How to Play Blackjack: Rules, Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

When someone mentions casino gambling, it's very likely that the first game that comes to mind is blackjack. Known by many names like Twenty-One or Pontoon, this game is played all across the world and enjoys enduring success thanks to its simple ruleset and accessibility. Let's take a closer look at what makes blackjack so appealing to so many people and all the different variations you could check out at online casinos with blackjack.

The Basics of Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the easiest games to play at the casino. Of course, it's much harder to be good at blackjack than it is to learn to play, but once you've got the basics down, building on that foundation is a matter of gaining experience and understanding deck probability. 

The aim of blackjack is simple: get a hand with a score as close to 21 as possible without going over, which is called going bust. If your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer, and you haven't gone past it, you win the game. Blackjack bets are almost always made at 1/1 payout, so you'll get double your stake back if you win.

If the dealer's face-up card is an ace or a ten, the dealer checks the hole card to see if the dealer has a natural blackjack. If they do, the hand ends. 

How to Play Blackjack Online

Playing online makes blackjack a much more streamlined experience. As with most online adaptations of games, the main benefit comes from the computer program showing you additional information which helps to inform your plays. Online play may also be faster, with hard and fast time limits and even purely solo play for an experience that doesn't leave you waiting around for anyone else at the table. 

Placing a bet for online blackjack is as simple as entering the amount you want to wager and hitting bet. But if you're playing in a lobby, you will have to wait until all players have placed their bets to start the game. 

What are the Different Variations of Blackjack?

Since blackjack is such a widespread game, it's unsurprising that there are many variations of the game across the world. Depending on the continent, country and even city you're in, the popular version of blackjack could change! So, let's take a look at the main difference between the most popular blackjack variations:

Classic Blackjack

As you might guess, Classic blackjack is the most basic and popular version of the game. It's the variation we recommend you learn to play first and the version you'll find the most at casinos and online. It usually has the double down and split rules, but no additional bells or whistles. In a casino, it'll usually be played with between six and eight decks in a shoe, but you can find variations of that from casino to casino. 

European Blackjack

This is the blackjack variation played in European casinos, such as in Monaco. While it's very similar to classic blackjack and is played in the same way, there are a handful of additional rules that end up favouring careful players rather than risk-takers. 

The core rule differences are:

• There is no hole card, and the dealer's second card is dealt after all player hands have been determined.

• Splitting doesn't apply to 4's, 5's or 10-value cards.

• The dealer stands on soft 17 but hits on 16

• The dealer always wins if they have blackjack (if the player also has blackjack, this goes to push)

• Players can double down after splitting

• Aces can be split, but players only receive one additional card for each Ace

Vegas Strip Blackjack

As usual, the Vegas Strip feels the need to be unique and have its own game variations. This is hardly a problem though, as we love to see more options. Vegas Strip blackjack has a few core rule changes that greatly reward risk-taking and can facilitate large stakes:

• Winning on blackjack will pay out 3/2 (so £15 profit on a £10 wager)

• The dealer will hit on a soft 17

• Up to four hands can be split, and you can double down on all of them. 

• Aces can only be split once and will only receive one card

Progressive Blackjack

Progressive blackjack doesn't change the rules of the core game, but it instead adds a side bet that you can opt into for an additional £1 (or $1 or €1 or whatever). This side bet will be triggered when you're dealt a specific combination of cards, and if you do trigger it, you'll receive a portion (or all) of the progressive jackpot. The payouts can be different depending on the game/casino.

Types of Bets in Blackjack

Blackjack is quite simple in terms of the kinds of bets you can make, but there is still some variation between the main bets and any side bets available. Let's take a closer look:

Main Bets

There are a few main bets you see in just about every blackjack game across the world: standard bet, double down and split. 

• Standard bet — you make this bet before the hands are dealt. Most blackjack hands will pay out at evens when they win, but if you win with a blackjack, it could pay out higher depending on which version you're playing. 

• Double down — a double down bet is when you're confident you can win with one more card, so you double your bet and are dealt one more card. 

• Split — when you split a hand, you add another bet to the game and play two hands. You can only split a two-of-a-kind, and some games restrict which kinds of cards you can split. 

Side Bets

Blackjack has a large range of side bets available depending on what table you're playing. Here are a few of the most common ones you see both at casinos and online:

• Insurance Bets — when the dealer deals up an ace, you can opt into an insurance bet. In this case, you're betting that the dealer has blackjack, as you'll otherwise lose your stake if they do. If the dealer does deal with blackjack, insurance bets pay out 2/1.

• 21+3 — this side bet pays out when your initial two-card hand, in addition to the dealer's face-up card, forms one of a list of combinations in a manner similar to poker. These are flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, suited strait and suited three-of-a-kind. 

• Super Sevens — this will pay out depending on how many sevens you get. The number and the suits will determine the profit line. 

• Match the Dealer — here, you can bet if either of your starting cards matches the dealer's up card. If it matches rank, it'll pay out 4/1, and if it matches suit on top of that, it's 11/1. 

Side bets are an interesting way to spice up your blackjack experience. However, the majority of experts advise staying away from them. The house edge for all of these bets (including insurance) is just too high to justify them, especially for rookies.