Contents
Blackjack Basics
How to Play Blackjack
Blackjack Rules and Variations
Understanding the House Edge
Blackjack Strategy
Blackjack Strategy: Hitting and Standing
Blackjack Strategy: Doubling Down
Blackjack Strategy: Splitting Pairs
Blackjack Strategy: Surrender
Blackjack Strategy: Insurance
Blackjack Money Management
How to Count Cards in Blackjack
Learn more with these titles from Barnes & Noble
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- Basic blackjack play, etiquette, and common variations
- The right time to hit, stand, double down, split pairs, and more
- The secrets to managing your money and counting cards
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Blackjack Basics
Blackjack, also known as twenty-one, has long been a popular card game among both
casino high-rollers and casual players. One or more players along with a dealer are necessary in order to play blackjack. Each player plays solely against the dealer, not against the other players. The goal is to build a hand of cards whose sum value is as close as possible to, but not greater than, 21. If your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand, you win. If the dealer’s hand is closer to 21, or if you bust—meaning that the sum of your cards exceeds 21—you lose.
The Layout of a Blackjack Table
A typical blackjack table consists of the following elements:
- Players: 1–7 players may sit at a single table. From the players’ perspective, the game progresses from the rightmost player (first base) to the leftmost player (third base). The number of players in the game never affects playing strategy.
- Dealer: Starting with the player to his or her left, the dealer hands out the cards to all players, including him- or herself. While players can build their hands in any way they choose, the dealer must follow specific rules (see Blackjack Rules and Variations).
- Players’ hands: The dealer deals cards face up directly in front of each player. A hand starts at two cards, though a player can ask for more.
- Dealer’s hand: This is placed near the chip rack (see below).
- Betting area: The circular or rectangular area in front of each player is referred to as the betting area.
- Chips and chip rack: A player joining a game of blackjack buys chips. These chips are placed as bets in the betting area. Players keep their own chips in front of them, while the dealer keeps the other chips at the table in a chip rack.
- Shoe: A plastic or metal box from which cards are dealt. Most casino games deal cards from a shoe, though some games that use just a single deck do not.
- Table rules: These are rules that govern the game and the dealer’s playing behavior.
Hand Values
In blackjack, all hands—including the dealer’s—have a value equal to the sum of the value of the cards they contain. The values of the cards in the deck are as follows:
- Face cards (jacks, queens, and kings) are equal to 10.
- Aces can equal either 1 or 11.
- All other cards equal their face value (a 5 is worth 5, a 7 is worth 7, and so on).
At the blackjack table and in this chart, all cards worth 10 will be called 10s, even if their actual denomination is a jack, queen, or king.
Soft Hands and Hard Hands
In blackjack, an ace can be counted as either a 1 or an 11. A soft hand contains at least one ace valued at 11, while a hard hand contains no aces or at least one ace valued at 1. If you have a hand that contains one or more aces, first count all aces as 11s. If doing so puts your hand over 21, count the aces as 1s instead.
For example, if you’re dealt an ace and a 4, first count the ace as 11, making your hand’s value 11 + 4 = 15. If you then choose to be dealt another card and receive an 8, which brings your hand’s value to 11 + 4 + 8 = 23, count the ace as 1. This brings your hand’s value to 1 (for the ace) + 4 + 8 = 13. If you hold multiple aces, you may alternate their values, counting one ace as a 1 and the other(s) as 11, if doing so benefits your hand.
Blackjack Etiquette
Blackjack creates a unique social situation with its own etiquette. The following set of dos and don’ts will help you behave like a professional at the blackjack table.
Do:
- Determine your hand’s value yourself: The dealer may do this for you, but dealers can make mistakes.
- Speak up if a mistake has been made that costs you money: The dealer will usually correct it as politely and efficiently as possible. On the other hand, you’re not required to point out errors in your favor.
- Tip the dealer occasionally: As with most service professionals, dealers depend on your tips for income. Tipping may also lead to a more pleasant playing experience.
- Ask questions if you’re unsure about anything: Dealers are typically happy to answer questions and can provide helpful guidance throughout the game.
Don’t:
- Touch your cards: Doing so will make the dealer and other casino personnel nervous and will probably result in a stern reprimand. One rare exception: in a variation of blackjack played with one deck and in which cards are dealt face down, you can touch your cards with one hand.
- Talk to other players while they’re deciding how to play their hands: They may be deep in concentration, and you shouldn’t distract them.
- Touch chips you’ve bet after the cards have been dealt: This can be misconstrued as cheating. You can, however, touch your unbet chips.
- Berate the dealer: It’s impolite and ineffective. The dealer has little control over whether you win or lose.
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