How Do You Play Blackjack?
How to Play Blackjack You compete against the dealer in blackjack, rather than other players. It’s often known as “21” as the aim of the game is to have a hand that either has a combined total of 21 (known as blackjack), or closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand without exceeding it. All cards have a specific value in blackjack. Number cards from two to ten are all worth their face value. Aces count as either 1 or 11 and face cards (jacks, queens and kings) are counted as 10. Suits aren’t taken into account.
Guide to Blackjack
Blackjack is one of the most popular Casino games in the world. It’s not hard to see why either – it’s exciting, fast-paced, and simple to pick up but tough to master. You won’t have played it like this anywhere else though. The ultimate blackjack experience awaits you. Before you get started at our tables, make sure you understand how to lay blackjack. See below for plenty of useful information on blackjack rules, although you’ll want to remember these rules are for standard blackjack games and some games will have their own specific rules.
Card Values
It’s also easy to pick up the values of the cards. Regular cards, numbering two to ten, are simply worth the number on the cards. Face cards, which are jacks, queens and kings, all have a value of ten. The only card with a different rule is the ace. The ace can be either worth one or 11, depending entirely on what best suits your hand. When played as an 11, and ace is known as being ‘soft’, while an ace played as a one is ‘hard’. It’s important to note that a soft hand cannot go bust if you draw another face card, because the ace card’s value can be either one or 11.
What Is Splitting in Blackjack?
As well as hitting, you have the option to split. Splitting in blackjack means you can also have some additional options when you’re playing blackjack, depending on the initial two cards you receive. One of these is split, which will turn one hand into two separate hands. You can split when you’re dealt two cards of the same value - for example a three and a three, or a 10 and a jack. Some online blackjack games also give you the option to split equal hands more than once. Once you’ve split, the new two hands are played independently of each other, which means you'll be betting separately on each hand. They can then win or lose separately, depending on how the game plays out. If you split two aces, most games only allow you to draw one additional card to each of the new hands, which restricts your options later in the game.
What Is Doubling Down in Blackjack?
Doubling down means, after you’ve received your initial hand, you can double down instead of hitting. This allows you to double your initial bet, but it then restricts you to just one hit, regardless of which card you receive. Some games also allow you to double down after splitting, though each hand would be limited to one hit. If you have a hard hand (one without an ace), it’s best to double down if your cards add up to a total of ten or eleven, as no additional card will take you over 21, although it’s risky if the dealer is showing a ten or an ace.
What Is Surrendering in Blackjack?
Despite your best efforts, sometimes you will get a bad hand. If you think there’s no way to turn it around, you can surrender and end the hand immediately while forfeiting half of your bet. You can only surrender after the first two cards and if you have yet to hit or double down. You’ve also got to give the dealer the chance to check if they have a blackjack in their hand. If their two cards total 21, you’re not allowed to surrender as the game has to be completed.
Playing Blackjack Online with Betway
With over 25 different online blackjack games to choose from, you’re spoilt for choice at Betway Casino. We’ve got European Blackjack, Vegas Strip Blackjack, Atlantic City Blackjack and much more for you to enjoy. There's also Live Blackjack, which allows you to face a human dealer in real time thanks to HD live-streaming, bringing the glamour of a real casino to the comfort of your own home. Whichever online blackjack game you choose, the basic blackjack rules are much the same. First, you’ll have to place your bet before being dealt two cards. If you’re playing with European rules, the dealer will then deal themselves one card. Under Atlantic City rules, they’ll receive two cards – one face up, one face down. After you’ve seen your two cards, you can “hit” to receive another card. It might take you closer to 21, but it could also take you above it, which means you’ll bust and lose any money wagered. The dealer must continue to hit until their hand reaches a total of at least 17. In most games, they also hit on a “soft” 17 – where their hand has an ace and the other card(s) in the hand total six. If the dealer busts and their hand exceeds 21, you’ll win as long as your hand does not.
