🃏 What Is Blackjack?

Blackjack is a card game where you play against the dealer, not other players. The goal is simple: get a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer, without going over.

You win when:

• Your hand is higher than the dealer’s and under 22.
• The dealer busts (goes over 21) and you don’t.
• You get a “blackjack” (Ace + 10-value card) and the dealer doesn’t.

🂡 Card Values in Blackjack

Blackjack uses a standard 52-card deck. Card values are:

• Number cards (2–10): Face value.
• Face cards (J, Q, K): Always worth 10.
• Aces: Can be 1 or 11, whichever benefits your hand more.

A hand like Ace + 6 can count as 7 or 17 – this is called a “soft” hand.

🎮 Main Player Actions

On your turn, you normally can choose between these actions:

• Hit: Take another card.
• Stand: Keep your current hand and end your turn.
• Double Down: Double your bet, take exactly one more card, then stand.
• Split: If you have a pair (e.g. 8–8), split into two hands with separate bets.
• Surrender (if available): Give up your hand and get half of your bet back.

Not all tables allow surrender or the same split rules, so always check the game rules first.

📋 Basic Blackjack Strategy (Simple Version)

Basic strategy is a mathematically optimized way to play each hand based on your cards and the dealer’s up card. A full chart can be complex, but here are some simple rules that already reduce the house edge a lot:

• Always stand on hard 17 or more.
• Always hit hard 11 or less.
• Double down on 10 or 11 if the dealer shows a lower card (e.g. 9 or less).
• Always split Aces and 8s.
• Never split 5s or 10s.
• With soft hands (Ace + card), hit or double against weak dealer cards (4–6).

For serious play, you can download or memorize a full blackjack strategy chart, but even these basic rules help a lot.

📉 Blackjack House Edge

The house edge in blackjack depends on the rules and your strategy. With correct basic strategy, the house edge can be as low as 0.5% or even less on good tables. This makes blackjack one of the best games to play if you care about odds.

Bad for players:

• Dealer hits on soft 17.
• No doubling after split.
• Blackjack pays 6:5 instead of 3:2.

Good for players:

• Dealer stands on soft 17.
• Doubling allowed on many totals (9, 10, 11).
• Blackjack pays 3:2.

🎲 Side Bets – Fun but Risky

Many blackjack tables include side bets such as Perfect Pairs, 21+3, or special jackpot bets. These can be entertaining, but they usually have a much higher house edge than the main game.

Rule of thumb: If you care about long-term value, focus on the main blackjack hand and treat side bets as pure fun.

💡 Blackjack Tips for Smarter Play

• Learn basic strategy — even a simplified version helps a lot.
• Avoid tables with 6:5 payouts on blackjack if possible.
• Manage your bankroll – decide your session budget before starting.
• Don’t chase losses – walk away when you reach your loss limit.
• Play sober and focused – blackjack rewards good decisions.