If you've played blackjack a few times, you probably understand the basics. But certain rules and situations can be confusing, especially when they vary from casino to casino. Understanding these details helps you make better decisions and avoid costly mistakes. This guide breaks down all the standard blackjack rules in detail. We'll cover how cards are dealt, what actions you can take, how the dealer plays, what happens in special situations, and how rule variations affect your odds. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of how the game works from start to finish.
The Objective and Basic Setup
The goal of blackjack is to beat the dealer. You do this by having a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer's hand without going over 21.
You don't compete against other players at the table. Each player plays their own hand against the dealer independently. Other players' decisions don't affect your odds, though they may change which cards come out of the deck.
Card values:- Number cards (2-10): Face value - Face cards (Jack, Queen, King): 10 - Aces: 1 or 11 (your choice, whichever helps your hand) Most blackjack games use multiple decks shuffled together — commonly 6 or 8 decks. Some casinos use single-deck or double-deck games, which have slightly different odds.
How a Hand Is Dealt
Here's the exact sequence of a standard blackjack hand:
1. Betting phaseBefore any cards are dealt, all players place their bets within the table's minimum and maximum limits. You can't change your bet once cards start being dealt.
2. Initial dealThe dealer gives each player two cards face-up. The dealer also takes two cards: one face-up (the "upcard") and one face-down (the "hole card"). In European blackjack variations, the dealer only takes one card initially and draws the second card after all players finish their hands.
3. Checking for dealer blackjackIf the dealer's upcard is an Ace or a 10-value card, the dealer checks their hole card to see if they have blackjack (a two-card total of 21). If the dealer has blackjack, the hand ends immediately. All players lose unless they also have blackjack, which results in a push (tie).
4. Insurance offer (if dealer shows an Ace)When the dealer's upcard is an Ace, players are offered "insurance" — a side bet that the dealer has blackjack. We'll cover insurance in detail below, but it's generally not recommended.
Player Actions Explained
Once the initial cards are dealt and the dealer doesn't have blackjack, each player decides how to play their hand.
Hit
Taking another card to improve your hand. You can hit as many times as you want until you either stand or bust (go over 21).
When you should hit:- Your hand totals 11 or less (impossible to bust) - You have a weak hand (12-16) and the dealer shows a strong upcard (7 through Ace)
Example: You have 9, dealer shows 7. You should hit because 9 is too weak to beat a likely strong dealer hand.
Stand
Keeping your current hand and ending your turn. You're betting your total is strong enough to beat the dealer.
When you should stand:- You have 17 or higher (risk of busting is too high) - You have 12-16 and the dealer shows a weak upcard (2-6), hoping the dealer busts
Example: You have 18, dealer shows 6. You should stand because 18 is strong and the dealer is likely to bust with a 6 showing.
Double Down
Doubling your original bet in exchange for receiving exactly one more card and ending your turn. This is useful when you have a strong starting total and the dealer shows a weak card. You're essentially saying "I like my chances with one more card."
Common doubling situations:- You have 10 or 11 (good chance of making a strong hand) - You have a soft hand (like Ace-6) against a weak dealer card
Restrictions:- Some casinos only allow doubling on totals of 9, 10, or 11 - You usually can't double after splitting (though some casinos allow it)
Example: You have 11, dealer shows 5. This is an ideal double-down situation — you're likely to draw a 10 and make 21, while the dealer is in a weak position.
Split
When your first two cards have the same value, you can split them into two separate hands. You place a second bet equal to your original bet and play each hand independently.
Standard splitting rules:- You can only split pairs of the same value (two 8s, two Kings, etc.) - Each hand is played separately with its own decisions - If you split Aces, you usually only get one additional card per hand (no hitting allowed) - Some casinos allow re-splitting if you draw another matching card
Strategy guidelines:- Always split Aces and 8s - Never split 10s or 5s - Split other pairs based on the dealer's upcard For more detail, see our [blackjack strategy guide](#).
Example: You have two 8s (totaling 16). Splitting turns one terrible hand into two playable hands starting with 8 each.
Surrender
Giving up your hand and forfeiting half your bet. This option isn't available at all tables. There are two types: -
Early surrender: You can surrender before the dealer checks for blackjack (rare) -
Late surrender: You can only surrender after the dealer checks for blackjack (more common)
When to surrender:- You have 16 against a dealer 9, 10, or Ace - You have 15 against a dealer 10 Surrender is a defensive move that cuts your losses when you're in a very bad situation.
How the Dealer Plays
Unlike players, the dealer has no choices. The dealer must follow fixed rules:
Standard dealer rules:- Dealer must hit on 16 or less - Dealer must stand on 17 or more
Variation: Soft 17 ruleAt some tables, the dealer must hit on "soft 17" (a hand with an Ace counted as 11, like Ace-6). This rule increases the house edge slightly because it gives the dealer more chances to improve weak hands. The dealer's fixed rules mean you can predict their likely outcomes based on their upcard. For example, a dealer showing 6 has a high chance of busting because they must keep hitting until they reach at least 17.
Special Situations and Rules
Blackjack (Natural 21)
If your first two cards total 21 (an Ace plus a 10-value card), you have blackjack — also called a "natural."
Blackjack payout:- Standard payout: 3:2 (a $10 bet wins $15) - Inferior payout: 6:5 (a $10 bet wins $12)
Always avoid 6:5 blackjack tables. This rule variation dramatically increases the house edge from around 0.5% to over 1.5%. If both you and the dealer have blackjack, it's a push and you get your bet back.
Push (Tie)
When your hand and the dealer's hand have the same total, it's a push. Your bet is returned and neither side wins.
Insurance
When the dealer shows an Ace, you're offered insurance — a side bet that costs half your original bet and pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack.
Why insurance is a bad bet:Insurance is mathematically unfavorable unless you're counting cards. The payout doesn't match the actual probability of the dealer having blackjack. Only about 30.8% of the time will the dealer's hole card be a 10-value card. You're betting at 2:1 odds on something that happens less than one-third of the time.
Recommendation: Decline insurance every time.
Even Money
If you have blackjack and the dealer shows an Ace, you may be offered "even money" — an immediate 1:1 payout instead of waiting to see if the dealer has blackjack. Even money is mathematically identical to taking insurance on your blackjack, and it's equally unfavorable. You should decline even money and take your chances.
Rule Variations That Change the House Edge
Not all blackjack games are the same. Small rule differences significantly impact the house edge.
Rules that favor the player (lower house edge):- Blackjack pays 3:2 (standard) - Dealer stands on soft 17 - Doubling allowed on any two cards - Doubling allowed after splitting - Re-splitting Aces allowed - Late surrender available - Fewer decks (single-deck is best)
Rules that favor the house (higher house edge):- Blackjack pays 6:5 (avoid these tables) - Dealer hits on soft 17 - Doubling restricted to certain totals - No doubling after split - No re-splitting Aces - No surrender option - More decks (8-deck games are common) A standard 6-deck game with favorable rules has a house edge around 0.5% when you use basic strategy. A 6:5 blackjack game with unfavorable rules can have a house edge over 2%. For more on this topic, see our guide on [house edge in blackjack](#).
Etiquette and Table Protocol
Understanding the social rules helps your experience run smoothly:
At physical casinos:- Don't touch your cards in games where they're dealt face-up - Use hand signals for your decisions (dealers rely on these for casino cameras) - Don't touch your bet once cards are dealt - Wait for the dealer to finish paying before placing your next bet - Be respectful to the dealer and other players
Online blackjack:- Most etiquette rules don't apply - You can play at your own pace - Rules and payouts are clearly displayed in the game info