Blackjack basics
Blackjack rules for beginners
Cards 2 to 10 count their number, face cards count 10, and an Ace counts 1 or 11. Beat the dealer total without going over 21. A blackjack, an Ace with a 10 value card as your first two cards, pays 3 to 2.
These answers are for a 6 deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17, blackjack pays 3 to 2, and you can double on any two cards, including after a split.
Why
If you go over 21 you bust and lose, whatever the dealer does afterward. If the dealer busts, every hand still in play wins. If you tie, it is a push and you keep your bet.
The dealer does not choose anything. The dealer hits every total of 16 or less and stands on 17 or more. At the tables these pages cover, the dealer also stands on soft 17.
Table rules are printed on the felt or posted at the table. The ones that matter most are how much a blackjack pays, whether the dealer hits soft 17, and whether you can double after a split.
The play against every dealer card
| Result | Pays |
|---|---|
| Blackjack (first two cards) | 3 to 2 |
| Win | 1 to 1 |
| Push (tie) | Bet returned |
| Insurance win | 2 to 1, and still a bet to decline |
Questions players ask
- What does an Ace count as in blackjack?
- An Ace counts as 1 or 11, whichever helps the hand.
- Is a blackjack the same as 21?
- No. A blackjack is 21 with your first two cards and pays 3 to 2. 21 with three or more cards is a regular win.
- Does the dealer have to hit 16?
- Yes. The dealer hits 16 or less and stands on 17 or more.
Related answers
- How to play blackjack
- Blackjack dealer rules
- What does blackjack pays 3 to 2 mean?
- What is a push in blackjack?
- Common blackjack mistakes beginners make
- Blackjack basic strategy chart
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