Top 8 Blackjack Game Rules
You probably know that most online casinos will offer blackjack in its classic form as well as its countless variants. If you want to play blackjack online, you must learn the top 10 blackjack game rules properly to win the cup! Choose the blackjack variant you want and familiarize yourself with its guidelines.
Classic Online Blackjack
If you’ve ever played blackjack in the past, it’s a safe bet that you already know the classic blackjack rules. This game offers a 5% profit margin at the casino. If you adopt an appropriate strategy, you can significantly increase your winnings. You can play classic blackjack live from your computer or mobile device. Do you want to learn the rules? Read on!
- How to play classic blackjack?
Classic blackjack is played with one to eight decks of 52 cards.
An ace is worth 1 or 11 points. The faces (Kings, Queens, and Jacks) are worth 10 points. Cards from 2 to 10 correspond to their face value.
The value of a hand corresponds to the total sum of the cards that constitute it.
Blackjack is the most powerful hand in the game. It includes two cards, an ace, and a face, and is worth 21 points. The most powerful second hand is a 21-point hand made up of at least 3 cards of lower face value. The scope of the game remains to beat the house without ever exceeding 21.
At the start of the game, the dealer deals two cards to each of the players as well as to himself after placing the bets. During a classic blackjack round, one of the dealer’s two cards will be visible. This is the revealed card’. The second will remain invisible. This is the hidden card. If the dealer has blackjack, all players lose, except in the event of insurance. On the other hand, if you have a hand with a value higher than that of the dealer, you win.
If you have a 21-point hand and the dealer also has a 21-point hand, there is a tie. It’s a push. In this case, no one loses or wins. The dealer will simply return the bet that you had placed. The dealer will always deal the cards starting with the player furthest to the left of the table. Here are the different actions that a player may have to perform during a round:
Stand = The player decides to stay on his positions and not to draw any additional cards.
Hit (Pull a card) = The player requests an additional card to the dealer. If the value of your hand exceeds 21 points, you bust, according to official terminology.
Double Down = The player chooses to double their bet and simultaneously receive an additional card. If you choose this option, you can only get one additional card!
Split = If you have a pair, you will be able to double your bet and split your cards to make two separate hands. The dealer will give you an additional card for each of your two hands. Ultimately, you will end up with 4 cards.
Surrender – Some casinos allow their players to give up their hands. In doing so, half of their stake will be returned to them. You can only use this option after receiving your two initial cards. If you draw an additional card, you will no longer have the opportunity to do so.
Insurance – You have the option of taking out insurance if the dealer’s open card is an ace. You can accept to take it for half of your initial bet. If the dealer has blackjack, you win the round. The insurance payout ratio is 2 to 1.
Blackjack Game End
Once the players’ turn is over, the dealer will turn his card to reveal the value of his hand. If the dealer has a hand of which value is less than or equal to 16 points, he will have to draw an additional card. If the dealer has a cumulative hand of which value is higher than 21 points and you have not exceeded this score, you win the round. If the dealer does not jump and has a more powerful hand than yours, you will lose the round and the house will win.
Switch Blackjack
The rules of Switch Blackjack derive directly from the traditional blackjack game. Refer to its classic form to understand the basics. If you want to try this variant, we encourage you to discover the rules. Read on!
- How to play Switch Blackjack?
6 to 8 decks of cards are used.
Each player must place two identical bets, one for each hand dealt by the dealer.
The dealer deals two hands instead of one. The dealt cards are visible.
If the dealer has blackjack served, all players lose their bet. If it is the player who holds a served blackjack, the round ends in a tie. It’s a push.
Players are allowed to swap cards between hands. It is a strategy that only applies to the second card that has been dealt by the dealer.
The player is allowed to double each of his hands.
He can also choose to separate the cards from his 2 hands and thus play with 4 hands.
If the player gets a blackjack served, he will be paid a 1: 1 odds.
If the dealer obtains a score of 22, there will be a tie against any player whose hand is less than or equal to 21 points (with more than 3 cards accumulated). However, the player will win if he has blackjack and the dealer 22.
Free Bet Blackjack
The Free Bet Blackjack game is based on the classic version of blackjack in which 6 decks of cards are used. Generally, you are only allowed to double on two cards. Besides, you can double after a split.
- Here are some of the guidelines for this game:
You can choose to split the pairs again and play with 4 hands.
Free Bet blackjack does not allow you to give up.
If the dealer were to win, the player would lose only his initial bet.
In the event of a tie, the player recovers his initial bet.
If the player wins, he recovers his initial bet and benefits from additional winnings.
Players have the option to separate all pairs, except pairs of 10.
If the dealer obtains a total score of 22 points, there will be a tie.
Pontoon Blackjack
Pontoon is the British cousin of the traditional blackjack game. Although this game is originally from the United Kingdom, the pontoon is uniformly appreciated around the world, especially in Australia.
- What are the pontoon rules (Australian version)?
