How to BlackJack and Blackjack Chart

What if I told you that blackjack is one of the easier table games to learn, and your decisions actually matters! This guide will teach you the rules, the flow, and give you a chart so you can practice for real if you so desire.

You vs. The Dealer

Forget everyone else at the table. Your only goal is to beat the dealer. How? By having a hand value closer to 21 than theirs without going over. If you go over 21, you “bust” and lose automatically. It’s that simple.

Card Values

Number Cards (2-10): Worth their face value.
Face Cards (Jack, Queen, King): Worth 10.
Ace: Worth either 1 or 11, whichever gives you the better hand.

The Flow of the Game

Place Your Bet: You put your chips in the betting circle before anything happens.
The Deal: Everyone gets two cards. Your cards are dealt face up. The dealer gets one card face up (the “upcard”) and one card face down (the “hole card”).
Your Turn: This is where you make your moves. Your options are;
- Hit: Your receive another card (You signal by gently tapping the table live).
- Stand: You stop and keep your hand as is. (You signal by waving your hand horizontally over your cards live).
- Double Down: You double your original bet and get exactly one more card. This is great when you have a strong starting hand (like an 11).
- Split: If your first two cards are a pair (e.g., two 8s), you can split them into two separate hands. You place a new bet equal to your original, and now you play two hands against the dealer.
- Surrender: (If the table allows it) You can give up your hand and get half your bet back. It’s a strategic retreat on a really bad hand.
The Dealer’s Turn: After all players have finished, the dealer reveals their face-down card. Here’s the key: The dealer has no choices. They must follow a strict rule: Hit until they have 17 or higher. They can’t get clever or change their mind.

Winnings and payout

You Win: You get paid 1:1. Bet $10, win $10.
You Get a Blackjack! (An Ace + a 10-value card right away): This is the best hand. It usually pays 3:2. So a $10 bet wins you $15.
Push: You and the dealer tie. You bet is returned.
You Lose: The dealer has a better hand. Better luck next round!

The Basic Strategy Chart

Using it can reduces the casino’s advantage to almost nothing (often below 0.5%), making it a good tool for learning the basics.

How to Use This Chart:

Find your hand on the left.
Find the dealer’s upcard on the top.
Find where they meet. That’s your play! H = Hit, S = Stand, D = Double, SP = Split.

You’re Ready to Play!

Now just follow the chart to learn the basic until it becomes second nature. If you don`t want to bring a physical chart to a casino, may I recommend any of our trusted casinos on site?

Good luck!