How to play blackjack
The goal is simple: finish with a hand closer to 21 than the dealer's, without going over. Number cards count as their number, face cards (Jack, Queen, King) count as 10, and an Ace counts as 1 or 11, whichever helps you more.
- Bet: tap the chips to build your bet, then press Deal. You and the dealer each get two cards, and one of the dealer's cards stays face down.
- Hit to take another card. Stand to keep what you have.
- Double doubles your bet on your first two cards. You get exactly one more card.
- Split works when your first two cards have the same value. They become two separate hands, each with its own bet. Split Aces get one card each.
- Go over 21 and you bust, which loses the bet even if the dealer busts too.
- The dealer must hit until reaching 17 or more, then stands.
- An Ace plus a 10-value card on your first two cards is a Blackjack, which pays 3 to 2. Beat the dealer otherwise and you win even money. A tie is a push, and your bet comes back.
Tips from the felt
Blackjack is one of the few card games where a few smart habits make a real difference. Players use a chart called basic strategy, worked out by mathematicians, that shows the best move for every hand. You don't need the whole chart to play well. These rules of thumb cover most of it:
- Always stand on 17 or higher.
- With 12 through 16, stand if the dealer shows 2 through 6, and hit if the dealer shows 7 or higher. A low dealer card means the dealer is more likely to bust.
- Always hit 11 or less, since you can't bust. Doubling on 10 or 11 is often a strong play when the dealer shows a lower card.
- Always split Aces and 8s. Never split 10s or 5s.
Try them for a few rounds and watch whether your chip stack holds up better.
Just for fun
CardsAndClues Blackjack uses play chips only. They have no cash value, can't be bought or cashed out, and nothing here is real-money gambling. If you run out, tap the button for another 1,000 chips and keep playing. Your chip count and biggest stack are saved in your own browser on this device.