Blackjack

Blackjack is a hugely popular casino game, and it keeps things simple which makes it great fun to play. Player and dealer compete to get closest to the value of 21, without going above that number. It’s a quick-fire game, and whilst the main rules are simple, there are some other aspects of Blackjack you must become familiar with, such as ‘doubling down’ and ‘splitting’.

Blackjack - How to Play

Blackjack is a hugely popular casino game, and its attractive nature lies within the simplicity of the game.

Twenty-one

Blackjack is also known as Twenty-one, since the aim of the game is to reach as close to 21 as possible, using the agreed values of each card.  Player and dealer compete to be the closest, without going above that number.

Initially, two cards are dealt, and this can be enough to win.  The player has the option to ‘hit’, receiving another card, and can do so until he or she is satisfied with the score, and at that point they ‘stand’.  Should the score exceed 21, you are considered to have gone bust, so the bet is lost and the dealer wins.

The dealer must hit until reaching 17, and can then choose whether to hit again or stand with the current cards.  If the dealer goes bust, the player wins.

Face cards

Face cards count as 10 points, whilst an Ace can be counted as 11 or 1, depending on which favours the hand.  All the other cards have face value.

So, an Ace and a 10 can be 21.

However, an Ace with a 10 and 9 can be 20.

A King and a Queen would be 20.

A King and a 6, followed by a third card of 7, would be bust, having totalled 23.

If you get a Jack and a 10, this is called Blackjack, and it triggers a higher payout.

Betting

If you’re new to Blackjack, then look out for minimum and maximum betting limits before you choose where to play.  You bet before the cards are drawn, then you play, and when the game is over you can choose to take your winnings or play on.

Doubling down

After the first two cards are dealt, the player is allowed to place an additional bet equal to the original one, which is called ‘doubling down’.  The player receives one more card, and then they must stand, as no further cards are allowed.

Splitting

If you receive two cards with the same face value, you can split them into two hands, with each one representing a separate bet.  A further card is dealt for each hand, and, usually, you will not be allowed to hit, double down or split again after this.  This can vary depending on the house’s own rules.