Blackjack
Get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. One decision at a time.
These are the rules as a casino deals them, which is also the fairest way to play at a kitchen table. One person is the dealer and everyone else plays against them, not against each other.
Goal
Finish with a hand closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over. Going over 21 is a bust and loses at once, even if the dealer busts afterwards.
Card values
Number cards are worth their number. Jacks, Queens and Kings are ten. An ace is eleven unless that would bust you, in which case it drops to one.
A hand with an ace counting as eleven is called soft: soft 17 is an ace and a six, and it cannot bust on the next card.
The deal
Everyone gets two cards face up. The dealer takes two as well, one face up and one face down. An ace and any ten-value card is a blackjack and beats any other 21.
Your options
- Hit — take another card. You may keep hitting until you stand or bust.
- Stand — take nothing more.
- Double — double your stake and take exactly one more card. Usually allowed only on your first two cards.
- Split — if your two cards are the same rank, separate them into two hands with a second stake, and play each one out.
What the dealer must do
The dealer has no choices. They turn over the hidden card and must hit on 16 or less and stand on 17 or more. Whether the dealer hits a soft 17 varies; the stricter rule, standing on all 17s, is slightly better for the players, and is the one to use at home.
Who wins
Beat the dealer and you win your stake. A blackjack pays one and a half times it. Same total as the dealer is a push and your stake comes back. If the dealer busts, everyone still standing wins.
Playing for matchsticks rather than money, score a win as one point and a blackjack as two.
Questions
Does a blackjack beat a 21 made from three cards?
Yes. An ace with a ten-value card on the first two cards beats any other way of reaching 21.
Should I take insurance?
No. It is a side bet that the dealer has blackjack, and it loses money over time in every normal game. Skip it at home.
Can I split twice?
Most houses allow splitting up to three or four hands, but a split pair of aces usually gets one card each and no more.