This is the ultimate guide on how to play blackjack at a casino for beginners. Follow our actionable step-by-step tutorial to maximize your winnings at the table!
Blackjack is a player versus dealer casino card game. Your goal is to get a hand value of 21 or as close to it as possible without going over. To win a hand, the dealer needs to have a lower value than you or bust (going over 21).
This casino card game remains legendary to this day thanks to its simple gameplay. Plus, there is a skill element required to get consistent wins over time. You can check out our blackjack guides if you want to improve your skills.
So, if you want to:
Then you’ll love our simple step-by-step blackjack guide!
Let’s get started.
In its simplest form, the goal of a blackjack player is to beat the house.
Compared to poker where you’re competing against other players, blackjack is all about how you play against the dealer.
So, how do you beat the dealer?
For starters, your hand value needs to get closer to 21 than the dealer’s, without going over 21. That’s why people often refer to blackjack as “Twenty One”.
There are three possible ways to win a round of blackjack:
How do you lose against the dealer?
There are three scenarios in which you instantly lose at blackjack:
Getting a hand that totals over 21 is called a “bust”. Busting means that you are out of the game.
What happens if both you and the dealer get the same hand value?
In this situation, nobody wins. The game is considered a push (or a tie) and you will get back your initial bet.
Please note
Remember that the hand values of other players don’t influence your chances of winning the round. Some inexperienced gamblers could tell you stuff like “we can play as a team”, but that’s a lie. It really is just you against the dealer and you’re better off playing by yourself.
In blackjack, you play with the traditional deck of 52 playing cards.
But how many decks do casinos use for blackjack?
Depending on the casino you choose, a different number of decks (ranging between 2 and 8) will be used in the game.
The suits do not affect the gameplay. Only the card values are important when you play the blackjack card game.
The blackjack card values are:
To determine the value of any blackjack hand, all you have to do is calculate the total of the blackjack cards that you or the dealer have.
Example
If you get dealt a 5 and a Queen (Q), your total hand value is 15.
The only exception is the Ace, a special card that has two different values - 1 or 11.
Blackjack players often call hands that include Aces “Soft Totals”, since they can decide whether they want a high or a low hand value. This offers the players more liquidity with their decisions.
Here’s a possible scenario with a Soft Totals hand:
You get dealt an Ace and a Seven. In this case, your hand counts as 8 or 18.
Depending on your strategy, you can choose to keep your hand as an 18 and stand, or you can ask for more cards, in which case the hand will be considered as an 8, and the value of the additional cards you get dealt will be added to it.
Blackjack is played on a crescent table like the one in the image above. Most commonly, the blackjack table can accommodate 7 players and the dealer.
Still, there are situations where the table can have up to 12 spots available, depending on the casino where you’re playing.
The players sit in front of the spots (usually depicted as outlines of the cards), while the dealer sits behind the blackjack table.
Pro tip
If you’re the type of player that easily gets distracted by others, some online blackjack casinos let you play all by yourself. This is one of the best “you versus the dealer” scenarios when playing online.
There is one main difference between land-based and online live blackjack:
In a real gambling establishment, the dealer sits next to a box called a “chip rack”, that acts as the casino’s bank and is used to pay the winnings and store the losses.
Please note
The chips are the casino’s currency. While they have no monetary value outside the gambling venue, they can be exchanged for real money at the casino’s cashier.
Online live dealers don’t need a chip rack, since the credits are automatically added or removed from your balance as you play.
Before you learn how to play 21, you should know that there are several blackjack variations available. Each of these versions comes with different rules and number of decks used.
Based on our experience, the most common game of blackjack is played with 6 to 8 decks of cards.
Fun fact
On some rare occasions, you will find single and double-deck blackjack tables. The reason why they’re not so common anymore is that it became too easy for professional players to get an edge over the dealer with so little card variation.
Here are the 6 steps that you need to take to play a round of blackjack:
Step 1: Join a casino with blackjack tables
Step 2: Place your bets
Step 3: The dealer and the player are dealt two cards each
Step 4: Decide how to play your cards
Step 5: Wait for the dealer to play his hand
Step 6: Get your payout (if you win, of course)
Before you can start playing blackjack online, you need to create an account at a casino that offers virtual gambling tables.
If you already have an account with a blackjack casino, you can simply log in.
There are two types of blackjack you can play online:
Once you have created and verified your account, you will need to make a deposit to get started playing the game for real money.
The amount you deposit depends on your budget.
Pro tip
If you’re a complete newbie, we suggest you start your journey with a smaller amount (below $100).
Not sure where to begin?
