Blackjack games

Follow the hand

Players receive cards and choose from actions such as hit or stand; some tables also allow double or split. The dealer rules and card values are shown in the table help.

Compare table rules

Check whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17, how splits work, whether surrender is allowed and what payout applies to a natural blackjack.

Make the rules visible while learning

For each table, note the dealer’s soft-17 rule, blackjack payout, double options, split rules and surrender availability. Those details change the decisions described by a strategy chart.

Learn the hand totals before choosing a stake, and keep optional side bets separate from the main hand because they use different settlement rules.

The hand and the dealer

Blackjack compares your hand total with the dealer’s without going over 21. Number cards count at face value, face cards count as ten, and an ace can count as one or eleven.

The exact rules specify when the dealer must draw or stand.

Rules that change the decision

Check whether the table pays a natural blackjack at a different rate, whether doubling or splitting is allowed, and what happens on a dealer soft 17.

These details affect strategy references; do not apply a chart for a different rule set.