Blackjack Rules - Learn To Play Blackjack

Jump To Section: Blackjack Rules Crash Course Blackjack Card Values Player Decisions  - Hit  - Stand  - Push  - Split  - Double Down  - Blackjack  - Insurance Other Blackjack Rules  - Betting Limits  - Table Selection  - Buying Chips  - Cashing Out  - Tipping

Learning the basic rules to Internet blackjack is the most essential step that  a player needs to master to get them on their way to becoming a winning blackjack player.  While many new players think that they can simply sit at the table and get a sense of the game in a few minutes, having a proper working knowledge of the table and processes is very important not only for yourself but as a courtesy to the other players at the tables and the flow of the game.  In blackjack, the decisions that each player at the table makes can greatly impact the outcome of everyone's hand and the flow of the cards so it is therefore important the understand the rules before you decide to risk your own money on the game.  Below are all the essential factors that you need to know to become a sound and solid blackjack player and greatly increase your chances of winning when you play online.

To start off our blackjack rules section we are going to present a visual representation of a blackjack table to help familiarize you with the different areas on the table and what they all mean.  This is a good way to start off in learning the rules to blackjack and can alleviate some of the fear that first time players have by not understanding all the elements of the table.  Below is a photo depiction of a blackjack table along with each of the major sections defined for new players.

• The object of the game is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over and making a higher hand than the dealer or not going over 21 and hoping that the dealer does (known as a dealer bust)
   
• The game starts with all players at the table placing their bets (multiple hands if desired) and then the dealer will give all players in the hand two cards face up, and his or herself two cards (with only one face up)
   
• Assuming the dealer does not have blackjack (a 10 or face card combined with an ace) and no players on the table have blackjack (if they do they will be paid 1.5-1) the hands on the table will begin
   
• At this point, each player starting from left to right will have to make one or more or decisions with regards to what they would like to do with their hand
   
• The options that the player has is to Hit, Stand, Split or Double depending on the cards they have received and their combined value, players may also Push if they stand and have the same value as the dealer
   
• The player will continue to use one of these decisions until they are happy with the result of their total at which point they may stand
   
• If during this process a players total hand value goes over 21, they will have busted and will lose their bet
   
• Once all players in the hand have acted, it is the dealer's turn to play their hand, so now the dealer will flip over their hidden card to expose the total value of their hand
   
• If the dealer has a combined value of 17 or above, the dealer must stand, if the dealer has a combined value of 16 or below, the dealer is forced to take another card until he or she hits 17 or above or busts
   
• Once the dealer has met one of these criteria, all player hands that are higher than the dealer will be paid and all player hands lower than the dealer will be considered losses and chips will be taken by the dealer

Once you have a basic sense for the game from the crash course above, you will need to gain an understanding for the card values in blackjack so that you can easily and quickly calculate and understand the combined value of the cards in your hand.  To your left you will see a visual representation of the card values and combinations that can make up your hand while you are playing blackjack.  It is very important to note that in blackjack an Ace can have two values being either 11 or 1.  What this means is that your hand can switch values depending on the cards you are dealt which can be both beneficial and frustrating depending on your hand.  See example below:

You are dealt an Ace and a 2 in your hand, giving you a total value of either 3 or 13.  You choose to Hit and then receive a 4, now your total hand value is 7 or 17.  The problem now is whether or not to hit again and try and improve your hand or stand with your 17 and hope that the dealer busts or pushes and ties you.

As you can see, playing Aces in blackjack can be quite tricky and the correct actions in these situations are largely dependant on using proper blackjack strategy to aid in your decision making and ensure that you make the correct move based on the odds.

Below are some further resources to help you learn blackjack player decisions including some of the commonly used lingo and terms at the table that you will wan to familiarize yourself with before you begin playing.  It is important to know the commands and their related actions when playing blackjack to avoid confusion and potentially costly errors.  Below are the essential blackjack terms that are involved in playing the game.

Hit - Hitting simply means taking another card and adding it to your hand, if you bust (go over 21) you will lose your bet and if you stay under 21, you can hit again or stand.