We’ve got you covered. Discover our complete list of gambling sites offering this table game on our dedicated blackjack casinos page. Plus, you can learn more about how to join a casino and the payment methods available.
Recommendation
Do you want to play blackjack without risking any money from your pocket? You can skip this step and pick one of the free blackjack games on our site and start playing in demo mode.
Once you’re in the game, the first thing you need to do is to place your bet in the designated betting area, which is usually shaped like a circle or a rectangle.
Discover what placing bets in an online casino would look like in the image below.
All blackjack games have betting limits, which are displayed either in the game interface or in the game rules that can be accessed usually in the game menu. Depending on the casino, game, and jurisdiction, the minimum and maximum bet values will vary.
Remember
The same rules apply to land-based casinos. In Las Vegas, the minimum bet required at the tables is $5, but there are high-roller tables that require a $1,000 minimum bet.
After you place the bet, the dealer will deal the cards clockwise.
First, each player and the dealer will get one card face up. Then, another round of cards is dealt face up to the players, and the dealer will receive one card face down.
Each player now has 2 cards face up in front of them, while the dealer has one card face up and one card face down.
Check out the image below to see what the deal would look like at an online casino.
Please note
For these examples, we used Microgaming’s Atlantic City Blackjack, a multi-hand version of the game you can try for free.
Now it’s finally time to play!
Now that you have your bet and two cards face up in front of you, it’s time to make your decisions.
As a player, you will always go first and your goal is to get a hand as close to 21 as possible without going over 21. The player located on the dealer’s left (a.k.a the “first base”) will always go first.
First, add the value of your cards. You will get a total ranging from 2 to 21.
If you get an Ace and a ten-value card, it means you’ve got a “Blackjack” and you win automatically, unless the dealer also gets 21 from the first draw, which would be considered a tie.
Getting a blackjack will pay you 3 to 2 (or 150% of your bet) immediately, without having to play your hand.
Suppose you bet $100 and you get dealt an Ace and a King.
Congrats, you have a Blackjack! If the dealer doesn’t also get a “natural” 21, you will get a payout of $250 (the initial $100 wager + $150 profit).
If you didn’t get 21 on the first draw, you have the option to stand or take more cards. There are a few other player decisions, which we’ll cover below.
Please note
For security reasons, in land-based casinos, there are certain hand signals you need to make to signal your decision. The dealer can’t respond to your verbal suggestions, because the cameras need to register your decision as well.
There are 5 main player decisions that you can take at the blackjack table:
If you have a good hand, you can decide to take no further action and the dealer will move on to the next player.
The hand signal for standing is to wave your hand.
If you want to improve your hand total, you can hit. The dealer will deal you more cards, one at a time. You can hit until you “bust” (your hand goes over 21) or you decide to stand.
The hand signal for hitting is to tap the table with your finger.
If you get an advantageous hand total (like 11, for example) but you still need to get an additional card, you have the option to double your initial bet and get only one extra card dealt.
In a land-based casino, you can signal your intention to double down by placing an equal stack of chips next to your original wager. The dealer will deal you an additional card that is turned sideways (indicating that you can’t hit any additional cards).
Pro tip
Never double down for less than the full bet amount. Some casinos let you “double for less”, meaning they don’t require you to match your initial bet. Technically speaking, you only double down when you have an advantage. Thus, there aren’t many situations in which doubling for less could be a good decision.
If you get a pair (2 cards of equal value), you have the option to split the two cards into separate hands. Just place a second wager equal to your initial bet and the cards you decided to split will become the first cards of your two new hands.
Then, the dealer will deal an additional card over each of the two cards. Now that you have split your pair into two hands you can make decisions like hit or stand for each of them, depending on the hand value.
This rule also applies to face cards. So, if you get dealt a Ten and a King, you can split those cards because the cards have the same value, even though they’re not a pair.
Please note
If you get a pair of Aces, you won't have the option to hit after the second card has been dealt. You will only be dealt one additional card for each hand.
You can signal your intention of splitting by putting a second wager equal to your initial bet and then showing a “peace sign”, meaning that you want to split, not double down. The dealer will then split your cards into two hands, and deal one additional card on each.
If you aren’t happy with your initial hand, you can forfeit it before the dealer shows your second card. This way, you will only lose half of your initial bet.
Surrendering is a great decision when the casino has a chance of over 50% of winning that hand.
In a land-based casino, the hand signal for Surrender is to “cut” the table with your finger and say out loud “surrender”. The reason why you should verbally say the word “surrender” is because the dealer might confuse your signal for a hit request.
