How to Play Blackjack: Rules, Card Values and Options
Blackjack is a card game against the dealer. You try to get a hand total closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. It is one of the few casino games where your decisions matter during the round, so it is worth knowing the basic rules before you sit down.
Card values
- Cards 2 to 10 are worth their number.
- Jack, queen and king are worth 10.
- An ace is worth 1 or 11, whichever is better for your hand.
An ace with any 10-value card as your first two cards is a "blackjack", the best hand, which usually pays 3 to 2.
Your options
- Hit: take another card.
- Stand: keep your total and end your turn.
- Double down: double your bet, take exactly one more card and stand.
- Split: if your first two cards have the same value, split them into two hands with a second bet.
- Insurance: when the dealer shows an ace, a side bet that the dealer has blackjack. It pays 2 to 1 but usually costs the player more over time.
How the dealer plays
The dealer has no choices. Once all players have finished, the dealer reveals the hidden card and must keep drawing until the total is at least 17. If the dealer goes over 21, every hand still in play wins. Some tables make the dealer draw on a "soft 17" (a 17 that includes an ace counted as 11); the table rules always say which.
Results
- Your total is closer to 21 than the dealer’s: you win, usually 1 to 1.
- You go over 21 ("bust"): you lose, even if the dealer busts later.
- Same total as the dealer: a "push", and your stake is returned.
Play responsibly
Every result in these games is decided by chance, and no system can change the odds. Decide on a budget before you start, never chase losses, and take regular breaks. Our games are for adults aged 18 and over only.