Table Game Rules: Blackjack Rules

The Basics

Without doubt one of the most popular of all the games to be found at the best UK online casinos, and at real-world clubs too, Blackjack is a very compelling card game where the player goes head-to-head against the casino's dealer. The player's objective is to build a hand with a value that beats the dealer's but without exceeding the maximum permitted value of twenty-one. When counting hand values in classic Blackjack, all picture cards take the value ‘10', and Aces can be assigned values of either ‘1' or ‘11' to create the optimum hand for that player. Achieving ‘21' with just two cards is the sought after ‘Blackjack'.

Playing Blackjack

Depending on the house rules of the Blackjack table you're playing at a casino, the dealer's deck comprises of between one and eight decks of standard playing cards.

Any player wishing to participate in a hand must place an ante bet, which has to be at least the table's advertised lower limit. After all ante bets have been placed every participating player is dealt a hand of two cards face-up, and the dealer two-cards with one ‘blind', i.e. face down. The player(s) must then review their cards and, in consideration of the single dealer's card they can see face up, proceed in one of the following ways:

Hit – The player requests another card from the dealer. The player can ‘hit' his hand as many times as they like but must be wary of their hand exceeding the value of ‘21' and ‘busting'.

Stand – The player ‘stands' when they are happy with the hand value they're holding and their turn is complete.

Further player options that are very commonly found in Blackjack are:

Split – The two cards in the hand are of equal value (e.g. two ‘4's or two picture cards) so the player can choose to ‘split' the hand and receive two more cards to commence playing each of them separately. To ‘split' the player must also double their initial ante bet.

Double Down – Should the player's two-card hand total nine, ten or eleven they have the option to double their original bet and receive an additional card. One a ‘double down' the player is obliged to stand after they've received the third card.

Insurance – When the dealer's initial hand shows an Ace, the casino's rules for that Blackjack game may allow players an optional sidebet to insure against the dealer achieving Blackjack when they reveal their blind card. This insurance bet typically half the player's ante.

Surrender – This option, where offered, allows a player to fold a weak initial hand, losing only half their ante. Surrender is only permissible as the first decision by a player. When the dealer's upcard is an Ace, the casino may allow one of two surrenders – early or late. Early surrender is less common as it favours the player, allowing them to surrender before the dealer checks his cards for Blackjack. Late surrender is when the dealer checks his hand for Blackjack and, if it is not, then allows players the option to surrender.

Should a player ‘bust' their hand by going over ‘21', they automatically lose to the dealer. If they remain in play by standing on an eligible hand the dealer then plays their hand, however the dealer has no freedom of choice and must play that hand according to set rules (see below). If the dealer does not bust, at the moment he is obliged to stand the hands are compared and the highest value wins. Should the final hands be equal in value the dealer declares a Push and the player's ante is returned.

How the Casino's Dealer Must Play Their Hand.

Two rule variations are common to the Blackjack in both real-world and online casinos, and which is in use will be advertised on the Blackjack table's layout. The two rules are as follows:

Dealer Stands On All 17s – The most common rule in play, this obliges the dealer to hit their hand up until it reaches a value of ‘17' or over whereupon, if they have not bust, they must stand. Whereas players can choose to play any Aces high (‘11') or low, the dealer must count Aces as high unless it would bust their hand. The dealer cannot play any alternative ways.

Dealer Hits Soft 17 – Less common, this rule is the same as above save for one difference. If the dealer's hand achieves a soft total of 17 (i.e. one or more Aces form that hand) they must hit that hand. The dealer must stand on a soft 18 or higher, or hard 17 or higher. For the sake of clarity, a soft hand is one that could have two possible values because an Ace is present (e.g. Ace, 8 could be a soft hand of 9 or 19) whereas a hard hand is one that can only take one value (e.g. Queen, 7 is a hard 17).

Playing Online

The UK online casinos we list all offer Blackjack games and often with several variations such as Pontoon to add a little choice to proceedings. We always advocate reading any online casino's specific game guides for two reasons: (1) the casino you want to play may offer some interesting variations on the basic game described above which might add a little buzz to your Blackjack entertainment, and (2) it should also describe how the game's player controls work. Also keep an eye out for freeplay ‘for fun' versions of an online casino's Blackjack games too, as these are an ideal way to ‘try before you buy', so you're at ease with the game's options and betting procedure when you want to play for some real green.