to Resolution

I’ll go into more detail below, but at a high level, here’s how a hand goes down. A typical hand begins with players placing bets. Cards are dealt. Players act. Then the dealer plays using house rules. Finally, bets are resolved.

Placing Your Bet(s)

Everything starts with players placing their bets, usually at a designated spot in front of them. In person, the dealer will ask for final bets. Online, players will have a button to confirm they’re finished betting. You can also play multi-hand blackjack by betting on more than one spot.

Initial Deal

After betting is closed (often indicated by a flat, outward hand movement over the table by the dealer), the deal begins. Starting with the player immediately on the dealer’s left, each player gets two cards, with the dealer getting cards last. Each player will get two cards face up, while only the dealer’s second card will be face up. 

Two quick notes: In house games and single- or two-deck games at small casinos, I’ve seen players get cards face down, to minimize the advantage of potential card counting. Also, in European blackjack, the dealer initially only gets a single face-up card, getting their second card only when it’s time to play out their hand. 

After the deal, you’ve got options. Unless you get a natural blackjack (any two-card combo worth 21…should you be so lucky), you can do the following. (I’m including the hand motions for all you in-person casino goers out there.)

After each player has reached 21, stayed on their hand, or busted out, the dealer will complete their hand according to a pre-established set of rules. And although I’ve run into a few different house rules in my time, they are all generally pretty similar. 

It may not be the answer to life, the universe, and everything, but 17 is a key number for any blackjack player. It is the second-most important number after 21.

I’ve been to plenty of casinos (digital and physical) where the dealer has to stand on ANY 17, soft or otherwise. Others will have the dealer hit on a soft 17, which does indeed give the house a bit more of an edge. 

No matter where you’re playing, the dealer will always have to hit on any 16 or less, including soft hands. (See above if you need a refresher on what soft hands are.)

After every player has made their choices (for better or worse) and the dealer has played out their hand according to house rules, it’s time to settle everyone’s hands. 

NOTE: If you’ve already busted out during your turn, you won’t have anything to do at this point. You may sigh and reach for another stack of chips…. Remember, the dealer can bust out, too. That guarantees wins for anyone with an active hand.

If neither you nor the dealer goes bust, though, here’s how things will go down. If you have a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer, congratulations! You win your bet, and any additional bet made to double down. If the dealer is closer to 21 than you, you lose your bet. 

What Happens in a Tie (Push)

You may also end up with the exact same total as the dealer, resulting in a “push.” You tie the house and get your bet back in full. There’s no conclusive evidence, but I’d be willing to bet this terminology comes from the dealer literally pushing your bet back to you. (Any takers?)

Delve into advanced options and less common outcomes that affect gameplay.

Now that I’ve given you an idea of what to look for on a typical hand, it’s time to up the ante (literally, if you’re doubling down) and talk about special situations and a little bit of advanced strategy. Blackjack has some interesting rules that let you raise your bet, play additional hands, or even purchase an impromptu insurance policy on your bet…provided you’ve got the right cards. 

These special hands are actually where a lot of your tougher decisions will need to be made. Okay, enough said. Let’s shuffle up and deal with some not-so-average deals. 

The rules of the game allow you to double your bet after you get your first two cards, at which point you’ll get a single additional card and be required to stand. But you know how the old saying goes…just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. I’ll get into the exact strategy for doubling down a little later on, but the goal is obviously to get more money out there when you have an edge. If the dealer is weak and you’re strong, that’s when to press the advantage and double your bet. 

Note that in some variants of European blackjack, you can only double down with a hand value of 9, 10, or 11…which frankly doesn’t make a huge difference, since that covers most of the hands you’d be doubling anyhow. 

Splitting Pairs and Resplitting Rules

Unlike doubling down, you can only split your hand if you’re dealt two cards of equal value. If you do, you match your original bet and play two separate hands, each starting with one of your two original cards. 

You play each hand independently, just like you would any standard hand. More often than not, casinos will let you double down a split hand or even split again, up to a total of four hands…and four separate bets. Fun, but maybe not for the faint of heart.

Blackjack on a Split Hand

I don’t want you to be caught unawares, so I’m noting here that the vast majority of casinos will NOT pay out a blackjack after splitting at the normal 3:2 payout. Since this isn’t considered a “natural” blackjack, you’ll only win even money on that hand. There are exceptions, though, sometimes tied to special events with player-friendly rule variants.  

Late and Early Surrender Explained

Most blackjack games offer a surrender option. This allows you to forfeit your hand, in exchange for getting half of your original bet back. 

• Early surrender refers to having the option to surrender before the dealer checks a face-up Ace for blackjack. 
• Late surrender allows you the option to surrender only after the dealer checks for blackjack, giving the house a little extra edge. 