Here is an image of the player decision flowchart. Knowing the logic behind blackjack will help you better understand how the game works and what your options are at any given time during a round. We will explain this in more detail below.
The blackjack logic is quite simple actually.
There is an order of operations in which you should consider your options when playing your hand.
Making your decisions in this order will also help you master the blackjack basic strategy, and it will help you use your player options (split, double down, hit and stand) the most efficient way possible.
Here is the blackjack flowchart translated into words from beginning to end:
Please note
Notice that there is a dotted line in the flowchart when you choose to split the pair, taking you back to the beginning of the decision-making process. That's because, after a split, you will get dealt two separate hands, and you will play one at a time, following the same logic.
Now you might be wondering - “There are a lot of decisions you can make in blackjack. How can I know which one is the best?”
The answer is simple: in blackjack, you make your decisions based on the dealer’s “up-card” (the face-up card that is visible for the players during the first deal).
This is where the perfect basic blackjack strategy comes into play.
One of the most important secrets of learning how to play blackjack is the basic strategy. It helps you make better decisions based on the dealer’s up card and your hand.
Playing the basic strategy means getting a mathematical advantage over the house. This system was created based on the findings of a computer program that played millions of blackjack rounds and determined the best decision you can make to get better odds of winning.
It’s safe to say that, by using basic strategy, you will win more in the long run.
Plus, you won’t have to approximate the best possible result every time you play your hand, since mathematicians already got that figured out for you!
Below, you can find an image of the basic blackjack strategy chart, according to pro players:
Recommendation
If you want to learn more about playing “perfect blackjack” we have created a dedicated blackjack chart guide that will help you get the most out of your gambling sessions by applying basic strategy.
Here are some key takeaways from the strategy:
Example
If you get dealt a hand value of 17(i.e. 8 and 9), there are situations where it may seem tempting to hit another card to get closer to 21.
However, your odds of getting a low-value card (between 1 and 4) are significantly reduced, so you have a better chance of winning by just standing on any 17, hoping that the dealer busts.
Example
If you get dealt a 14, and the dealer’s up card is 9, you should always hit. Even though it is a risky decision and you could bust, it brings you the most advantage over the house in the long run.
The logic is simple - if the dealer has a 9 he could easily get a ten-value card and beat you even if you didn’t bust.
Example
If you get dealt a Jack and a five (15 total hand value against the dealer’s 3), you should stand. In this situation, the chances of the dealer going bust are high. Hitting another card would be a risky move that is not worth it in the long run.
Example
Suppose you get a 5 value hand against a dealer’s 2. In this scenario, you will need to hit until your hand value exceeds 13, since the odds of him going busts are high, so it’s not worth the risk to continue hitting in this scenario.
Example
If you get an Ace and a six (7 or 17 total), you shouldn’t stand. Instead hit another card. Chances are, you will get a better hand value. Even if you don’t win that particular hand, in the long run, you have better chances of becoming profitable by hitting soft hands until you get at least 18 points.
Example
If you get a 10 value hand(4 and 6) against the dealer’s up card 9, your best move is to double down. Getting a 10 value hand puts you in a favorable position against the house, so it should not be wasted by simply hitting the cards.
Example
If you get 2 Kings against the dealer’s 10 you should never split. That’s because your hand value is 20, so there are only two scenarios in which you would lose the hand if you stand:
However, if you were to split the Kings, your odds of getting a better hand value than 20 are drastically reduced and will often result in a loss (not to mention you also double your bet when splitting).
Remember
Playing perfect blackjack lowers the casino’s house edge to roughly 0.5%. It doesn’t guarantee a win but it gives you the best winning chances. You can learn how to play perfect blackjack by learning a few hours a day for 2-3 weeks and always betting using the chart.
If you play your round by using the 5 decisions mentioned above and follow the basic strategy chart, there are three possible outcomes:
Now, if you don't bust or surrender, it’s the dealer’s turn to play his hand.
First, the dealer will flip over his “hole card” (the card placed face down) and add the total of their hand. If the total hand value is 17 or higher, they must stand.
However, if the total is 16 or lower, they need to hit until they reach a total of 17 or higher.
Moves like split, double down or surrender are not available for the dealer, and he won’t have any additional choices of how to play their hand as the player would.
The dealer will play their hand the same way every round.
The only exception to this rule is when the dealer gets a “Soft 17” (an Ace and a six). Depending on the casino’s policy, the dealer could hit this hand because it also counts as 7 points.
This is a huge disadvantage for the player because it offers the dealer a chance to get a hand total better than the initial 17 he got on the soft total.
