Blackjack Rules – How to Play Blackjack?
Whether it's called Blackjack or Black Jack: Almost everyone has probably heard of this game. But not everyone knows the Blackjack rules to be able to enjoy the card classic themselves. Are you one of them? Then you've come to the right place, because we'll explain the Blackjack game rules to you in an understandable way down to the smallest detail.
Have you tried playing Blackjack before but couldn't quite follow the game? Then it's a good idea to read through the Blackjack rules once again - because as soon as you've understood them, you'll become a true professional in no time. You can even put your newly acquired knowledge to the test directly in the GOLDEN GRAND Online Casino, as we offer the card game in all possible variations. So: Keep reading and soon enjoy your first winnings at Blackjack! We'll show you how it's done.
Blackjack – Centuries of Gaming Fun
Blackjack is probably known to everyone nowadays, or at least everyone has heard the name. But did you know that this classic has been played for several hundred years?
In fact, the card game was invented in France as early as the 17th century. At that time, however, it was known as Vingt-et-Un (twenty-one) and was played mainly by the aristocracy in French casinos. It wasn't until much later, in the 18th and 19th centuries, that the game spread to other regions of Europe and finally made its way to the USA, where the modern Blackjack rules developed.
The game only received the name "Blackjack" in the 20th century, also in the USA, as casinos there offered a special bonus at that time: If a player received an Ace and a black Jack (i.e., with Clubs or Spades), the winnings were paid out 10:1. This bonus was later abolished, but the name remains to this day.
Today, Blackjack is one of the most popular card games worldwide and can be found in almost every casino in numerous different versions - including here at GOLDEN GRAND. The classic Blackjack remains the most popular, which is why we primarily refer to this version in the following text. However, many other exciting variants have developed over time - such as Spanish 21 or Blackjack Switch. Once you understand the basic Blackjack rules of the classic version, the other variants of the game will no longer pose a problem for you.
Black Jack Rules Explained Simply – The Basics
"How does Black Jack work?" is a question that unfortunately cannot be answered in a single sentence. However, the goal of the game is definitely to get as close as possible to 21 with the value of the cards, without exceeding it. You always play against the dealer and not against the other players. So what cards the other players have is irrelevant to you and your winnings.
At the beginning of each round, you receive two cards from the dealer, which you cannot exchange during the game. The dealer also receives two cards and it's now about who gets closest to 21. But how do you know how much each card is worth?
The Card Values in Blackjack
There are fixed Blackjack rules that state which card has which value. The distribution looks like this:
- Number cards (2–10): With the number cards, it's very simple, as the respective number is also the value. So the 2 has a value of 2, the 3 has a value of 3, and so on.
- Face cards (Jack, Queen, King): The face cards each have a value of 10.
- Ace: The Ace is a very special card in Blackjack, as it can have two different values - either 1 or 11. Which value the Ace has is simply decided by what is more favorable at the moment. For example, if you already have 18 points in your hand, the Ace automatically counts as 1, as you would otherwise exceed the value of 21. But if you have 10 points in your hand, the Ace counts as 11, of course.
The card values are among the most important Blackjack game rules that you should definitely memorize - because in this game, you decide for yourself when to draw another card and when not to...
The Game Process: How Does Black Jack Actually Work?
You now know the Blackjack rules for card values. Next, we'll focus on the game process. How does a Blackjack round actually work and what should you know as a player?
The first step in each round is placing the bets. You simply place these on the tableau. In Blackjack, you can determine how high your bet is yourself, although in most cases there is a set minimum and maximum amount.
Subsequently, each player receives two cards from the dealer and he also deals two cards to himself. The only difference: For the players, both cards are face up on the table according to the Blackjack rules, while one card of the dealer remains face down. So you can only see one card of the dealer and therefore don't know what the total value of his two cards is. Then the decision is up to you:
- Hit (draw a card): You have the option to draw a card to improve the hand value. Always remember that the goal is to get as close as possible to 21, but without exceeding it. You can perform this action multiple times in a row.
- Stand (stay): If you're satisfied with your hand or don't think it's wise to draw another card, you can simply stay with your current hand value with two cards.
- Double Down: If you choose "Double Down", it means that you double your bet and draw exactly one more card.
- Split: A split is only possible if you have two cards of the same kind at the beginning - for example, two 8s. These can then be split into two separate hands. For the second hand, you must place an additional bet equal to the first bet. But you can also decide against separating the cards and continue playing with one hand.
- Surrender: This action is not available in all casinos and game versions, but it allows you to surrender after receiving the two cards at the beginning of the game, i.e., before your first action, leave the game and get half of your bet back.