Insurance Bets: Risk vs. Reward

Staring down the barrel of an Ace showing for the dealer? Nope, that is not a particularly comfortable place to be. But if you do find yourself up against an Ace, you’ll have the option to place an insurance bet that the dealer does indeed have a hole card worth 10. 

The bet is fixed at half the value of your original bet, and pays at 2:1. So if the dealer does have blackjack, you’ll net out even on the hand. I strongly advise against ever taking the insurance bet, as the house edge is through the roof. It’s tempting to back down when you’re at such a disadvantage, but it’s not a smart play, no matter what cards you’re holding. 

Ah, side bets. So tempting for so many people (this author included), but are they worth the trouble, not to mention the likely hit to your ROI? Let’s take a closer look at optional wagers you’ll find in blackjack – and its variants. 

What Are Side Bets?

With the exception of insurance, side bets are optional wagers you can place that do NOT directly depend on whether you win, lose, or push your hand according to the standard rules of blackjack. In other words, I’ve won huge side bets and busted out with 26…and I’ve gotten several blackjacks playing multi-handed and lost every side bet I put on the table. 

Popular Side Bets Explained

There is a huge variety of side bets available to you, but most of the ones I’ve seen or played have involved matching cards or forming poker-style hands using different combinations of cards on the table. Even certain blackjack variants have their own highly popular side bets, like Match the Dealer in Spanish 21. I’ve probably come across a few dozen different options in my travels…but certain ones come up again and again. Here’s a deeper dive on the bonus bets you’re most likely to find.

Perfect Pairs

The Perfect Pairs bet is aptly named, and pretty much what it says on the tin. If you get dealt a pair as your starting hand, you cash your bet. But the payout depends on how closely your cards match, with two of the exact same card (a perfect pair) netting you the biggest win. The most common pay table is as follows:

• Mixed Pair – Pays 5:1 Two cards of the same rank, but in suits of different colors
• Matching Color Pair – Pays 12:1 Two cards of the same rank and color (spades and clubs, diamonds and hearts) 
• Perfect Pair – Pays 25:1 Two identical cards, matching rank and suit 

Note: This side bet is only available for games using multiple decks, usually six or eight at a minimum.

21+3

This side bet involves forming a three-card poker hand using the two cards you’re dealt and the dealer’s upcard. Of course, there are fewer possible hands with only three cards in play, but the payout structure is pretty much what you’d expect, with one dream scenario you most certainly won’t ever see at a poker table.

• Flush – Pays 5:1 Three cards of the same suit
• Straight – Pays 10:1 A mini-straight, like you’d see in Three Card Poker or Rummy (2-3-4 or J-Q-K, for example)
• Three of a Kind – Pays 30:1 Any three cards with matching ranks
• Straight Flush – Pays 40:1 A three-card straight in the same suit
• Suited Triple – Pays 100:1 Three of the exact same cards, both suit and rank (AH-AH-AH, for example)

Insurance

As I went over a bit earlier, insurance bets are a whole different kettle of fish from other side bets, which have little to nothing to do with whether you win or lose your main bet. Unlike 21 +3 or Perfect Pairs, you can only place an insurance bet AFTER the initial deal, and only if the dealer’s upcard is an Ace. 

Insurance bets, available only for half the stake of your original bet, pay at 2:1 if the dealer’s hole card is worth 10, completing a natural blackjack. The net result is that you break even if the dealer does have blackjack, while you lose the insurance bet and the round continues if they don’t.

House Edge and Payouts for Side Bets

Long story short, it’s mathematically a bad idea to play side bets. The house edge hovers between five to 10 percent for most (but not all) side bets, and more often than not, they’re going to drain your bankroll much faster than if you just played the main bet. If you’re looking to stretch your gaming dollar and time at the table, they’re not a smart play, no two ways about it. 

That said, there’s a reason side bets are still so popular, and it's absolutely the reason I play them from time to time…you can win big, and they make for some very exciting, edge-of-your-seat moments. Hitting the max payout for a side bet will pay you far more than many, many hands of standard blackjack ever could. And if you’re a responsible, recreational gambler, they can add a fun layer to the proceedings. 

Hopefully, I’ve laid out everything above in a clear, easy-to-understand way, but let’s face facts – there’s a lot of lingo, slang, and other game-specific language in blackjack. The good news is that after a short time playing, it becomes second nature. The better news is that I’ve laid out all the key terms and expressions you should know right here. Whether this is an intro or a refresher for you, I hope it helps you take a seat at the table feeling a little better prepared.

Key Terms You Should Know

Things move fast in blackjack, and understanding how to quickly communicate what you want to do is important, both in terms of etiquette and simply to avoid mistakes. In particular, I’m going to focus here on navigating standard hands and understanding what’s happening as bets are settled. We’ll get started by going over the items you’ll find at a physical blackjack table, then move into the terminology you’ll need to know to play either in person or online.

