A Beginner’s Guide to Blackjack

Blackjack, known by some as “21,” is a beloved card game where players aim to beat the dealer with a hand that most closely totals 21 points. While it’s mainly a game of luck and chance, Blackjack has its fair share of strategies that can help you get the most out of your bets and payouts. We’ll teach you everything you need to know, including how to set up your game, how to play, and how to maximize your chances of success in a round.

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In Blackjack, every player is betting against the dealer. The individual non-dealer players aren’t playing against one another.
The goal of the game is to get a higher hand than the dealer without going over 21. Going over 21 is called busting.
If a player has a better hand than the dealer without busting, they win their bet. If they have a worse hand, the dealer takes their bet.

Section 1 of 5:

Blackjack Objective

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The goal of Blackjack is to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21. In Blackjack, every player is competing against the dealer—not each other. In a given round, the player’s ultimate goal is to get a hand that’s higher than the dealer’s (without being higher than 21, or "busting"). Only by beating the dealer can a player win their bet. Players determine the value of their hand by tallying up the point values of their cards:^{[1]
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- 2 through 10: The number listed on the card (e.g., 2 is worth 2 points)
- Jack, Queen, King: 10 points
- Ace: 1 or 11 points (the player gets to choose)
- An Ace and a 10, Jack, Queen, or King equals 21 points and is known as a Blackjack.

Section 2 of 5:

Blackjack Rules

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All the players make a bet with their chips. Using whatever betting materials they have on hand, each player wagers a certain amount of currency (before they even get their cards). All players must submit their bets before the round officially starts.^{[2]
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- This is also known as a "buy-in" or minimum bet.
- If you have poker chips on hand, divide them among the players so everyone can make their bets. If you aren’t playing for cash, feel free to use anything you have a lot of lying around your home (like matches).^{[3]
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The dealer gives a card to each player as well as themselves. The dealer hands a card face-up to each player and then places a card face-down in front of themselves. It’s okay if the players can see each others’ hands—all that matters is that they can’t see the dealer’s first card.^{[4]
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- A 52-card card deck is used to play Blackjack. The dealer needs to remove the Jokers and shuffle the cards before distributing them.
As they did before, the dealer passes another face-up card to each player. This time, though, the dealer places their second card face-up in their hand (leaving the first card face-down still).^{[5]
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To keep things organized, have the player left of the dealer go first each round; from there, gameplay continues in a clockwise direction.^{[6]
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Decide if you want to stay or hit. Take a look at your 2 cards and add the numerical total together—how close is it to 21, and how does it compare to the dealer’s hand? If the total is pretty high (like 17 or 18, which is very close to 21), “staying” (leaving your hand as-is) is probably your best option; if your total is on the low end (like in the single digits), “hitting,” or getting another card added to your hand, could be beneficial.^{[7]
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- Staying simply means that you don’t want the dealer to give you another card that’ll get added to your total. This is signified by holding your hand flat and waving it.^{[8]
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- Hitting means that you’d like the dealer to add another card to your hand, and is signified by tapping the game table with your pointer and middle finger. You can hit as many times as you’d like until you reach or go over 21.^{[9]
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Give each player time to look over their cards and let the dealer know if they’d like to hit or stay. Players who hit too often may end up busting, or getting a card total that’s over 21. They automatically lose the round as well as their initial bet.^{[10]
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The dealer reveals their second card and winners are determined. At this point, the dealer flips over their original card to reveal their hand total. If the total is 16 or lower, they’re required to hit and take another card. If the card is 17 or higher, the dealer is required to stay.^{[11]
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- Keep in mind that the dealer has to play by different rules than the rest of the players.
- If the dealer gets a Blackjack, all the players automatically lose the round, unless they have a Blackjack themselves. In this case, they push—in other words, the player who got Blackjack simply gets their original bet back. A push also occurs anytime the player’s hand matches the dealer’s.
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Bets are paid out and a new round begins. Any player with a hand that’s higher than the dealer’s (but not higher than 21) wins the round (unless they busted).^{[12]
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Research source} All winning hand gets paid in a 1 to 1 ratio; if you bet 1 chip, you win 1. If you have a 21-point (Blackjack) hand, you typically get paid out at a 3 to 2 ratio—so, if you bet 2 chips for the round, you’d get rewarded with 3 (leaving you with 5 total chips)^{[13]
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- After the round ends, the dealer collects the cards, shuffles them, and starts a new round.

Section 3 of 5:

