Blackjack is a popular card game where each player competes against the dealer, not against other players.

When played for fun (rather than real money gambling) you may also know the casino game of blackjack as Twenty One, 21, Pontoon, or in Europe – Vingt-et-Un.

It is played with standard decks of 52 playing cards and the objective is to get as close to, or equal to 21 without going over and getting a higher value hand than the dealer.

The dealer is dealt one card face-up and you are dealt two cards face-up.

Blackjack is a combination of an Ace and a card with a value of 10. It is the strongest hand in the game and automatically stands. Blackjack can not be beaten, only matched.

After you have been dealt your two cards and the dealer has their cards, if you do not have blackjack then you have the option to Hit or Stand.

When you Hit, you are dealt one card.

When you Stand, you end play and can not receive any more cards.

The dealer has to Stand on 17 or more.

You can continue to Hit and take more cards until you either Stand and end play, or go over 21 and bust –  when busting the player loses automatically, losing you that round of play.

All face cards have a value of 10 and aces have a value of either 1 or 11.

What Are The Blackjack Rules?

Learning the basics of blackjack can be fun and rewarding.

Understanding the rules of blackjack can help you review your decisions and consider if there are any better options available.

Knowing the rules is like having tips and tricks that will help you win more money. This is because by following a basic blackjack strategy you can increase the payout rate of the game.

At Casino Sites Online we consider it our mission to help you understand how and where to play casino games. We have written some guides to give you all the information needed to make internet gambling fun, entertaining and rewarding. We recommend that you also check out these guides to help with playing blackjack online:

Online Casino Games Payout Rate

Basic Blackjack Strategy

When Can You Double Down In Blackjack?

When you double down, you are dealt one card and your hand stands.

You can double down on your first two cards if they are a hand with a value of 9, 10 or 11.

This double down bet is equal to your original bet amount. By doubling down you are making an extra bet on the same game round.

You should do this only when your hand of 9, 10 or 11 is one or higher than the dealers’ face-up card value.

On some blackjack games online you can not double down after a split.

When Should I Split In Blackjack?

Splitting takes your two dealt face-up cards and separates them into two hands.

You can only split two cards that have the same value and when you split, a bet equal to your original bet amount is placed on the second hand.

You are then dealt a new card to each hand.

You can only split once per game, equalling two hands and both hands are completed before the dealer plays their hand.

Blackjack Betting And Payouts

If your first two cards are an Ace and a card with a value of 10, you have Blackjack and your hand stands.

Blackjack pays odds 3:2 on your original bet amount.

A standard win pays 1:1 on your bet amount.

If the dealer has a hand that is above 21 then the dealer is bust and your hand wins.

If both you and the dealer have blackjack or the same value then the hands push. On a push, your bet amount is returned to you.

What Is The Blackjack Online Casino House Edge?

The Return to Player (RTP) is the theoretical statistical percentage payout rate of a game. It is calculated by taking the payout amounts as a percentage of the bet amounts over time and millions of game rounds.

The RTP is fixed and does not change. Blackjack ‘European Gold Series’ at Skol Casino has an RTP of 99.60%.

What Is Blackjack Basic Strategy?

Now that you have discovered the basics of how to play blackjack you can see that it is a game that is easy to get into but challenging to master.

To master it you need to learn when to Hit or Stand to achieve the highest probability of getting the best outcome and winning.

This applies over long periods of time and many game rounds and cuts the house edge from 1 to 2 percent, to 0.5 percent.

Basic strategy teaches you when to Hit or Stand, Double Down or Split:

Stand when your hand is 12 to 16 and the dealer has 2 to 6.

Hit when your hand is 12 to 16 and the dealer has 7 or higher.

Always split Aces and 8s.

Double 11 versus a dealer 2 to 10.

Hit or double when you have Ace to 6.

Online Blackjack Tips

Whether you are a beginner who wants to get into casino games or someone who already knows the essential rules of blackjack, we can all benefit from hearing a few tips and reminders.

The game of blackjack is fast-paced, fun, and exciting. It is one of the most popular casino games around the world. When playing blackjack then you must remember to protect yourself by sticking to the basic strategy.

Blackjack is a game of statistics. If you ever get stuck while playing, just remember that when playing online blackjack at an internet casino there is no time pressure to complete your hand. Just keep an eye on your cards, check against the basic strategy instructions and see which ones you should play to potentially beat the dealer’s hand.

When playing for real money at online casinos make sure that you are always in control and gambling responsibly.

Further information about gambling safely online can be found here: What is responsible gambling?

Other tips to follow are:
– Never take insurance.
– Never play side bets such as ‘21 + 3’ or ‘Perfect Pairs’. They have a higher house edge and are therefore additional bets that should be avoided.

Where Can I Play Blackjack Online?

Are you thinking to yourself, where can I play blackjack online?

Don’t worry! We have listed some of the newest and best casino websites for UK players to play blackjack.

Now that you know when to double down, split, hit and stand it is time to put your skills into practice.

If you are just starting out or have already played before, we have plenty of recommended sites information here about blackjack to help you get started.

Casino Sites with Blackjack