Okay, so what are the tools of the trade for a dealer? Tables can all be set up a little bit differently, but here’s a quick run-through of what you can (almost) always expect.

Now, it’s time to talk the talk. (And no, I don’t mean bragging about how lucky you are. More on that in the “Etiquette” section a little later on.) The bottom line is that you don’t want to be dealt a card when you’re satisfied with your hand. You don’t want to get stuck on 12 when the dealer is showing a 10. And you want to understand what’s happening when the dealer tells you that you’ve busted out or pushed a hand. Here are the key gameplay terms you’ll want to add to your mental dictionary.

Natural Blackjack

Every blackjack is the same, right? Well, not quite. A blackjack is considered “natural” only when any player (or the dealer, if lady luck has left the building) gets a total of 21 on their initial two cards. Of course, this requires getting both an Ace and a 10-value card (face card or 10). If the dealer has anything besides a blackjack, your hand will usually pay out at 3:2. If the dealer does have blackjack, that’ll be a push. 

So is there a non-natural blackjack? Yes, indeed. If you split Aces and get blackjack with either, this is NOT a natural blackjack, and will not pay out at plus odds. You’ll only get even money, assuming you can steer clear of a dealer 21. 

Soft vs. Hard Hands

Dealers will typically announce your hand value for you, to make absolutely sure there isn’t any confusion. Since Aces can be worth either 1 or 11, depending on what helps your hand, they’ll account for this by stating a hand value is “soft” if the Ace can be used as either. (In online casinos, this is usually represented by a slash, i.e. 6/16 or 7/17.)

For instance, with A-5, you have a soft 16. If you hit a card that pushes you over 21 with the Ace valued at 11, it’ll automatically be counted as 1, keeping you from busting out. When an Ace must be valued at 1, your hand is considered hard. Continuing with our current example, a hand of A-5-10 is a hard 16. You cannot bust out with a soft hand, while you could be just one card from going over 21 if your hand is hard. 

If you’ve made it this far, I’m hoping you’ve got a good grasp of the origins, lingo, gameplay, and options you’ve got as a blackjack player. But as they say, some games are easy to learn and difficult to master…and blackjack definitely falls into this category.

Knowing basic strategy will take you a long way, getting you pretty close to all the right decisions. However, playing a fully optimized strategy will require a lot of memorization, or having a cheat sheet at the table, which many casinos discourage. That said, if you’re playing on your phone or computer, I’d absolutely recommend having a detailed decision chart at the ready.

What is Basic Strategy?

A group of statisticians first published “The Optimum Strategy in Blackjack” in 1956, using a lot of complex math and statistics that are beyond the scope of this humble guide (and its humble author). But suffice it to say, the strategy they came up with has been proven multiple times over and served as the decision-making foundation for fresh-faced recreational gamblers all the way up to seasoned pros. 

You never want to be stuck in a situation where you’re not sure what to do next, especially with a table waiting on you or a timer on your screen tick, tick, ticking down. The good news is that there IS a mathematically proven best play for EVERY single situation you can run into. Derived from basic strategy, let’s get into the rules of thumb for:

• When to hit
• When to stand
• When to double
• When to split
• When to surrender 

After you see your cards and the dealer’s upcard, you’re usually going to be deciding whether to hit or stand. In general, you should play conservatively when the dealer is weak, with a card valued 2-6. You should play more aggressively when the dealer is strong, showing a 7-A.

Simple rules for hitting or standing:

• Hit on hard totals of 11 or lower… you can’t go bust, after all!
• Hit on hard totals of 12-16 if the dealer is showing a 7 or higher.
• Stand on hard totals of 17 or higher, against any dealer hand. 
• Stand on hard totals of 13-16, if the dealer’s upcard is 2-6.
• Hit on a hard total of 12 if the dealer’s upcard is a 2 or 3, but stand if the dealer has 4-6.
• Hit on all soft totals of 17 or less, as you’ve got multiple avenues to improve.
• Stand on all soft totals of 19 or higher.
• Hit on a soft 18 only if the dealer’s upcard is a 9, 10, or Ace. Against 8 or lower, stand.

When to Double Down

When you double down, you double your bet and automatically stand after receiving your next card from the dealer. You obviously want to get more money out there when you have a significant advantage, so doubling strategy is all about recognizing positions of strength.

Simple rules for when to double down, with hard totals:

• With a total of 9, if the dealer is showing 2-6
• With a total of 10, unless the dealer has 10-11
• With a total of 11, unless the dealer has an Ace

*Never double down with a hand value of 12 or more…you’re one card from busting out!