Please note
The casino will clearly display whether the dealer has to hit or stand on a soft 17 somewhere on the table. Checking this beforehand will help you learn exactly how the dealer will play his hands since he can’t veer away from the casino’s rules.
So both you and the dealer are done playing your hands according to the rules.
There are eight possible scenarios:
Once the dealer pays the winning hands, the cards are swept and placed in the “discard pile” and the next round will start.
In the table below, you can see the payouts for a $10 bet at the blackjack table, depending on the outcome:
| Scenario | Outcome | Payout | Total Win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dealer busts | Win | 1:1 | $20 |
| You bust | Loss | None | -$10 |
| You have a higher hand value | Win | 1:1 | $20 |
| The dealer has a higher hand value | Loss | None | -$10 |
| You have an equal hand value to the dealer | Push | Bet returned | $10 |
| You get a Blackjack and the dealer doesn’t | Win | 3:2 | $25 |
| The dealer has a Blackjack and you don’t | Loss | None | -$10 |
| Both you and the dealer have a Blackjack | Push | Bet returned | $10 |
And that’s how you play a round of blackjack!
In blackjack, there are a few special situations where the game will deviate from the basic gameplay we’ve presented above.
If the dealer shows an Ace, you can insure your hand by placing half of your bet on the “Insurance” line. If the dealer does have a blackjack, you will lose your hand, but you will get a payout of 2 to 1, meaning that you will break even on your initial bet.
Although insurance could seem like a great idea, it is recommended to avoid it if you’re just getting started with blackjack. Unless you’re a professional blackjack card counter, we suggest you never buy insurance.
In case the dealer is showing a ten-card face up, he will automatically check the hole card before the players can make any gameplay decisions, without asking for insurance. If the hole card is an ace, the dealer gets a “blackjack” and all the bets on the table will be lost (except for the players that also got a blackjack, which would just “push”).
This is a situation where all the players at the table bust before the dealer gets to play his cards. In this case, the dealer will simply flip over the whole card to show it and then discard the cards and start a new round.
There is no good reason for the dealer to play out his hand, considering that he has already defeated the players.
Originally, the only side bet available in blackjack was insurance. However, once the game became popular worldwide, the casinos have started developing new side bets that usually require you to match your main bet amount.
For example, the most common side bet is “perfect pairs”, meaning that you and the dealer will get a pair in your first two cards. There are countless other options like betting on the dealer going bust, winning the game with 21+3 points, and so on.
Side bets are everywhere and they are so complex that we won’t cover them in too much detail in this guide. We just wanted to let you know that these bets exist at most land-based and online blackjack casinos.
We don’t recommend placing side bets unless you just want to risk some money for fun.
These bets are designed by the casino, so the advantage is always on their side.
Pro tip
Instead of wasting money trying to get a lucky “pair” or match the dealer’s hand, focus on developing your card counting skills and learning the basic blackjack strategy by heart.
Now you might be thinking - blackjack is easy, all you need to do is follow basic strategy and beat the dealer.
Although getting lucky at blackjack can bring you some wins in the short run, it will not guarantee a profit over time.
After all, it is a known fact that the casinos have created the game in a way that offers them an advantage over the players.
Here are the main reasons why the casino always has an edge over the player:
Any seasoned blackjack player could easily tell you that very few gamblers actually use the basic strategy.
Therefore, by using this simple strategy you will gain a considerable advantage over the majority of casual players.
In fact, you get to play the game with a 0.5% house edge, while a regular gambler would get a house edge of around 2%, which is not much better than any other game of chance.
Remember
Due to its simplicity, anyone can play Blackjack as a game of chance. However, by using the basic strategy, you can lower the house edge to your advantage (by around 1.5%) and increase your odds of winning.
Please consider this - if both you and the dealer go bust, who loses?
If you bust, you lose. Since you will always go first, even if you both bust, you will still lose.
Even though you have the occasional blackjacks and double downs that help you, they are not enough to get the edge over the casino. For that, you will need to use card counting, which is an advanced blackjack strategy.
In the short run, anyone can get lucky and win a few hands of blackjack. However, as the game progresses, even if you play perfect blackjack strategy, the house will always get the edge in the long term.
Professional blackjack players have found a way to take advantage, but it takes more than knowing some simple strategies.
According to pro player Collin Jones, who made over $1.5 million at the tables, there are two key steps to getting the edge over the casino:
The basic strategy will maximize your chances of winning and significantly lower the house edge over the long run.
Many people believe that card counting is illegal.
