Blackjack for Dummies
Blackjack is popular for good reason. Its rules are easy to understand – you can play this game competently within an hour.
This guide will brief you on the basic blackjack rules and terms for beginners. Let’s get going!
How Do I Win At Blackjack?
You must make a hand that beats the dealer to win at Blackjack. To do this, your hand should be as close as possible to 21 points, without going over 21.
If your cards combined value excdeeds that of the dealer, you’ll win your stake doubled. If the dealers cards are closer to 21, you lose your stake. The same happens if you go over 21. Blackjack, meaning that you hit 21 on your cards pays out accordingly to rules of that specific blackjack game, but usually 3:2.
Blackjack Card Values
To win consistently at Blackjack, you must understand the value of your cards. Here’s the lowdown on what they’re worth:
| Card | Value |
| Ace | Ace can be worth 1 point or 11 points – depending on which value (a) gives you a better score and (b) does not cause you to go bust. For example, if you are dealt an Ace and a 6, it counts as 17 if you stand. But if you hit and you are dealt a 7, you would have 14 points, as 24 points would bust your hand. |
| 2-10 | These cards are worth their face value. Therefore, a 6 of hearts is worth 6 points. |
| Jack, Queen, and King | These face cards are worth 10 points each. |
To calculate your score, add up each card in your hand. Your starting hand can have a value of 4 to 21.
If your hand is worth 21, that’s a Blackjack. A Blackjack is an unbeatable hand – at worst, the dealer can only tie it by also getting 21. And if they lose, you get paid out at 3:2 odds!
Blackjack Terms Meaning
If you’re new to game of Blackjack, its terms can be confusing. As you encounter them, look them up in this handy table:
| Term | What It Means |
| ?? Ace | This card is worth either 1 or 11 points – whichever gives you a better score. |
| ?? Bankroll | Money used specifically for gaming purposes. Always keep this sum separate from your personal accounts. |
| ?? Bet Behind | Betting on the hand of another player. This option is available on some live dealer blackjack tables when all seats are occupied. |
| ?? Blackjack | A popular table game where players try to draw as close to 21 as possible without busting (going over 21). |
| ??? Busting | Drawing to any score over 21 (22 or higher). Do this, and you lose. |
| ?? Double Down | Doubling your initial wager in exchange for getting one more card. |
| ?? Face Card | Jacks, Queens, and Kings, which are worth 10 points. Tens can also be considered face cards. |
| ? Hard Hand | Any hand without an Ace. These hands lack the flexibility of a soft hand (e.g., a soft 14 can be 4 or 14, while a hard 14 is 14.) |
| ?? Hit | Asking the dealer for another card. |
| ?? House Edge | The gaming site advantage over players. If you bet $1/hand and the house edge is 2%, the house will (on average) earn $2 profit over 100 hands. However, due to short-term luck, you can profit over that same period. |
| ?? Insurance | A side bet that pays out at 2:1 if the dealer has a Blackjack. |
| ?? Monkey | Monkey is a slang term meaning any card with the face value of 10 (so 10, J, Q, and K). It is common to hear this term at land-based casinos when the dealer has hit a 12 - 16 hand and is forced to draw one more card. |
| ?? Rummy | A side bet available in some blackjack variations. If the first 3 cards are of the same rank (ex. 5H, 5S, 5D), or same suit (All Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs, or Spades). Rummy hands pay 9:1. |
| ?? Side Bet | Many poker variations offer side bets. They are additional bets that pay out regardless of the result of your main hand. Some side bets include Insurance, Rummy, 21+3 blackjack side bet, and Perfect Pairs. |
| ?? Soft Hand | Any hand with an Ace. The Ace can be worth either 1 or 11 points, dependent on what gives you a better score, like a soft 17 with A6. |
| ????? Split | Separating a pair into two separate blackjack hands. |
| ??? ?? Stand | Refusing additional cards. After this, the dealer will draw additional cards following game rules. |
| ??? Surrender | Giving up your hand before the dealer moves. You give up half your initial bet and retain the other half. |
What is Doubling Down In Blackjack?
As stated above, doubling down allows you to double your wager in exchange for receiving one more card. Therefore, it can be a profitable move if you have a strong hand (one with a starting value of 9-11).
American Blackjack allows you to double down on ANY hand. But in European Blackjack, you can only do this on hands with a starting value of 9 to 11.
What Is Splitting In Blackjack?
Splitting in blackjack allows you to separate pairs. This act creates separate hands, thereby increasing your potential profit.
The American and European games have different rules for splitting. For example, in European Blackjack, you can only split once per round, but in the American game, you can do it three times. Most US online casinos offer both versios, but we always prefer the American.
What is Insurance in Blackjack
Insurance is an optional side bet that pays out when the dealers upcard is an Ace. If the dealer has a 10, they will ask if you want an insurance. If you do, you can place a wager that is half the size of your initial stake. If the dealers upcard is an easy, you will get a 2:1 payout on that sidebet, but lose your total wager.
What is Surrender in Blackjack
In some variations of blackjack, you can surrender half your bet and keep the other half before the dealer turns their upcard. This is generally not recommended unless you draw a very hand against an Ace or 10.
What is Monkey in Blackjack
Monkey is a very prolific slang term in Blackjack, which means a card which face value is 10. It’s not really a term that’s directly associated with any action of the game.
There are many explanations on how the term came to be, but the most likely is that it was shortened from “monarch” meaning all the picture cards of the deck. Nowadays people often also shout monkey for any card which they hope the dealer will bust with, since they no longer know the orginal meaning of the term “monkey” in blackjack.
What is Rummy in Blackjack
Rummy is a special type of side bet, where you need to land 3 cards of same suit or the same number to win. It’s a quite rare side bet and in online blackjack it’s marked as “R” on the blackjack table. Rummy pays 9:1. Land based casinos rarely offer Rummy side bet.
Blackjack Hand Rules: How to Play a Hand of Blackjack
Now that you understand Blackjack’s basic terms, let’s walk through a hand together.
- Place your bet. This can be any amount between the table minimum and maximum. After this, you will receive two cards, and the dealer will get one (European Blackjack) or two (American Blackjack) cards. In American Blackjack, one of the two cards will be face down.
- Determine your score. As stated earlier, your starting hand can be worth anywhere between 4 to 21 points. Once you’ve done this, decide whether to hit or stand. You can also double down or split your hand if these options are available to you. Remember: your goal is to get as close to 21 without going over.
- Hit. This step is optional – if you have a great score (17 or better) after the deal, you’ll want to stand. Otherwise, you’ll want to hit. Do this, and the dealer will give you another card that will add to your score. If eligible, you can also double down or split your hand.
- Stand. Do this once you’re satisfied with your hand’s score. After that, the dealer plays. The dealer follows the protocol set by the game you’re playing. But usually, the dealer hits until their hand is worth 17 points or more.
- Showdown. Once the dealer stands, you’ll show down your hand. You win if you have a higher score than the dealer (without exceeding 21). Typically, a winning hand pays out at 1:1 (even money), but Blackjacks pay 3:2!