Simple rules for when to double down, with soft totals:

• With a soft 13 or 14, against a dealer showing a 5 or 6
• With a soft 14 or 15, against a dealer showing 4-6 
• With a soft 17 or 18, against a dealer showing 3-6

Note: In most versions of blackjack, you can double down with any starting hand. Rarely, you will find European blackjack games that only allow you to double with a total of 9-11.

When to Split

When you’re dealt two cards of the same value (including any combination of face cards and 10s), you have the option to split them into two separate hands. Each of these two hands will start with one of your original cards. Interestingly, splitting is your best play from positions of both strength (two Aces) and weakness (two 8s, totaling 16). 

Simple rules for when to split your hand:

• With Aces or 8s, no matter what the dealer shows
• With 2s and 3s against a dealer showing 4-7; also split against a 2 or 3, IF you can double after splitting
• With 4s against a dealer showing 5 or 6, only IF you can double after splitting
• With 6s against a dealer showing 3-6; also split against a 2, IF you can double after splitting
• With 7s against a dealer showing 2-7
• With 9s, except standing when the dealer is showing a 7, 10, or Ace

When to Surrender

Most American and (very few European) blackjack games will give players the option to surrender their hand to get half of their original bet back. As tough a pill as it is to swallow, there are clear instances where it’s better to tuck tail and live to play the next hand. The intricacies of early vs. late surrender are very complex and lengthy, but these two simple rules will have you at close to optimal play.

Hands to surrender:

• Surrender a 15 against a dealer showing 10
• Surrender a 16 against a dealer showing 9, 10, or Ace

As I’ve alluded to, there are many blackjack variants, play options, and even promotions that can change optimal play. Everything I’ve outlined here will cover you in the vast majority of games, but you should be aware of rule differences…and be prepared to tweak your strategy accordingly. 

Of course, if you play a more drastic variation like Spanish 21, where every 10 is removed from the deck, you’ll want to look up specific strategies. And even if you encounter slight variations like no doubling after splitting or doubling at any point in a hand, you can usually find specific articles, posts, or even strategy charts that account for the differences. Casinos will sometimes have special “triple-down” days, and some very smart people have created adjusted strategies for them.

Long story short, you’ll never go too far off course using the guardrails in the sections above, but you may not be giving yourself the best chance at winning. 

Below, you’ll find a blackjack strategy chart, a longtime staple of Vegas and Atlantic City shops. There’s a reason for its longevity – it’s a quick and scannable way to zero in on the optimal play for any starting hand against any dealer upcard. 

Note: Some casinos (and dealers) will have no problem with you having a printout or wallet card at the table, but this is certainly not universal. (In my early days of gambling, I was asked to leave a table for referring to a cheat sheet.) Of course, if you’re playing on your phone or computer, you can have an entire monitor or tabletop dedicated to a play chart. 

Card Counting and Advantage Play

“Advantage play” is any technique or method that players can use to lower or eliminate the house edge. In some very high-profile cases, players were even able to gain a significant edge themselves. (The book “Bringing Down the House” comes to mind…)

Though this isn’t what you’d typically think of as cheating, casinos do not take kindly to it, often openly prohibiting the behavior and banning players suspected ot it. Note that any technique that requires counting or playing deep into a shoe of cards will not be possible online, as several virtual decks will be shuffled after each and every hand. 

What is Card Counting?

The grandaddy of all advantage play methods, card counting takes a cue from games like Hearts, Spades, or Gin Rummy, where remembering every card played provides a big edge. Card counting in blackjack hinges on the fact (not opinion) that a shoe with many face cards and 10s will benefit the player. On the other hand, a shoe containing a lot of low cards (2-6) will benefit the house. 

So why do those types of decks statistically play out that way? Players counting the deck can vary their bet size. They’ll bet big when they have the edge and play small wagers when they don’t.

As it stands today, however, card counting is becoming a thing of the past. Continuous shuffling machines, larger shoes, more frequent shuffling, and freshly shuffled decks for every online hand have severely limited card counting opportunities. Beyond that, it’s a very tough skill to master, even under ideal conditions! When the cards are flying, it’s very difficult to track and calculate without drawing attention. 

High-Low and Other Counting Systems

The High-Low (also written Hi-Lo) system has always been the most common counting system, depending only on a handful of easy-to-remember rules and numbers. The count goes up by one whenever a 2-6 comes out, stays the same for 7-9, and decreases by one for a 10, face card, or Ace. The higher the count, the bigger your bet should be. 

As counting systems go (and as difficult as it is to pull off), High-Low is actually pretty simple. There are many more systems, some of which track cards at a far more granular level, assigning values of 0.5, 1, 1.5, -0.5, and -1 to different cards. Some players will also keep a separate count for specific cards, often in an attempt to get a leg up with certain side bets.

