In a classic game of blackjack, you can usually hit (ie, take another card) up to three times before you stand, but remember that you’ll go bust if you go over 21. Depending on your hand, you must decide whether to split, double down, take another card or stick with what you have. If you don’t get a natural, it’s time to make your next move. If the dealer also has blackjack, your bet is returned. Depending on the variation, the dealer may only check for blackjack if their face-up card is a 10, face card or ace. It means an instant payout of 1.5 times your bet, assuming the dealer doesn’t get one too. If you’ve been dealt an ace and a 10 or a picture card, this is called blackjack, or a natural. In most variations, the dealer also gets two cards, with one face up and the other face down (the hole card). Each player receives two cards, both face up. If neither yours nor the dealer’s hand totals 21, the closest hand wins.
Of course, you need to do this without going bust – that means exceeding 21. However, the aim of the game is always the same: beat the dealer’s hand by getting to 21 first. There’s a huge range of blackjack variations online, each with slightly different rules. Blackjack in a Nutshell How Does Blackjack Work?