Special Gameplay Techniques

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SplittingIf your second card is identical to your first (e.g., two 8 cards), you have the option to “split” your hand into 2 separate ones. Place the same number of chips down for your split bet, and then ask for the dealer to “hit” each of your hands. Think of splitting as just giving yourself an extra turn for the round—each hand is separate from the other. Even if one hand busts, you still continue playing with your other hand.^{[14]
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- If you split 2 Aces, the player can only hit each hand one time. If you end up getting a point total of 21 on one of your hands, this isn’t considered a Blackjack (in terms of payout), but it still pushes if the dealer gets a Blackjack.
- Any 2 cards with the same point value can split, like a Queen and a Jack (which are both worth 10 points).^{[15]
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  Research source} This rule varies by casino, though, so double-check with your dealer before you try this maneuver.
- Separate your pointer and middle finger into a “V” shape and place them on the table to let the dealer know that you’re splitting.
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Doubling downYou have the option to “double down,” or double your initial bet before the dealer gives you another card—this gives you the chance to earn significantly more money in a single go. Doubling down only lets you hit once, but it can be a lucrative way to have a successful round if you feel that luck is on your side.^{[16]
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Research source} It’s best to double down when you have a lower hand, like an Ace/11, since getting a 10-value card would jump you up to a Blackjack.
- Signal to the dealer that you want to double down by touching an extended pointer finger to the game table.
- If you don’t feel like doubling your bet, feel free to bet a lower amount instead.^{[17]
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- You can double down on any hand that’s lower than 21, including split hands. The main thing to remember is that you can’t hit after you’ve doubled-down.
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Surrendering If you have an especially bad hand, “surrender” to the dealer instead of hitting or staying. Surrendering deducts 50% off your original bet, but it can save you from a total loss.^{[18]
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Research source} To signal a surrender to the dealer, slide your pointer finger in a horizontal line on the game table.
- Not all casinos may let you surrender.^{[19]
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Side-betting (insurance) All players have the opportunity to place a side bet (better known as “insurance”) whenever the dealer’s first card appears as an Ace—by placing a bet, you believe that the dealer has a 10-point value card face-down in their hand (thus giving them a Blackjack). This “insurance” bet can be equal to or less than your original bet.^{[20]
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- If the dealer has a Blackjack: Your first bet loses (unless your hand is a Blackjack as well), but your side bet gets a 2 to 1 payout. For example, if you bet 1 chip on the side bet, you’d get 2 back (giving you 3 total).
- If the dealer doesn’t have a Blackjack: You lose all the chips you put down for the insurance bet.
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Basic strategy While there’s a lot of chance involved with Blackjack, you can optimize your chances of a successful round by factoring in the totals of your cards. Some people have even made a spreadsheet-like chart that helps you quickly analyze the best move to make based on your current hand.^{[21]
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- Check out wikiHow’s Blackjack cheat sheet here.

Section 4 of 5:

Common Blackjack Strategies

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While there’s always the chance that you could receive an Ace, 2, 3, or 4 if you ask the dealer to hit, the odds aren’t in your favor. It’s always safer to stay and hope that your hand won’t be lower than the dealer’s—the chances of busting and knocking yourself out at this point are much higher!
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Assume that the dealer's face-down card is a 10. In a given deck of cards, 16 of the 52 cards have a value of 10 points (the 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings). While it's definitely not a guarantee that the dealer's hidden card is a 10, the odds for 10 specifically are better than any other individual card value—so, it's a pretty reasonable strategy to take as a beginner.
- More advanced players don't use this strategy and instead opt for more sophisticated methods, but it's a good strategy for beginners.^{[22]
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In Blackjack, the dealer is required to hit if their hand is less than 16.^{[23]
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Research source} Let’s say the dealer’s first card is a 6, and then their next card is a King (valued 10), giving them a total of 16. The rules would require the dealer to hit again, since their hand is lower than 17, but the chances of them getting an Ace, 2, 3, or 4 are low compared to the other cards. Because of this, it’s safer to assume that a low first card means that the dealer will bust.
While insurance can be a lucrative way to make some money (especially if your original bet fails), it’s nearly impossible to predict if the dealer will have a 10 face-down when they first reveal an Ace in their hand. Instead, play it safe and decline when the dealer offers insurance bets.^{[24]
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Section 5 of 5:

Proper Casino Etiquette

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For security purposes, most casinos require all money to be laid out on the table, so it’s clear how much the player is betting. The dealer will then count the money, accept the funds, and distribute the proper amount of chips based on how much you paid.^{[25]
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Leave your cards on the table and don’t touch them. In Blackjack, you aren’t supposed to pick up your hand—after all, you don’t have any reason to hide it from the dealer or your fellow players. Instead, leave your cards untouched on the table after the dealer puts them down.^{[26]
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- Some casinos may allow you to handle the cards, but only you to do so with one hand.^{[27]
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Use hand signals to call your plays. For security purposes, casinos require players to physically demonstrate their gameplay decisions so there’s no confusion or debate later on.^{[28]
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Research source} To review, the hand signals are as follows:
- Hit: Tap the table with your pointer and middle finger
- Stay: Wave a flat hand above the table
- Surrender: Draw a horizontal line with 1 finger
- Split: Spread your pointer and middle finger in a “V” shape and touch the table with them
- Double down: Touch the game table with an extended pointer finger
Blackjack strategy charts can be a helpful resource when you’re in the heat of the game, but the dealer might not be keen on you checking your phone during the round. Instead, confirm with the dealer and see if it’s okay first.^{[29]
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Give the dealer a tip once you’re done playing. Depending on how much you’re walking away with, give the dealer a small bonus as a thanks for running the game. Many players opt to give the dealer somewhere between $5 and $10, but you’re welcome to give more if you’ve really won big.^{[30]
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When do you place the bet?

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Place your bet before the cards are dealt. Split, double down, and insurance bets take place after the cards have been dealt.

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If my hand is lower than the other players' hands but beats the dealer, do I win?

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Yes. Each of the players is playing the dealer only, not the other players.

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Does the house almost always deal a 10?

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Not always, but the chances are a lot higher, seeing as every deck, has a 4/13 (16/52) chance of getting a 10.

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Tips

If you’re playing Blackjack in a casino, refrain from joining any games that offer a 6 to 5 payout for Blackjack. This earns you less money than a traditional 3 to 2 payout model.^{[31]
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