Tips for Staying Under the Radar

The main key to keeping a low profile while counting cards is to avoid any outward signs of the mental gymnastics you’re likely going through. Kind of like the duck on the pond, furiously paddling underneath, while seeming calm and cool atop the water. You want to appear confident and casual, and that means no mumbling to yourself, closing your eyes in thought, or being slow to respond to the action on the table. 

There are other advantage play techniques, but they start to veer into more questionable effectiveness and even dubious legality. 

Shuffle tracking and Ace sequencing both involve trying to identify and track key cards (namely Aces) as they go through standard casino shuffles. The fewer steps and the more basic the shuffle, the better for tracking purposes. In my opinion, both of these methods are almost unusable with today’s dealer procedure, shuffling machines, and volume of cards.

Hole carding involves a player (or an accomplice nearby) attempting to glimpse the down card of the dealer. This is incredibly risky, hard to do, and if you’re caught, could be a quick ticket to a lifetime ban and forfeiture of any winnings. Edge sorting (popularized in some high-profile court cases involving poker pro Phil Ivey) is even more challenging to pull off. Players look for slight differences in card backs on key cards, then attempt to track those cards, even manipulating the dealer into reorienting or repositioning certain cards to get a better look. Casinos have refused to pay out winnings obtained via this method, a decision backed up by official court rulings.

Betting systems are structured betting strategies that vary bet amounts to try to reduce or even overcome the house edge. So let’s deal with the question that’s the elephant in this proverbial room. Is there a system that can truly give you a mathematical advantage? No, there isn’t. However, betting systems can provide opportunities for short-term gain, assist in managing your bankroll, and help you avoid impulsive decisions. 

Should You Use a Betting System?

That’s a bit of a tricky question, and really depends on what kind of player you are. Betting systems certainly give you a structured plan, which can help you avoid haphazard bet sizing and losing all your chips on a single bad beat. And when they’re working, they can keep your stack steadily moving upwards. These are noteworthy positives for recreational players who tend to play impulsively. On the other hand, when some betting systems fail just once, it’s often enough to use up your entire bankroll. Others require long winning streaks to profit. It’s up to you to weigh both sides of the equation when you’re deciding to use a system or not. 

Overview of Popular Systems:

Like ‘em, hate ‘em, or never heard of ‘em, there are several betting systems players use, based on positive regression or negative regression. 

• Positive regression systems increase bets with wins, limiting losses to your original bet, but depending on winning streaks to significantly profit. These are less risky than:
• Negative regression systems increase bets after losses, with the idea that even spread-out wins can overcome even multiple consecutive losses. As you can imagine, losses can escalate quickly with this type of strategy. 

With that in mind, here are some of the more popular betting systems out there, along with any specific elements to keep in mind when applying them to blackjack. 

Whew, that’s a lot of math! So, are betting progressions worthwhile? In the end, they all have potential and they all have risks. 

I recommend extreme caution when using negative regression systems, and would suggest you don’t even consider them without a large bankroll and an appetite for risk. 

Positive and progressive regression systems mitigate some risk, while also diminishing some of the opportunity for profit. You might say they raise the floor, but lower the ceiling. Beginners would do well to try these systems first, in which you can play with “house money” that you’ve just accumulated, and never see bet sizes spiral out of control. 

As the online gambling industry continues to grow, it’s important to know that you’ve got different options. You can go toe-to-toe with an RNG-based computer program that has a graphical overlay. You can try your hand at live-streamed games that use real-time video feeds. Or you can visit a casino in person and sidle up to an open seat at the table.

RNG vs. Live Dealer Blackjack

With two very different digital options, let’s take a look at how the main game types at online blackjack casinos stack up.

RNG games are a good fit for:
- Fast-paced play
- People who like to crunch the numbers and use charts
- Gambling without distractions or socializing

The real-dealer games that you'd find at Live Blackjack casinos are a good choice for:
- Recreating a casino atmosphere
- Socializing with other players and even the dealer
- People who enjoy real-time play, but can’t easily go to casinos

Choosing a Safe Blackjack Game

Whether you want to play online or in person, there are some things you should look for to make sure you find a safe place to play. 

First and foremost, is the casino licensed and regulated? Back rooms and offshore operations don’t offer you any of the protections (for your money or your privacy) that you get when a casino is licensed by a state gaming commission. 

Next, go online and read reviews. See what people are saying about the friendliness of the dealers, how helpful player services are, what the table limits are, and more. You can get a very good sense of the overall or blackjack-specific experience at a casino by seeking out thoughtful, well-written reviews.  Don't forget to take online bonuses for blackjack into account. They are often different to those available for online slots.

