How to play blackjack

Players compete against the dealer. The players attempt to achieve a total of 21 points in their hand without going over 21 ("going bust"). In order to win, the player must achieve a total higher than the dealer’s. If the player and the dealer’s hands are equal then it is known as "a push" and no money is lost or won.

Each player must place a bet inside the space in front of him on the blackjack table (usually a circle or square). The cards are then dealt in a clockwise direction, around the table. Each player receives two cards, dealt from the shoe (the card holding device). For the players, the cards are dealt face up (exposed for all at the table to see), for the dealer, one card is dealt face up, the other is dealt face down (known as the “hole”).

The player then decides if he wishes to request an additional card. This can be done by pointing to his cards or saying “twist” (“hit” or “hit me” are also used, mainly in America). If the player does not want another card he can wave his hand over the cards or say “stick”.

In most countries and casinos you are not allowed to touch your cards. This is done to prevent cheating as in the past players have found ways to swap cards with other players, thereby improving their hands. In certain Las Vegas casinos you can still pick up your cards and when you want another card you brush them against the table, while if you do not wish to have another card you slide your cards under your casino chips.

The suits in blackjack do not matter - it is only the value of the cards that have any relevance. Tens, Jacks, Queens and Kings are all worth ten, whereas an ace can be used as one or eleven (that is the player’s choice). Cards from two to nine are counted at their face value, i.e. an eight and a six would give you a fourteen point hand. If the player is dealt 21 with two cards (an ace and a picture card or a ten) then they have the best hand and are paid out at odds of 3 to 2 (unless the dealer holds the same hand) as opposed to even money (the amount paid for any normal winning hand). Some casinos pay odds of 6 to 5 – do not play at these casinos unless you want to lose your money very fast!

If the player “goes bust” (by exceeding the total of 21) then the dealer withdraws both that player’s cards and his bet (the player loses in this case, even if the dealer also goes bust – a major advantage to the house). The player takes no further part in the hand until the next hand begins.

The player sitting to the left of the dealer is always addressed first, play then moves around the table in a clockwise direction, each player decides in turn how to play their hand.

When all of the players have played, the dealer turns over the hole card and plays out their hand. The bets are then either collected or paid out, depending on whether the player or dealer has won the hand.

Whereas the players have the option to stick or twist regardless of their holding, the dealer does not have that luxury. The dealer must continue to draw a card until their hand total reaches 17 or more at which point they must stop betting. Some casinos have rules where if the dealer has made 17 using an Ace (for example, with an Ace and six) then they must take another card. Where a dealer has 17 with an Ace, it is known as a ‘soft 17’, as opposed to a ‘hard 17’ where the dealer has made 17 without an Ace (eg a ten and seven).

In fact, the players have a number of options when they receive their hand, the player may “double down”, “split”, take out “insurance” or “surrender”. Each will be discussed in turn below:

a) Doubling down in blackjack

Doubling down is when you make an additional bet after receiving two cards. The bet is equal to the original bet and then the player is then dealt one (and only one) additional card. If the player wins the double down then he is paid out at even money. One would only consider doubling down on a hand total of nine, ten or eleven (you may find in some casinos that you are only allowed to double down with ten or eleven).

b) Splitting cards in blackjack

Splitting is an option that a player has if he receives a pair (e.g. two eights) on his first two cards. The player may split these cards in order to make two separate hands, in order to do this, the player must put in another bet equal to the original stake. The two hands are then played out in the normal manner. If a third card of the same value is dealt then the player normally has the option of splitting again (practises vary from casino to casino) in which case a third hand is established. Remember that if you are dealt a pair of aces and you split (as you should) and you hit blackjack (a 21 point total with two cards) then you are only paid out at even money (not at 3 to 2 as you would have been if you had been dealt blackjack initially).

c) Insurance in blackjack

This is only offered if the dealer’s face up card is an ace, the player is then given the option to bet an additional half of his original bet and if the dealer has blackjack then the insurance is paid out at two to one (ensuring that the player breaks even on the hand). If the dealer does not hold 21, then the insurance bet is taken and the hand played as normal. It should be noted that the insurance bet should not be taken, as it favours the house. Unless you know that the dealer has blackjack (for example, if the dealer has taken pity on you and told you that they do) then you should never, ever take Insurance on blackjack. It is one of the worst bets in the casino (for the player) and one of the easiest ways to spot a novice blackjack player is that they take insurance.

d) Surrender in blackjack

Some casinos allow an option known as surrender, this involves giving away half of your original bet in order to get out of a hand. This would only ever be employed if you were dealt 15 or 16 and the dealer’s card was a ten. Generally surrendering your hand in blackjack is a terrible bet unless you are an extremely good card counter or the casino has very generous rules about when you can surrender.