How to play Blackjack

One of the most important things to remember is that Blackjack is a game of skill. It is also the only casino game that offers players an edge over the house. There are many variants of the game of Blackjack and it’s always a good idea to read the rules of a specific Blackjack table before commencing play.

How to play Blackjack – the basics

To win in Blackjack a player needs to beat the dealer without busting. You bust when your cards total more than 21 and the winner is whoever has closest to 21 after adding the value of the cards. For more on card values please see our Blackjack Rules page.

To start the game off the dealer shuffles six to eight decks of cards together and places them in what is called the “Shoe”. Players then place their wagers and are dealt two cards face up. The dealer gets one card face up and one face down. Each player in turn must decide to “stay” or take another card to get closer to 21 without busting. Players who do not bust wait for the dealer to turn over the face down card. On a card value of 17 or higher the dealer must stay and on 16 or lower the dealer must draw another card. If the dealer matches the highest card total on the table it is called a “Push” and the hand is replayed. The dealer wins if they have the highest card total at the table.

Please Note: If a player makes the total of 21 with the first two cards they are dealt they win automatically. This is called “Blackjack”.