Card Values
Cards in Online Blackjack are worth their face value and all picture cards are worth 10. Ace can be considered as either 1 or 11 in value, depending on what works best for your hand.
Order of Play
Part of the attraction of Blackjack is that it is such a simple game to learn. When the game starts, you set your bet amount and then you receive two face-up cards to play against the dealer. The dealer will deal himself one card face-up and another face-down. If there are other players at the table, the dealer will deal himself last.
Hit or Stand
It's now your turn, and at this point, there are a couple of actions you can make:
Hit - By 'Hitting', you'll receive another card from the dealer. You can keep hitting as many times as you like, but you'll automatically lose if you go over 21.
Stand - If you're happy with your hand, then you can 'Stand', which means you'll stick with your current cards, and it's now the other players turn to make a move. Only once all players have finished will it be the dealer’s turn to act.
The dealer will reveal the entire hand by turning over the second card, which until now has remained hidden. Then, the dealer has to play by the Blackjack rules, which vary slightly from game to game. Usually, this means he will keep 'Hitting' until he either stands on cards worth 17 or better (and won't receive any more cards) or he'll go bust, which means you win automatically. Remember, if the dealer's hand total is more than yours, a score of 21 or less means that he'll win.
There are also advanced options that you should know about, as they're going to be a crucial part of your Blackjack strategy. When used correctly, the following advanced options will give you a lower house edge:
RULES: HOW TO PLAY BLACKJACK?
Surrender
By using the surrender option, you can fold your hand and receive back half of your stake. If you think you're going to lose, then this option may be a good idea as you won't lose your entire wager. Different variations will allow you to surrender at different stages of the game, so be sure to read the game rules beforehand.
Splitting
If your starting hand consists of a pair or two cards worth 10, you can split them into two new hands and receive new cards for each one. You'll also need to double your bet. Why would you do this? Because it gives you two chances to beat the dealer.
Double Down
After receiving your first two cards, you can decide to double down, which means you double your stake and will only get one more card. Think of it as an all or nothing move. Once selected, your turn is over, and the dealer will reveal his cards.
Side Bets
At the beginning of a round, you can choose to wager on a side bet as well as the main game. There are various types that may involve your hand or the dealer’s. The most popular side bets are Perfect Pairs, 21+3 and Insurance.
Insurance
The insurance side bet pays 2:1 and you are betting that the dealer has Blackjack (a hand that has an ace and a 10-point card). The bet is treated separately from your primary wager.
Multi-Hand
If you see the option to play multi-hand, it means that you can bet on up to five different hands at once. It's just like playing at five seats at once at the casino's Blackjack table.
If you ever get stuck in the middle of a game or want to learn about a specific variation, each of our Blackjack games has a handy 'Help' menu, which contains all the essential information you'll need, such as the game rules, odds, payouts and terminology.