Key Differences in Payouts and Rules

While many versions of blackjack are available for both online and at-the-table players, there are a few differences that are at least somewhat consistent. Generally, online (RNG) games will tweak the rules to have a slightly higher house edge. This includes not allowing doubles or resplits on split hands, diminished surrender options, or worst of all, 6:5 blackjack payouts. Beyond that, online games also include technical elements like timers and confirmation dialogs.

With a game that’s been so popular for so long, you’re bound to get variations in gameplay, payouts, rules, and even the decks used. Here’s a guide to some of the most widely played versions, both online and in person. Some of these variants have developed a dedicated, passionate player base.  

American vs. European Blackjack

These two continental varieties are very similar, but there is a notable difference in how the dealer’s cards are dealt…

In American blackjack, the dealer receives both their cards as part of the initial deal. 

First, a card face down, followed by a card face up. If the upcard is an Ace, face card, or 10, they’ll offer insurance (with an Ace), check for blackjack, then turn the action over to the players. 

In European blackjack, the dealer gets only a single upcard during the initial deal.

Their second card won’t be dealt until every player at the table is finished with their turns. Most European blackjack games don’t offer surrender, and without a hole card, there’s obviously no check for blackjack at the start of a hand. These gameplay differences do cause some changes in optimal play, so be sure to look for a specific European strategy chart before you give it a go.  

Spanish 21 is a player-friendly variant that uses a 48-card deck, from which all 10s have been removed. Depending on some variable rules, the house edge can be as low as 0.4%.

Key Differences/Rules:

• Modified deck that doesn’t include 10s
• You can double down at ANY point in your turn
• You can surrender at ANY point in your turn
• If you and the dealer both have 21, you always win
• Bonus payouts for getting 21 with five or more cards
• Bonus payouts for hands like 6-7-8 or 7-7-7

Blackjack Switch

Blackjack Switch is a multihanded game where players can trade cards between their two hands. If this seems to be good to be true, well, it is. The casino offsets this enormous advantage with some significant rule changes. However, with perfect play, you can bring the house edge all the way down to 0.17%! 

Key Differences/Rules:

• If the dealer gets 22, ALL active non-blackjack hands push 
• Natural blackjack will still be a player's win
• Blackjacks pay even money
• “Switched” blackjacks beat dealer blackjacks

Double Exposure

All the cards are on the table with Double Exposure, a blackjack variant where BOTH of the dealer’s cards are face up. While this on its own would swing the odds heavily towards the player, the main concession is that all non-blackjack ties lose. 

Key Differences/Rules:

• Both dealer cards are face up
• The dealer wins all ties, except pushes on blackjack
• Blackjacks pay even money
• Doubling is restricted to totals of 9,10, or 11
• There is no surrender or insurance
• Players have to hit until they win or bust 
• As an example, you’d have to hit a hard 20 against a dealer 20!

Other Interesting Variants

Though the games we just covered are popular, I’m just scratching the surface of what’s out there. There are dozens and dozens of other variants (if not more), all with their own unique hook. 

Fun 21 has no queens in the deck, but plays similarly to Spanish 21. Free Bet 21 lets players potentially double their winnings on double downs and splits, without risking more chips…in exchange for dealer 22s pushing all live hands. Personally, I loved the limited-time Triple Down 21, which the Connecticut casinos would sometimes host as a promotional vehicle! 

If you’ve ever thought you’d like to tweak the rules in a specific way, you can probably find a version of the game that goes in that direction. They can be fun, challenging, and a refreshing twist on the most classic of classic games. 

Playing table games in a live casino setting means that you’ll be interacting with other players and a dealer. For most of you, being respectful and reasonably polite in that kind of environment should be mostly a matter of common sense. But there are rules (some unwritten) that specifically apply to blackjack, and some are less intuitive than others. 

Joining a Table: Do’s and Don’ts

With many casino card games, you can pull right up to a table anytime, take a seat, and start playing. But blackjack is a bit different, for a couple of reasons, and you should ask both the dealer and other players if you can enter a game mid-shoe. 

First, there’s the idea of advantage play, where players are trying to minimize distractions and control table conditions. Not to mention that casinos don’t want a counter to observe a game until the time is right to chip in. Next, there’s the idea of politeness and the social dynamics of the table. A lot of players will want to see a shoe out before a new player enters the fray, and if you want a fun and engaging experience, it’s a good idea to respect those wishes. 

Handling Chips and Hand Signals

First, let’s cover how to handle your chips, both to avoid forfeiting any of them and to make sure the game moves smoothly for everyone seated at the table. 

• Handle your chips only when placing your bets, doubling, or when your bet is evaluated and settled by the dealer 
• To double down, announce your choice and place an equal bet next to your original bet
• Place your bets in the designated betting area, and any side bet areas
• Keep your stack directly in front of you to give other players room

Now, let’s review the appropriate motions to communicate with the dealer:

• Hit:  Point at the table with your index finger
• Stand:  Keep your hand flat and make a quick sideways movement
• Double Down: Put a second, equal bet next to your original bet
• Split:  Split your fingers into a “V” shape and point at the table
• Surrender: Draw a line under your cards with your finger, going left to right

* For doubling, splitting, and surrendering, you should also announce what you’re doing

Respecting Other Players and the Dealer

Encourage good manners and fair play at the table.

