Blackjack
Blackjack tables and variants
Beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21 — with one hand or several, single or double deck, with or without side bets.
Blackjack games
2 games
The basics
You and the dealer each start with two cards. Number cards count at face value, picture cards count as 10 and an ace counts as 1 or 11. Your aim is to finish closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. An ace with a ten-value card as your first two cards is a blackjack.
Your options
- Hit — take another card.
- Stand — keep your total.
- Double — double your bet and take exactly one more card.
- Split — split a pair into two hands with a second bet.
- Surrender — in games that offer it, give up half your bet and end the hand.
Why the rules differ
The number of decks, whether the dealer stands on soft 17, and which side bets are available all change the game’s return. Every table shows its rules and payouts in the game help screen.
Questions and answers
Does basic strategy guarantee a win?
No. Basic strategy only reduces the house edge over many hands; any single hand can be lost. Play within the budget you set.
What is multi-hand blackjack?
You play several hands against the same dealer hand in one round, with a separate bet on each.
What are side bets?
Optional extra bets — for example on your first two cards forming a pair. They are settled separately and usually have a lower return than the main game.