That’s because of how card counting is portrayed in pop culture. In movies like Twenty One, the main character ends up beaten up and banned from all the casinos because he got caught “cheating”.
The truth is card counting is perfectly legal.
That’s because you are simply using your brain, which is definitely not illegal at the casino.
The idea is simple - the casino offers you a game, and you are free to use your brainpower to beat it.
For short, card counting tells you how to bet and when you should change your player decisions to get the maximum advantage over the casino.
Be aware
Although card counting isn’t illegal, casinos aren’t too happy when players beat them. They have the right to refuse to offer their services to anyone they want and there’s not much you can do about it.
Before you can start playing blackjack, you should know that there is a wide range of rules that influence the gameplay.
Just remember - not all blackjack tables are created equal.
Some game variations are more advantageous for the player than others. Here is a list of the most common blackjack rule variations you will encounter at the casinos:
In this variation of blackjack, you are allowed to double down after splitting a hand. This rule is usually available at most casinos and it brings you better odds of winning in the long run.
This rule is rarely available, but it is a golden opportunity for the players. It is the same as regular surrender, only you can get half your bet back before the dealer checks for blackjack or asks for insurance.
Some casinos offer a reduced payout for getting a “Blackjack”. So, instead of the classic 3 to 2 payout, you will only get a 6 to 5 payout, which lowers your advantage and makes card counting redundant.
Avoid this blackjack variant at all costs!
The house edge in blackjack increases for every deck of cards you add into play. While an 8 deck game will have a higher house edge than a single-deck game, you won’t have the same options.
For instance, in single deck blackjack, you won’t have doubling after splitting and you will usually get a 6 to 5 blackjack.
Sure, the house edge is important, but the other rules are also important, so it’s important to check them before you start betting your money.
After splitting a pair of Aces, some blackjack tables let you split your Aces again (if the next card is also Ace) up to 4 total hands. The Ace is the best card in the game, so resplitting aces is a rule that many are looking for at the table.
Even if resplitting Aces is allowed, you still won’t be able to double or take additional cards after splitting. This is expected from the casino since they are trying to restrict the players from getting a huge advantage over them.
Some casinos will continually shuffle the cards as the rounds are played. Instead of discarding the cards until the shoe is finished, the dealer will re-add the cards into the game and shuffle them again after each round.
This type of blackjack table is the worst and should be avoided at all costs. It makes card counting difficult, and the blackjack basic strategy won’t work as effectively.
In the last few decades, the demand for blackjack games has skyrocketed. That’s why the casinos have started creating new games that resemble the rules and gameplay of blackjack, but they are actually completely different games.
Here are the most popular games masquerading as blackjack:
Blackjack SwitchIn this game, you start with 2 blackjack hands and you get to choose whether you want to switch the top cards of each hand or not. While Blackjack Switch sounds like an interesting game, and you should definitely try it out, it’s not the best idea for making long-term profits. The dealer pushes all bets if they get 22 hand-value, and getting a blackjack will only pay even money (1 x your bet). Sure, the game is cool and you can get a few lucky hands. But this is not blackjack. So unless you want to play a few rounds for fun, we suggest staying away from this type of game. |
Free Bet BlackjackThis game is similar to blackjack, but the only difference is that you won’t need to match your bet when splitting or doubling down. The casinos will let you place these bets for free and pay you the same amount as if you would have actually placed the wager. But isn’t that a great thing? Why shouldn’t I play free bet blackjack? Well, there’s obviously a catch to free bets! If the dealer gets a hand total of 22, all the bets push, even if the dealer busted. This rule doubles the house advantage, so it is not real blackjack. Stay away from it! |
Super Fun 21This game version is usually masquerading as a single-deck blackjack with some special rules that sound too good to be true. In Super Fun 21, you can surrender and double on any number of cards, and you automatically win the round if you get a 5 card 21 point hand or a 6 card 20 point hand. Plus, getting blackjack always pays, even if the dealer also gets it. This is the dream game for any seasoned blackjack player. However, blackjack will only pay 1 time your bet (unless you get a diamond suit blackjack). Because of this rule, the house edge is triple compared to a regular game. Therefore, playing Super Fun 21 might be entertaining, but it is definitely not a real blackjack game. If you’re serious about playing blackjack, you should avoid this variant and stick to the traditional one. |
There you have it - the complete guide on how to play blackjack online for beginners.
We hope that you’ve learned some new blackjack tactics and you will apply them during your next casino session.
Make sure you use the basic blackjack strategy and train your skills in demo mode or with a smaller budget until you’re confident in your skills.
Good luck and remember to always gamble responsibly!
