How to play blackjack

The goal of blackjack is simple - to get as close as possible to 21 without going over, and to have a higher hand than the dealer. If the dealer goes over 21, they bust and lose the game. The same goes for you.

1. 1

   Join a table

   You’ll join the blackjack table. Once all players are ready, each one is dealt two cards face up. The dealer also receives two cards - one of them face up, the other face down.
2. 2

   Decide whether to 'Hit' or 'Stand'

   Work out the value of your hand, as well as that of the dealer, to get as close as possible to 21 without going bust. You can either use your instinct or learn more in our blackjack tips guide.
3. 3

   Choose to 'Hit'

   Ask the dealer for another card. Do this when, based on the?current value?of your cards, either you're sure that the next card won’t cause you going bust, or you're willing to run the risk of the dealer getting a better hand.
4. 4

   Choose to 'Stand'

   Ask the dealer to move on to the next player and deal you no more cards. You'll probably do this when the value of your cards is quite high already (e.g. over 17), and you're can't be sure whether the dealer's hand will beat yours.
5. 5

   Your hand value

   As a result of the move you just made, you’ll probably have a new hand value. You'll remain in the game if your hand is valued at 21 or anything less.
6. 6

   Dealer reveals their cards

   After all players at the table have made their decisions, the dealer will reveal their facedown card.
7. 7

   See who is closer to 21

   If your hand is closer to 21 than that of the dealer, you bust the dealer and win. If the dealer has 21 or a closer score to 21 than any of the other players, the dealer wins. The dealer will issue your winnings if you’ve been lucky. Your payout amount will depend on the type of bet that you placed.

• Regular wins pay 1:1

  This is when the value of your cards is closer to 21 than those of the dealer.
• Blackjack wins pay 3:2

  This is when your cards equal 21.
• 16 and below

  Dealer must hit on any hand valued at 16 and below.
• Hit or Stand

  Players have the basic choice of adding a card to their hand (hitting) or not (standing) to reach a final hand value of 21, or closest to it. They can also double down or split...
• Split

  Turn your hand of two into two separate hands, for an extra chance to beat the dealer. This is an option when you have two cards of equal value.
• Double Down

  You can choose to double your bet mid-hand, but you'll receive just one card and you won't have the option to take another. While it's not necessarily your best move to double down on anything other than a 10 or and 11, some casinos will let you double down regardless of what you're holding. However, some online casinos limit the option.

• Insurance

  If a dealer shows an Ace as their face up card, they'll invite players to take insurance. This protects you in case the dealer has a card valued at 10.
• Surrendering

  In some online casinos, you can surrender half your bet if you don't like your hand. The option varies from casino to casino.
• Soft 17

  A soft hand is a hand that has an Ace in it. It's called soft because the hand has two values - either 1 or 11, plus the other cards. Some blackjack casinos require the dealer to hit on a soft 17 while others require that they stand. Make sure you check the rules before you play.
• Taking even money

  If you hit a blackjack but the dealer is showing an Ace, you'll push (tie) if he also happens to have a Blackjack. If you don't want to risk not winning, you can choose to take even money. Instead of getting paid 3:2, you'll get paid 1:1.