Stand - Standing means you are satisfied with your current hand would not like to take another card, if you choose to stand the next player will get their turn to act.

Push - A Push occurs when the dealer exposes their card and the total value of their two cards is the same as the players.  If this happens, the player will not win or lose their bet but it will be returned to them for that hand.

Split - Splitting in regular blackjack may be done when you possess two cards that are the same (ex. two kings).  If this happens, you will have the option to split the kings into two seperate hands, but in order to do this, you must put another bet equal to your original wager and announce split to the dealer.  You will then continue normal play on both hands.  Most casinos allow players to re-split up to 4 times, so if after your first split you receive another king in our example you would be allow to split again.

Double Down - Players are allowed to double down in regular blackjack when they receive two cards that have a total of 9,10 or 11.  What this means is that the player must put another bet equal to their first directly beside their original wager.  The dealer will then give them one more card and they are not allowed to hit again after that.  Doubling is a good strategy to use when the dealer has a bust card, which is explained further in detail in our comprehensive strategy section.

Blackjack - Blackjack is not only the name of the game but also a saying when a player or dealer receives their first two cards and the total is 21.  If this happens to the player and the dealer does not also have blackjack, the player will be paid 1.5-1 their original wager (ex. $50 pays $75 on blackjack).  If both the player and dealer have blackjack, they will push the hand.  If the dealer has blackjack, all players will lose their hand without a chance to play.

Insurance - Insurance in blackjack is only offered to players if the dealers up card (the one card that is exposed) is an ace.  An insurance bet is exactly half of your original wager and pays 2-1.  The reason that some players make this bet is for fear that the dealer has blackjack.  If the dealer has blackjack and the player has made an insurance bet, they will lose their original wager but be paid 2-1 on their insurance bet so they will break even for the hand.  If the player takes an insurance bet and the dealer does not have blackjack, they will loose their insurance bet (1/2 of their original wager) and the hand will continue as normal.  Generally speaking, taking insurance is not advised as the blackjack odds stipulate that it is a losing bet over the long run.

Below are some other important rules and procedures that are used while playing blackjack and should be learned to make sure that you have a full working knowledge of the game.  Since the whole process can be intimidating for first time players, we have added this section to get rid of any misconceptions about the process and help new players learn proper etiquette and procedures while at the table.

Betting Limits - When you go up to a blackjack table, there will always be a plaque or electronic display to inform players of the tables betting limits.  This board will show both the minimum and maximum limits that players are allowed to bet at the the specific table.  It is a good idea to take note of this before you sit down as often many players may become embarrassed by placing a bet under the minimum when in reality they may not want to play the actual stakes of the table.

Table Selection - Choosing a table to play blackjack at is an integral part of having either a great or not so great experience while at the tables.  Although it is scientifically not viable, the atmosphere of the table can sometimes have an impact on how it is performing and generally speaking avoiding tables with angry, losing or otherwise unhappy players is a good idea.

Buying Chips - When you sit down at the blackjack table, you simply need to place your cash on the table and the dealer will then count it and give you an equivalent amount of betting chips.  It is important to note that the dealer will not take the money directly from you for security reasons so you must place your money on the table for the dealer to pick up.  Once you have done this, the dealer will yell out something like "money change" or "cash in" to the pit boss, who will supervise the exchange of chips to ensure that the accurate amount is given to the player.

Cashing Out - When you are ready to leave a table, you may simply get up and leave or you may request a "colour up" from the dealer.  What this means is that you want to exchange your chips for high value chips (ex. say you had 12 $25 chips, you could colour up for 3 black chips - $300).  Once you have left the table, if you want to change your chips for cash simply visit one of the cashiers located throughout the casino floor.

Tipping - Tipping the dealer is a customary practice in blackjack for players that win a big hand or have done very well for that particular session.  Tip amounts are completely at your discretion and are not mandatory but appreciated by the dealers.  To give the dealer a tip, you may simply put a chip across the playing line and tell them it is for the dealer, at which point they will take the chip and put it in the "tote box" which is where tips are held.

For more information on other blackjack terms including popular slang and player sayings that occur in the game, check out our blackjack terms glossary that lists all of the lingo that players use while at the tables.