How To Play Blackjack. An Introduction for New Players

How to Play Blackjack

The aim of blackjack is to build up a hand that is higher than that of the dealer’s without exceeding a total of 21.
The numbered cards, 2-10, keep their numerical value, the King, Queen and Jack cards are all worth 10 and Aces are worth either one or eleven.

Traditionally, the term “blackjack” was used to refer to any hand containing the Jack of Clubs and Ace of Spades or Clubs (with all being black suits) but today, the term will be typically used by a dealer to  describe any hand containing an Ace and a card worth 10 (ie a King, Queen, Jack or 10).

Any player who has 21 after the deal will be paid straight away, unless the dealer has the same hand in which case it is a tie.

Two Key Decisions: Hit or Stand
All players will be dealt two hands initially. You will then have the opportunity to build up your hand to 21, or to get as close as possible to 21 without exceeding 21 and going “bust”. To do this, you will either ask for a “hit”, in which case, you will receive another card, or by deciding to “stand”, which means that you are happy with your cards and do not require any more.

The dealer will then builds his or her hand to try and win by outscoring the player.
In certain variants of online blackjack and depending on the house rules, the dealer has to "stand" on a soft 17. If the dealer or a player goes bust, they lose the round.

Much more than just the turn of a card
As well as the options to hit or stand, there are other tactics that you can use to improve your chances of winning.
Firstly, you can “double down”. This is for those who are confident about their hand. They will need to double their bet and you will only be able to receive one additional card, but your potential winnings will be greater.

You can opt to “split” your hand, effectively giving you two hands to play. You will have to match your starting bet on the new hand but it does give you two chances to win. This would be a good tactic if the initial deal gave you two cards of the same value.

You can also decide to “surrender”. Available in come variants of the game, this gives you the opportunity to “cut your losses” by paying out half of the dealer’s bet and quitting the game.

There are numerous online blackjack variants- we explain the key difference on this site (see below). Payouts vary and there are nuances to the rules of the game. These nuances have  an effect on the house edge, and thus your odds, so it is important to understand these in order to maximise your chances of winning.