In blackjack, the person holding the hand with the highest total that does not exceed 21 is the winner. A hand with a total that exceeds 21 is called a bust. Face or picture cards (jack, queen, king) are worth ten points and cards two through ten are counted at face value. An ace is worth 11 points unless this amount would cause the player holding the ace to go bust. In this case, the ace can be counted as one point. Hands in which the ace is valued as 11 are called soft hands because the player holding that ace cannot go bust when he draws another card.

The objective of each player in blackjack is to have a higher hand than the dealer without going bust. When a player goes bust he loses even if the dealer also goes bust. When both the player and the dealer are holding hands with the same point value it is a tie, also known as a push, and neither the player nor the dealer wins. Since each player plays an independent game with the dealer, it is possible for the dealer to win some players and lose against other players during the same round.

The minimum bet allowed can vary from casino to casino and even from table to table within the same casino. Each table displays the minimum bet allowed and the most common minimum in the U.S. is five dollars. The dealer deals out the cards after the initial bets have been placed. Dealers will either deal from a shoe, which typically holds four or more decks or from one or two hand-held decks, also known as a pitch. The dealer gives two cards to each player and to himself. One of the dealer’s cards is placed face down on the table and one is placed face up so the players can see it. The card placed face down on the table is called the ‘hole-card’. In European blackjack the hole card is not actually dealt until the players have all played their hands. When using a shoe to deal the cards, the dealer will place the players cards face up but they will be dealt face down in a pitch game.

A two-card hand of 21 – an ace plus a ten-value card – is called blackjack and is an automatic winner or a ‘natural’. A player with a ‘natural’ is usually paid 2:3 on his bet but in 2003 some casinos started paying 6:5. Many veteran blackjack players have voiced opposition to this policy.

The play:

  • If the dealer has blackjack and the player doesn’t the player automatically loses.
  • If the player has blackjack and the dealer doesn’t the dealer automatically loses.
  • If both the dealer and the player have blackjack it is a push.
  • If neither the dealer nor the player has blackjack, then each player plays out his hand one at a time.
  • The dealer plays his hand after all of the players have finished playing out their hands.

The player’s option for playing out his hand:

  • Hit: Take another card
  • Stand: Don’t take anymore cards
  • Double-down: Double the wager, take exactly one more card and then stand.
  • Split: An option only available when both cards have the same value, you double the value and have each card be the first card in a new hand.
  • Surrender: This option was common during the early and mid-20 th century but most casinos don’t offer it any longer. In surrender, the player forfeits half the bet and gives up his hand.

The player’s turn is over once his hand exceeds a value of 21, or if he has decided to stand, double down, or take a single card. A player loses if he busts even if the dealer goes on to bust as well.

Once all the players have finished making their decisions, the dealer reveals his hidden hole card and plays the hand.

According to house rules, dealers must hit until they have at least 17, regardless of what the players are holding. Most casinos also require that dealers hit when they are holding a soft 17, such as an ace and a six. The lettering on the felt of the table should indicate whether the dealer hits or stands on a soft 17.

If the dealer busts then all remaining players win. Bets are normally paid out at the odds of 1:1.

Some common variations on the rules are listed below:

  • One card split aces: one card is dealt on each ace. Player’s turn is over.
  • Early surrender: Allows a player to surrender before the dealer checks for blackjack.
  • Late surrender: Allows a player to surrender after the dealer has checked for blackjack.
  • Double-down restrictions: Doubling down is only permitted on certain combinations.
  • Dealer hits a soft seventeen: Where ace-six can play as seven or seventeen.
  • European No-hole Card Rule: The dealer deals himself one card, face up and doesn’t receive a second card and, therefore, doesn’t check for blackjack until all of the players have acted. This means that, in addition to losing their original bet when the dealer wins, players also lose any additional money invested from doubling down or splitting.

Every casino has its own odds, rules, strategies and blackjack variations. Players should always check the rules and variations of a table before sitting down to play.