Rules For Blackjack

The rules for blackjack are not difficult to learn. Blackjack is a popular option at some of the online poker rooms I’ve recommended. I want to make sure you have a clear understanding of how to succeed at playing 21 online.

The first thing you need to learn are the rules for blackjack. Once you’ve learned the rules for playing blackjack online, you’ll then need to learn the chart found on the Blackjack Chart page. The whole key to winning at blackjack is consistency. No guesswork is needed and you don’t play on hunches. Blackjack is a game of skill.

Blackjack is a very simple game between you and the dealer. The object is to achieve a higher hand value than the dealer without going over 21. There may be other players seated at the table but you are not playing against them. Each player plays against the dealer. A push is when a player’s hand value equals that of the dealer. When a push occurs, the player receives the original amount of their bet back.

Before getting into the rules for blackjack, let’s cover the card values. Cards 2-10 are worth their numerical value. Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth a value of 10. An Ace is worth either a 1 or 11, whichever you choose. When a blackjack is dealt, an Ace is always worth 11.

The game starts with the dealer dealing the player a card face up. The dealer also receives a card face up. The dealer then deals the player a second card face up while dealing himself a second card face down. As a player, all of your cards are dealt face up and the total value of the cards are calculated for you and shown on the screen. You won’t need to worry about making mistakes adding up your card totals.

A blackjack occurs whenever an Ace is dealt in combination with a card valued at 10 after the initial two cards are dealt. A card valued at 10 is a 10, Jack, Queen, or King. If the dealer has a blackjack, the player automatically loses. If the player has a blackjack, the dealer pays the player 3 to 2. If both the dealer and the player have a blackjack then it is a push and the player receives their initial bet back.

After the first two cards have been dealt the player always acts before the dealer. The player has the following options (the Blackjack Chart page will tell you what to do) which are displayed on the screen:

Stand--this allows the player to play the original two cards without being dealt any more cards.

Hit--this allows the player to request an additional card. The player may hit as many times as they like without going over 21. If a player goes over 21, the player automatically loses. Any player or dealer total exceeding 21 is considered a bust.

Double--this option gives a player the opportunity to take advantage of very favorable cards against the dealers up card. If a player selects double the amount of the original bet is doubled and the player will only receive one more card. Players may double on any hand except split Aces. Splits will be covered next.

Split--anytime a player is dealt two cards of equal value, the player may split the cards into two hands. The two hands are played separately and one hand is completed before the player decides how to play the other hand. If Aces are split resulting in a blackjack, the player is credited with a multi-card combination of 21 and will be paid even money (1 to 1). Aces can not be split again. If Aces are split the player can not double or receive a third card. Depending on the site, a player may split up to 5 times for any given hand. All split bets pay even money (1 to 1).

Insurance--the player will be given the option to take out insurance anytime the dealer’s face up card is an Ace. Insurance is an additional bet equal to half of your original bet. If you choose this option you will be paid 2 to 1 on the insurance bet if the dealer has a blackjack. You still lose your original bet so you are basically placing a side bet and will break even if the dealer has a blackjack. If the dealer does not have a blackjack, you’ll lose your insurance bet and play out your hand. Insurance is a terrible bet and does not benefit the player. Do not take out insurance! There may be situations when taking out insurance is a good play but never online. A card counter in a casino can use this option to their advantage, but that is about it. Insurance is an easy one when it comes to learning the rules for blackjack…don’t!

Surrender--unless the dealer’s up card is an Ace, a player will have the option to surrender. This option should only be chosen under certain circumstances when holding specific weak hands. The specific hands are listed on the Blackjack Chart page. If you surrender your hand you will lose half of your original bet. The availability of this option depends on the site you are playing at.

Those are the options a player has. What about the dealer? The dealer doesn’t have any options since the rules for blackjack dictate that all choices are automatically decided by the total point value of the dealer’s cards. The dealer must draw cards as long as the total point value is 16 or less. The dealer must stand on any point total of 17 or more unless it is a soft 17. A soft 17 is a hand containing an Ace and totaling 17. Since the Ace is worth either 1 or 11, the dealer has either a 7 or 17. When the dealer has a soft 17 the dealer must draw a card.

Some sites allow a player to play multiple hands, usually up to three. Each hand is played independently of the other hands. The player plays each hand until a stand decision is reached or the hand is a bust. Then the player progresses to play the next hand and so on.

There may be subtle differences in the rules for blackjack depending on the site. Make sure you understand the site's rules for blackjack before you begin play. Don't assume that the rules are the same everywhere!

When selecting a blackjack table choose a table that suits your budget. Tables are listed based on the minimum/maximum limits. For example, a table option may say Table Min/Max $2/200. What that means is that you must bet a minimum of $2 and may bet anywhere from $2 up to $200 on any given hand. You can bet $2 one hand and $5 the next if you like. If you select the auto re-bet option you’ll be betting the same amount for each deal.

Some people use a betting theory while playing Roulette that if they lose they will keep doubling their bet figuring that eventually they’ll break even. Please do not try this while playing blackjack! Remember, blackjack is all about knowing the rules for blackjack and consistently using the Blackjack Chart regardless of how the session is going.

Many online sites use six decks of cards for each blackjack session and the cards are usually shuffled after each hand. Since multiple decks are being used you will encounter times when you receive duplicate cards, such as two 7 of clubs. Don’t be alarmed or think something is wrong when this happens.

Those are the rules for blackjack. Learn the rules, use the Blackjack Chart consistently, and you’ll be a winning blackjack player. Remember, blackjack is a game of skill.

Good Luck!!

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