Play Blackjack

Blackjack is played with 2 to 8 decks of 52 cards contained in a dealer shoe. A blackjack table gathers several players and a dealer (or banker). Most blackjack tables can accommodate 7 players who face the dealer. Each player places his bet in front of him. At blackjack, you’re not playing against the other players but against the dealer, who represents the casino. The goal is to obtain, with your hand, a point total higher than the dealer’s but without exceeding 21.

Card values

All cards numbered 2 to 10 have a value equal to their number. In other words, the 2 is worth 2, the 3 is worth 3 and so on. The Jacks, Queens and Kings are the face cards and are each worth 10 points. The Ace is worth 1 point or 11 points, your choice.

The best possible hand, which gives its name to the game, is blackjack. You have a blackjack when you have 21 points with two cards: one Ace and a face card.

The course of the game

The game is always played clockwise, meaning that the player at the far left of the dealer is the first to receive his cards, and that the player at the far right is the last – before the dealer – to receive his cards. The dealer is always last.

Once all players have placed their bet on the table, the dealer deals the cards one by one. Each player receives two cards, face up (visible to everyone around the table), while the dealer gives himself one card face up and one card face down.

Then the dealer lets the player immediately to his left speak. The player may request an additional card (draw) or pass (stick). If he asks for an additional card, he may, after receiving it, ask for another, and as many times as he wishes. His hand point total should not exceed 21, though. If it exceeds 21, he immediately loses his bet, regardless of what the dealer’s point total will eventually be.

When a player decides to pass, or when his hand has exceeded 21, the next player gets to speak.

Once all players have played, the dealer reveals his hidden card and continues to play his hand as a player. In general, the dealer must continue to draw until his hand has at least 17 points. If the dealer starts with a soft 17, i.e. with an Ace and a 6, the casino usually requires the dealer to stop.

If the dealer exceeds 21, then all players who are still in the game win. If the dealer does not exceed 21, players whose hand is lower than the dealer’s lose their bet. Those whose hand is higher than the dealer’s win their bet. Finally, those who have the same number of points keep their bet.

If you have a Blackjack, the dealer pays you immediately, usually 1.5 times your bet.

Variations of the game

There are some small variations of the Blackjack game, by country, but also sometimes between casinos in the same country. For example:

• the dealer may have to stop drawing or not with a soft 17,
• in some countries, the dealer initially gives himself only one card, and he gets his 2nd card when all players have played.

Conclusion

The rules of blackjack are simple, and, although there are some variations, the game is very standard and easy to play, even by a beginner. If you’re in this situation, however, avoid being the last or second last to speak.

As you know, if the dealer exceeds 21, all players still in the game win. So the decisions of the 1 or 2 last players to speak may have an influence on the outcome of the round. It is not uncommon, in some countries, for the last player to “sacrifice” his hand in order to try to get the dealer to bust (exceed 21).

Like all other casino games, blackjack tables have a minimum and a maximum bet per play. Whatever your budget is, you should have no problem finding tables that will allow you to join as a player at the online casinos than we recommend on this site.

Enjoy!