No matter what decisions other players make, it’s important to respect their decisions and keep any advice to yourself. Unlike games like Pai Gow Poker or Let It Ride, it’s true that in blackjack, other players’ choices can directly impact the cards you get. But that doesn’t give you the right to berate them or even correct their play. They paid for their cards, and they can hit on a hard 17 if that’s what they want to do. And if a true novice is struggling to play, the dealer will step in and offer what guidance they can. The casino doesn’t take kindly to players who promote optimal play, after all. 

Be attentive to the dealer, keep the game moving, and try to take a reasonable amount of time to make decisions. And no matter what, don’t blame the dealer or other players for bad luck. It’s truly cringeworthy, to the point I’ve left tables and seen players be asked to leave. The dealer is just doing their job, and everyone else is trying to make money and have fun.

In blackjack tournaments, players have multiple opponents – the dealer and all the other players in the tournament. These increasingly popular events are a competition to see who can do the best against the house. 

How They Work

If you’ve ever played in or watched a poker tournament, you’ll have a good idea of how blackjack tournaments work. The order of operations goes like this:

• Each player starts with a set number of chips
• Players play for a fixed number of hands or amount of time
• After a tournament round, the players with the most chips move on

Differences from Regular Blackjack

The tournament format does require some changes to betting and gameplay rules:

• Claiming a Seat: As opposed to a typical casino floor table, you cannot simply walk up and take a seat in a blackjack tournament. You’ll need to get an invite from the casino or a concierge for private events, or register and pay the entry fee for a public tournament.
• Betting Rotation: To minimize the strategic advantage of betting after other players, first action rotates around the table, similar to the way the dealer button works in poker.
• Betting Requirements: Another measure to ensure fair play is having betting minimums and maximums for each round. Players can’t just sit back while others lose their chips, nor can they advance in the event by betting the majority of their chips on very few hands. 

Basic Tournament Strategy Tips

Since your goal anytime you play blackjack is to profit, tournament strategy isn’t that different. But it is very situational, as you’ll need to vary your bet size and even stray from smart plays to stay alive in an event. 

Early Tournament Strategy:

- Play it safe with conservative bet sizing
- Rely on your knowledge of optimal play and stick to the strategy charts
- Start making a mental catalog of how other players are doing

Mid-Tournament Strategy:

- If you’re behind the leaders, try to gain ground by varying bet size – i.e. go big when they play the minimum, play the minimum when they make a big bet
              - If you’ve identified any betting patterns, you can use this to your advantage
- On the other hand, mirror your opponents’ bet sizes if you’re in the lead

Late Tournament Strategy:

- Think strategically about making unconventional plays

• With a strong position, you may play extra conservatively, particularly in terms of doubling or splitting
• When trailing, you may need to loosen your requirements for doubling or splitting - i.e. you may want to double with 8 against a dealer’s 6

Tip: On the last few hands, do whatever it takes to give yourself a chance – if you HAVE to win a hand and that means hitting with a hard 19 against a 20, you’ve got to grit your teeth and do it!

Naturally, with such a widely played, centuries-old game, a lot of misinformation and bogus beliefs have crept into popular beliefs about blackjack. I’m putting on my myth-busting hat to tell you what’s reality and what you can just go ahead and flush. 

Common Blackjack Myths Debunked

Myth: You’ve got to be a math expert to have a chance at winning.
Truth: Take it from me, a mathematically challenged writer, that you don’t even need to be average at math to be successful. If you can count to 21 and do basic addition, you’ve got the tools you need to master basic strategy and be comfortable during gameplay. 

Myth: You should make decisions assuming the dealer has a 10 in the hole.
Truth: One glance at a strategy chart will tell you how misguided this is. But beyond that, only 16 cards in a 52-card deck are valued at 10. That’s a little over 30%, meaning almost 70% of the time (especially with a multi-deck shoe), the dealer will NOT have a 10. 

Myth: Poor-quality players can steal your winning cards.
Truth: There are times when a novice or subpar player makes an ill-advised play and it results in you not getting a card that would have helped you win. That is absolutely true. But it’s also true that these strategically bad plays from your table neighbors are just as likely to turn a would-be loss for you into a win. It may frustrate you to see less-than-optimal play, but your overall chances are not lowered at all.

