Blackjack – Rules

Play Blackjack against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? In Blackjack everyone plays for themselves against the bank. You add up the values of your cards and decide whether to take another card. Going over 21 loses at once. The bank must follow fixed rules – you decide freely. That makes the game exciting and easy to grasp.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 52 French cards; casinos often shuffle 4 to 8 packs together.
• Card values:

• Suits don't matter.
• Soft hand: A hand in which an ace counts as 11 (e.g. ace + 6 = “soft 17”).
• Face up and face down: Players' cards lie face up. The bank has one face-up and one face-down card.
• Chips: Everyone bets chips before the round. On cardgames.zone there is never any real money involved.

3. Preparation and start

1. Shuffle: The bank shuffles the cards.
2. Bets: Every player places chips in their box.
3. Deal: Each player gets 2 cards face up, the bank one card face up and one face down.
4. Check for blackjack: Anyone whose first two cards are an ace and a ten-value card has a blackjack.
5. Start: The player to the bank's left decides first, then the others in order.

Start example: You bet 20 chips and get 9 and 7 = 16. The bank shows a 10.

4. Goal and winning

• Won: Your total beats the bank's without going over 21 – or the bank busts.
• Lost: You bust (over 21) or the bank has more.
• Tie (push): Equal totals – you get your bet back.
• Game: After an agreed number of rounds, whoever has the most chips wins.

5. Play in detail

Your options.

• Hit: take another card. As often as you like while you're not over 21.
• Stand: take no more cards.
• Double: double your bet, receive exactly one more card and then stand. Only with your first two cards.
• Split: split two equal cards into two hands, with a second bet of the same size.

The bank.

1. When all players are done, the bank turns over its face-down card.
2. The bank must draw to at least 17. From 17 it must stand.
3. On soft 17 (ace + 6) the bank stands or draws depending on the table.
4. If the bank busts, all players still in the round win.

Example with Players 1 to 4. The bank shows a 10.

1. Player 2 has 10 + 10 = 20 and stands.
2. Player 3 has ace + king: blackjack!
3. Player 4 has 6 + 5 = 11 and doubles. He gets a 9: 20.
4. Player 1 has 9 + 7 = 16. Against the bank's 10 he takes a card: 4 → 20. He stands.
5. The bank turns over an 8: 18. It must stand.
6. Result: Players 1, 2 and 4 win (20 beats 18). Player 3 gets 1.5 times his bet for his blackjack.

6. Scoring

• Blackjack against blackjack: push.
• A blackjack beats 21 made with three or more cards.

7. Special rules and situations

• Insurance: If the bank shows an ace, you may bet up to half your stake that it has blackjack; this pays 2 : 1.
• Splitting aces: Split aces usually get only one card each; ace + ten then counts as 21, not blackjack.
• Surrender: At some tables you may give up after your first two cards and get half your bet back.
• Bank draws to 17: The bank has no choice – it always follows the same rule.
• Common mistakes: standing on 12 to 16 while the bank shows 7 to ace; not doubling on 11; taking insurance (usually not worth it).

8. Variants

Standard in this description: bank draws to 17 and stands on soft 17, blackjack pays 3 : 2, doubling on the first two cards.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with up to four others against the bank, 5, 10 or 20 rounds with 500 or 1000 starting chips. You can hit, stand and double; whether the bank stands or draws on soft 17 can be chosen. There is no splitting or insurance there.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Basic rule: If the bank shows 7 or higher, draw to at least 17.
2. Weak bank: If the bank shows 2 to 6, often stand from 12 or 13 – the bank busts frequently.
3. Double on 11: It pays against almost any bank card.
4. Split aces and eights: Always split two aces or two eights.
5. Never split tens: 20 is a very strong hand.
6. No insurance: It loses in the long run.
7. Steady bets: Don't bet everything on one round.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. Everyone plays against the bank.
2. Place a bet.
3. Players 2 cards face up, bank 1 up and 1 down.
4. 2–10 at face value, face cards 10, ace 1 or 11.
5. Hit: another card; stand: stop.
6. Double: double the bet, exactly one card.
7. Over 21: lost at once.
8. The bank reveals and draws to at least 17.
9. Higher total wins 1 : 1, blackjack 3 : 2, tie is a push.
10. After the agreed rounds, count the chips.

11. Frequently asked questions

What is the ace worth?

1 or 11 – whichever is better for you. That can change during the hand.

What is a blackjack?

An ace and a ten-value card (10, J, Q, K) as the first two cards. It pays 3 : 2.

Must the bank still draw on 16?

Yes. The bank always draws to at least 17.

What happens on a tie?

Push: you get your bet back.

When should I double?

Mainly with 10 or 11 when the bank shows a lower card.

Is Blackjack without money allowed?

Yes. With play chips it's an ordinary card game. On cardgames.zone there is never any real money involved.

Origin & history

Its forerunners are the Spanish veintiuno (mentioned by Cervantes around 1600) and the French vingt-et-un of the 18th century. In early 20th-century US gambling halls a bonus was paid for the ace of spades + a black jack – hence the name, which stuck after the bonus disappeared. In 1962 Edward Thorp's book 'Beat the Dealer' made card counting famous.