The Dealer's Turn
There are also Blackjack rules that the dealer must follow. However, these are set up differently than those for the players.
After all players have made their decisions, the dealer turns over his second card, thus revealing the total value of his hand. If the dealer's cards have a total value of less than 17, he must draw another card. In general, he continues to draw cards until his hand value is at least 17. There is sometimes a special rule when the dealer has an Ace and a 6. This combination is called a "Soft 17" and depending on the casino and game variant, different Blackjack rules apply here about whether another card must be drawn or not.
Winning at Blackjack – These Rules You Should Know:
After the dealer has also had his turn, the Blackjack rules are very simple: Whoever is closer to 21 than the dealer wins. But: If your total value is over 21, this counts as a "Bust" and you have automatically lost. That's why the big question in Blackjack is: When to draw - and when not to? On the other hand, if the dealer goes Bust, all players who haven't gone Bust themselves automatically win. Of course, there can also be a tie (Push). In this case, you keep your bet but don't win anything extra.
You can also win with a Blackjack, of course. If your first two cards are an Ace and a 10-value card (for example, a Queen), you have a Blackjack and the total value is exactly 21. As long as the croupier doesn't also have a Blackjack, you've won with this.
How high your winnings can be, you can see from our Blackjack table:
| Type of Win | Payout |
|---|---|
| Win without Blackjack | If you win by being closer to 21 than the dealer, but don't have a Blackjack, the payout is 1:1. |
| Win with Blackjack | If you win with a Blackjack, the payout is higher and is 3:2. |
| Tie (Push) | A Push is not a win, but also not a loss. You keep your full bet. |
Blackjack Rules for Side Bets & Other Game Versions
Perhaps you've also heard of the "21+3 rule" in Blackjack. This is a popular side bet that combines the Blackjack game with elements of another card classic: Poker. The aim of the bet is for the player's first two cards together with the dealer's face-up card to form a certain poker combination (Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Straight Flush or Suited Trips). Suited Trips means that there are three identical cards, for example three Queen of Spades. This is possible when Blackjack is played with multiple decks, which is often the case. According to Blackjack rules, the payouts are as follows:
| Type of Win | Payout |
|---|---|
| Flush | 5:1 |
| Straight | 10:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 30:1 |
| Straight Flush | 40:1 |
| Suited Trips | 100:1 |
Apart from that, there are of course many other versions of the game, each with its own Blackjack rules. Some of the best known are:
- Spanish 21: In this version, all 10-value cards (not the face cards) are removed from the deck, there are additional bonus payments for some combinations, and players can double after splitting or even split multiple times.
- Blackjack Switch: Here you play two hands simultaneously and according to the Blackjack rules, you're allowed to swap the top cards of the two hands. Also, the dealer can win with a value of 22, as long as the player doesn't have a Blackjack.
- Double Exposure Blackjack: The most important difference in this variant is that both of the dealer's cards are face up from the beginning; however, the croupier also wins in case of a tie.
- Free Bet Blackjack: In this version, the Blackjack rules allow the player to perform a Double Down or Split for free. Here too, the dealer can win the round with a value of 22.
- Pontoon: This is a British version of Blackjack where both of the croupier's cards are face down. The player can win with a Pontoon (combination of an Ace and a face card or 10) and also by having five cards without going Bust (Five Card Trick).
Understood the Blackjack Rules? Have Fun Playing!
Once you've internalized the rules of the game, you can participate in your first Blackjack round right here, in the GOLDEN GRAND Online Casino. Exciting, isn't it? You can choose between classic Blackjack and other exciting versions, and who knows - maybe you can even cash in your first big win right away?
Besides Blackjack, we of course offer many other game classics, including Roulette, Baccarat and Hold 'em. Whether you prefer to play these as a table game or in our glamorous Live Casino is entirely up to you. A large selection of slots is also waiting for you and no matter how many hours you spend at GOLDEN GRAND: It will never get boring here, guaranteed!
FAQ
When do you win at Blackjack?
You can win in the game in various ways. If you have Blackjack, you always win - unless the dealer also has one. Otherwise, you win by getting closer to 21 than the croupier, or if the croupier goes Bust but you don't.
When should you draw another card in Blackjack and when not?
This question can't really be answered as it's a game of chance and the decision is always entirely up to you. However, if your hand value is 11 or less, you should always draw a card, as there's still no risk of going over. With a hand value of 17 or more, many players tend not to draw another card as the risk of busting is very high.
Are there Blackjack rules that differ from casino to casino?
Yes, some rules can vary: The number of decks, the dealer's behavior on a soft 17, the number of allowed splits as well as doubling after split, the payout for a Blackjack, and the side bets are most often affected by individual variations.