Myth: The house always wins.
Truth: More than the other myths, this has some loose basis in the truth, but it’s a gross oversimplification. Will a house game be profitable over the course of months and years, adding up the results of thousands and thousands of players? Yes, most likely. But can you be very profitable in any given session? Yes, absolutely. The low house edge and dynamic nature of blackjack mean that you could walk away a winner any time you sit at the table. 

Other Misconceptions About Counting, Betting, and Luck

Explain why counting cards is not illegal, and how betting systems are flawed.

To put a bow on this section, let’s talk about some commonly held blackjack misconceptions. 

Myth: Card counting is illegal. 
Truth: There is nothing about counting cards that can get you in legal hot water on its own. But casinos are private businesses, and they have a right to restrict your betting or even ask you to leave…for any reason. If you’re suspected of counting and refuse to comply with directions or make a scene, then you could, however unlikely,  be looking at trespassing or disorderly charges.

Myth: Betting systems guarantee that you’ll come out ahead.
Truth: While betting systems can help you play in a controlled, disciplined way, they do nothing to change the house edge. They may give you a chance to capitalize better on a streak of winning hands, but at the same time, they can magnify the effects of a cold spell. 

Myth: Special seats, bet amounts, phrases, and other superstitions can bring you luck.
Truth: Unfortunately, no talisman or routine can change the cards (or the results) you get. But I’ll couch this answer with the fact that at its best, gambling is fun. And if you have more fun when you think you’ve got Lady Luck on your side, there’s no harm in trying to find some good fortune wherever you can. (Provided you don’t interfere with or annoy the dealer or other players at the table.) 

I hope you’ve enjoyed this in-depth look at the great game of blackjack. If you take nothing else away from the sections above, I’d like to leave you with a few important takeaways for not just becoming a better player, but enjoying the game more, too. 

Practice Makes Perfect

Learning theory and memorizing strategy is a great place to start, but it’s important to apply that knowledge under real playing conditions. It’s a bit like taking the drills and conditioning you do at a sports practice and bringing them to game day. I recommend starting with online demo free blackjack games or low minimum tables, which you can usually find during slower hours at a casino.

Using Strategy Charts

Strategy charts are the ultimate cheat sheet, with quite literally, the answers to all the questions a blackjack game can ask you. Many casinos won’t let you (or will at least frown upon) using one at a physical table, and this slows the game down for other players, too. 

However, if you’re playing online, I 100% recommend keeping a strategy chart accessible. I’ve played a lot of blackjack, and I still have a chart pulled up on my second monitor whenever I play online. Eventually, the optimal plays will become second nature, but until then, study up…the decision chat is going to become the foundation of your game. 

Note: There are charts available for most popular blackjack variants, so be sure to check if one’s available for the specific game you’re playing. Typically, you won’t need to re-memorize anything but instead keep certain key differences in mind. 

Avoiding Common Mistakes

At the same time as you’re trying to make all the right plays, you also want to avoid making big blunders. Here are some common mistakes I see novice players make:

Counting on Streaks to End/Chasing Losses

It may not feel like it, but if you lose 10 hands in a row, you are just as likely to lose the next hand. Previous hands have absolutely no bearing on the current one. The house edge is (and was) the same for every hand played, and changing your bet size because you’re “due” is not a sound strategy. Chasing losses by placing larger and larger bets is just as likely to put you further in the hole as it is to dig you out. 

Being Hesitant About Doubling & Splitting

Being overly cautious may feel like a good way to preserve your bankroll, but if you play too tentatively, it can have quite the opposite effect. Not doubling or splitting (when that’s the smart play) because you don’t want to assume the extra risk is much worse for both your short- and long-term prospects. You want to get the most money on the table when you have the biggest advantage.

Splitting 10s or Face Cards Against Weak Dealer Hands

Now for an overly aggressive play that I see all the time. A new player sits down at the table, gets dealt a couple of face cards against a dealer 6, and immediately splits their hand. It may seem like a good idea to be aggressive like this against a weak dealer, but I’ll put it plainly. It is NEVER the right play to split up a 20, no matter what you’re up against. 20 is too strong a hand to deliberately weaken it for any reason.

Playing Responsibly

Another common, but more serious, issue for players is overbetting their bankrolls. When you start a session, you want to have enough chips in front of you to withstand several losses in a row…with a bet size you’re comfortable with. If you bet an amount of money that you’re uncomfortable losing, you can wind up playing impulsively or nervously, which doesn’t just diminish the amount of fun you have, but can lead to poor decisions and unnecessary risks. 

To gamble responsibly, you need to have a predetermined amount of money that you’re at peace with losing. This helps make sure that you enjoy yourself and don’t end up feeling overly stressed, out of control, or “on tilt.” If you do feel yourself losing control, it’s important that you stop immediately, and potentially even reach out for assistance. Many state and national organizations provide free help to anyone suffering from problem gambling behaviors.