Online Blackjack Rules Explained

The Basic Goal

Blackjack has one primary objective with a crucial constraint.

Core concept:

Your hand must total closer to 21 than the dealer's hand. If your total is higher than the dealer's without exceeding 21, you win.

Going over 21 is called "busting." If you bust, you lose immediately regardless of what the dealer holds. This is why reckless hitting can be disastrous.

The dealer also follows rules and can bust. If the dealer busts while you haven't, you win even with low totals like 12 or 13.

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You don't need exactly 21 to win. A hand totaling 19 beats the dealer's 18. Understanding this prevents the common beginner mistake of hitting too aggressively trying to reach 21.

Card Values and Dealing

Knowing how cards are valued is the foundation of everything else.

Card Value System

The counting system is straightforward:

• Number cards (2-10): Face value exactly as shown
• Face cards (Jack, Queen, King): All count as 10
• Aces: Count as either 1 or 11, whichever benefits your hand more

How Aces work:

When an Ace counts as 11 without busting your hand, you have a "soft" hand. For example, Ace-6 is "soft 17" because the Ace counts as 11.

If counting the Ace as 11 would bust you, it automatically counts as 1 instead. This flexibility makes Aces the most valuable cards.

A hand with no Aces, or where Aces must count as 1 to avoid busting, is called a "hard" hand. For example, King-7 is "hard 17."

Initial Deal

Understanding the deal sequence matters for strategy.

Dealing procedure:

Each player and the dealer receive two cards. In most online blackjack games, both player cards are dealt face-up while only one dealer card is visible (the "up card"). The dealer's hidden card is called the "hole card."

In European blackjack variants, the dealer takes their second card only after all players complete their hands. This changes strategy slightly since the dealer can't have blackjack until the very end.

An Ace plus any 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen, King) on your first two cards is called "blackjack" or "natural 21." This typically pays 3:2, meaning a $10 bet wins $15. Blackjack beats regular 21 made with three or more cards.

Player Actions

After the initial deal, you choose how to play your hand using several options.

Hit

Request another card added to your hand total.

When to hit:

You can hit as many times as you want until you either stand voluntarily or bust by exceeding 21.

Hitting on low totals (8-11) carries almost no bust risk. Hitting on higher totals (12-16) requires careful consideration based on the dealer's up card.

Online platforms typically show a "Hit" button you click to request cards. Cards appear instantly with your new total calculated automatically.

Stand

Keep your current total and take no more cards.

When to stand:

Standing ends your turn. The dealer then plays according to fixed rules before comparing totals.

You typically stand when your total is strong enough that taking another card would likely cause a bust. Hands totaling 17 or higher usually stand, though strategy varies based on dealer's up card.

Double Down

Double your original bet, receive exactly one more card, then stand automatically.

Doubling strategy:

Doubling is most valuable when you hold 10 or 11 and the dealer shows a weak card (2-6). Your strong total plus their weakness creates profitable situations worth risking extra money.

Some tables allow doubling on any two cards, others restrict it to totals of 9, 10, or 11. This rule variation significantly affects strategy and house edge.

After doubling, you're committed to just one card. You can't change your mind and hit again if that single card is disappointing.

Split

When dealt a pair, you can split them into two separate hands with an additional bet matching your original wager.

Splitting rules:

Each card from the pair becomes the first card of a new hand. You receive one additional card for each and play them independently.

You can usually hit, stand, or double down on split hands just like normal hands. Some casinos restrict doubling after splits (DAS), which increases the house edge.

Key splitting guidelines:

Always split Aces and 8s. Aces give you two chances at blackjack, and splitting 8s turns a terrible 16 into two potentially strong hands.

Never split 5s or 10s. A pair of 5s makes a strong 10 for doubling, and splitting them creates two weak hands. A pair of 10s gives you 20, which is already excellent.

Surrender

Some tables offer surrender, letting you forfeit your hand immediately and lose only half your bet.

When surrender helps:

Surrendering is mathematically correct in rare situations, typically when holding hard 16 against a dealer 9, 10, or Ace. You're likely to lose, so cutting your loss by 50% saves money long-term.

Not all online blackjack games offer surrender. When available, it appears as "Late Surrender" meaning you can only surrender after the dealer checks for blackjack.

Dealer Rules

Understanding dealer behavior is crucial since you're playing against a programmed opponent with fixed responses.

Standard dealer rules:

1. Dealer must hit on 16 or less: No choice or strategy involved. If the dealer has 16, they take another card automatically.
2. Dealer must stand on 17 or higher: Once reaching 17, the dealer takes no more cards regardless of what players hold.
3. Soft 17 variations: Some tables make dealers hit soft 17 (Ace-6), while others make them stand. Dealer hitting soft 17 increases the house edge by about 0.2%.
4. Dealer checks for blackjack: If the dealer's up card is an Ace or 10, they peek at their hole card to check for blackjack before players act. If they have it, the hand ends immediately.

The dealer has no discretion. They follow these rules mechanically, which is why basic strategy charts work perfectly against them.

Payouts and Outcomes

Knowing what you win matters just as much as knowing how to play.

Standard payouts:

• Blackjack: 3:2 on your bet (bet $10, win $15)
• Winning hand: 1:1 even money (bet $10, win $10)
• Push (tie): Bet returned with no win or loss
• Losing hand: Lose your entire bet
• Insurance (if offered): 2:1 when dealer has blackjack

Warning about 6:5 blackjack:

Some tables pay only 6:5 for blackjack instead of the standard 3:2. This seems like a small change but adds about 1.4% to the house edge, making these games terrible for players.

A $10 bet at 3:2 pays $15. The same bet at 6:5 pays only $12. Over time, this difference destroys your expected return.

Always check payout terms before playing. If blackjack pays anything other than 3:2, find a different table.

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FAQ: Online Blackjack Rules Explained

What is the goal of blackjack?

Beat the dealer's hand total without exceeding 21. You don't need exactly 21, just a higher total than the dealer without busting.

How do you play blackjack online?

After receiving two cards, choose to hit (take cards), stand (keep your total), double down (double bet for one card), or split pairs. Beat the dealer without exceeding 21.

What do face cards count as in blackjack?

All face cards (Jack, Queen, King) count as 10. Number cards count as face value, and Aces count as 1 or 11.

What is blackjack or natural 21?

Blackjack is an Ace plus any 10-value card dealt as your first two cards. It beats regular 21 and typically pays 3:2 instead of even money.

When should you split in blackjack?

Always split Aces and 8s. Never split 5s or 10s. Other pairs depend on the dealer's up card and specific strategy charts.

Does the dealer hit or stand on soft 17?

Depends on table rules. Some make dealers stand on soft 17, others make them hit. Dealer hitting soft 17 increases the house edge slightly.