This variant of blackjack requires between 4 and 8 decks of 48 cards. The four 10s are removed from each package. In fact, the game favors the dealer more than the player. That said, the player can benefit from tempting bonuses and more favorable rules than classic blackjack. Pontoon players can perform traditional actions such as drawing a new card, standing, splitting, and doubling. Simply, the terms used in English differ from their conventional version:
Twist = The player asks the dealer to give him an additional card.
Stick (Stand) = The player stays on his positions and does not wish to receive an additional card.
Buy (Double the bet) = The player chooses to double his bet.
Split (Split cards) = If your hand consists of a pair, you can split your cards to form two separate hands. Whenever you decide to make a split, you will be required to place a complementary bet of a value equivalent to your ante.
The best possible hand in the pontoon is a hand made up of 2 cards of which sum is 21 points. It is an ace and a Jack, a Queen or a King. The second most powerful hand on the pontoon is the ‘Five Card Trick’. As its name suggests, it consists of 5 cards of which cumulative value is less than or equal to 21. All hands consisting of 3 or 4 cards of which sum is less than or equal to 21 are the third most powerful hands in the game. Where the winning hands rank according to their power, hands with more than 21 points have no value.
After placing the initial bet, the dealer will deal two cards to each player as well as to himself (a visible card and a hidden card, in his case). The dealer will not be able to view the cards of the different players. Throughout the round, the player will be allowed to double his bet. However, you can only do this on a 9 or 11. If you choose to double on a flexible hand, the ace will only count for 1 point. You also have the option to double after a split.
A 21 obtained with 5 cards will be paid at 3 against 2 odds, a 21 obtained with 6 cards will be paid at 2 against 1 odds, a 21 obtained with 7 or more cards will be paid at 3 against 1 odds. However, you will not receive a bonus if you choose to double your bet or split. Hands of a different color that contain three 7s or a 6, a 7 and an 8 are paid at odds of 3 to 2. Hands of the same color are paid at odds of 2 to 1, except for hands that are consist of spades, which are paid at 3: 1 odds.
Surrender Blackjack
As its name suggests, players have the possibility of giving up their hands and recovering part of their stake. Indeed, by abandoning a mediocre hand, the player will be returned half of the bet he has invested. To learn more about this variant, read the rules below carefully.
- How to play Surrender Blackjack?
Usually, the Surrender Blackjack game is played on a classic semi-circular table and requires the use of 4 to 6 decks of 52 cards.
At the start of the game, the dealer deals two cards to the players as well as to himself, as in the traditional version.
The players are free to carry out the same actions as in the original version, namely to draw another card, to stand, split, and double. The difference between Surrender blackjack and its cousin is that you are allowed to recoup some of your stakes after giving up on a poor hand.
The dealer will remain on his game if he has a soft 17.
Players will be able to double on their first two cards and after making a split.
If you have obtained a pair, you will be able to split the cards. You can only make a split once during the round. In other words, you can never play with 4 different hands.
In Surrender blackjack, the dealer and players will bust if they exceed 21.
Spanish 21
Its introduction into casinos quickly aroused enormous enthusiasm among international players and its popularity has grown steadily since then. This variant of blackjack also incorporates many elements from its traditional counterpart. Therefore, make sure you understand the rules of classic blackjack before you start playing Spanish 21!
- What are the rules of Spanish 21 Blackjack?
Spanish 21 Blackjack uses between 6 and 8 sets of 48 cards. Indeed, the four 10s are cut off. In fact, the profit margin of the house is increased.
Players will have the option of late surrender and doubling after a split.
In Spanish 21 Blackjack, if a player has a hand of 21 points or gets a blackjack served, he will always beat the dealer’s hand.
Players will have the opportunity to double down multiple times. They can also draw an additional card and double after having split their hand.
Any player will have the opportunity to give up after doubling. It is a ‘double down rescue’. In doing so, he will give up his initial bet.
A 21 Blackjack obtained with 5 cards is paid at 3 against 2 odds, a 21 obtained with 6 cards is paid at 2 against 1 odds, and a 21 obtained with 7 or more cards is paid at 3 against 1 odds. Bonuses are not available after doubling or splitting.
Hands of a different color that contain three 7s or a 6, a 7 and an 8 are paid at odds of 3 to 2. Hands of the same color are paid at odds of 2 to 1, except for hands that consist of spades.
Other Blackjack Variants
- Double Exposure Blackjack
- Blackjack 5 Hand (5 hands)
- Single Deck Blackjack
- Multiplayer Blackjack (multiplayer)
- Progressive Blackjack
- Caribbean 21
- Face up 21
- Super Fun 21
- Match Play 21
- The Importance of Blackjack Strategy
Knowing the rules of blackjack is good. Learning the strategies is even better. You wouldn’t participate in a hunting party without a gun or game bag, would you?
- Play the blackjack variant you like!
Blackjack has revolutionized the casino world. A lot of players have made blackjack their favorite casino game. It is not a game based entirely on absolute hazard, as the use of certain strategies will significantly increase your chances of winning. If blackjack has aroused your interest, do not hesitate to register.
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