How to Play Blackjack: Rules and Basic Strategy

Blackjack is a card game where the aim is to beat the dealer's hand without going over 21. Played correctly, it has one of the lowest house edges in the casino. You can join live blackjack tables with real dealers in the Sorosbet live casino.

Card Values

• Cards 2–10 are worth their number.
• Jack, Queen and King are worth 10.
• An Ace counts as 1 or 11, whichever suits your hand.

An Ace plus a 10-value card as your first two cards is a Blackjack, usually paying 3 to 2.

Core Moves

• Hit: Take another card.
• Stand: Keep your hand.
• Double: Double your bet and take exactly one more card.
• Split: Split two cards of equal value into two separate hands.
• Insurance: A side bet offered when the dealer shows an Ace.

Basic Strategy: Key Rules

Basic strategy gives the mathematically best move for every hand. Details vary slightly with table rules, but the key points are:

• Hard 17+: Always stand.
• 13–16: Stand if the dealer shows 2–6; hit if 7–Ace.
• 12: Stand if the dealer shows 4–6; otherwise hit.
• 11: Usually double.
• 10: Double if the dealer shows 2–9.
• A-A and 8-8: Always split.
• 10-10 and 5-5: Never split.
• Insurance: Works against the player long term; skip it.

House Edge

With basic strategy, the house edge in blackjack drops to roughly 0.5–1% depending on table rules. Playing on instinct raises it noticeably. The edge never disappears, though; strategy doesn't guarantee a win.

For other live tables, see the Live Casino Guide.