Playing Blackjack Against The Dealer
Blackjack is a card game that, along with Roulette and Slots, is one of the most popular games in casinos, both online and offline.
- How To Beat Blackjack Dealer
- Why Does The Blackjack Dealer Have An Advantage
- Blackjack Playing Strategy
- Playing Blackjack At The Casino
Blackjack is a popular casino game that you play against the dealer. The game is fun but not as simple as some of the other games you get at casinos, like slots for instance. It requires skill and at least some level of strategy. There are, however, simple as well as advanced tips that you can use to bring down the house edge further. The game is played against the dealer, and the object is to get as close a score to 21 as possible without exceeding that number. In order to win, you must beat the dealers’ total, however, if you go over 21 points that’s considered a bust and you automatically forfeit your bet. Our free blackjack game puts you up against a digital dealer and challenges you to beat a computer designed to win at all costs. Think you’re up to the test? Play blackjack online for free with Arkadium and see just how good you are at this classic card game! What is blackjack? Blackjack is one of the most popular online casino games.
The game is played against a Dealer with the aim of getting a higher score than them and as close to 21 as possible without ‘Busting’ – going over. It is normally played with either 6 or 8 decks of cards and can involve several other Players, all of whom are playing directly against the Dealer.
- The online blackjack insurance odds just aren’t in your favor; this side bet pays out at 2/1 when the Dealer shows a 10-value card, but even if players don’t have any Tens, Jacks, Queens or Kings in their hand, that will only happen 16 times out of 49 in Single Deck Blackjack (that’s the full deck of 52 cards, minus the three visible.
- In blackjack you play against the dealer not against the other players as is the case at Texas Hold em poker sites. The house edge over a player in blackjack starts at about 5. By properly hitting and standing, you can improve your odds by over 3 percent. Dealer's Card is an Ace. This is one of the worst scenarios on the table.
How to Play Blackjack
Goal of the game
The aim of the game is to beat the Dealer’s hand. You do this by getting your hand as close to 21 as possible without going over this amount and ‘Busting’.
Card values
1. All numbered cards from 2 to 10 are counted at face value.
2. All picture cards (Jack, Queen, and King) count as 10.
3. An Ace can be either 1 or 11.
Setting-up the game
1. Set your budget – We recommend that you take the equivalent of 40 hands to a table before you sit down and start playing.
2. Choose your table – All will have a minimum and maximum amount you can bet, choose one where you can play a hand for around a fortieth of your budget. i.e. if you have a bankroll of £200, you should be looking at playing £5 per hand.
3. Take a seat – You can choose any empty seat at the table, more than one if you wish, and whilst the choice of the seat makes no difference to the outcome of any given hand, the Dealer starts from one end when dealing and the action starts with the first Player to be dealt with and goes around until everyone has finished.
4. Decide how much you would like to change up and play with. These funds are then changed into Chips which are used for the game, you can cash them into real money and walk away at the end of any hand.
Blackjack Rules
1. Place your bet (Remember, if there is room at the table you can play more than 1 hand if you do this you will need to place a bet for each hand you wish to play).
2. You will be dealt 2 cards face up so all other Players and the Dealer can view them.
3. The Dealer normally deals 2 cards for him/her, 1 face-up, and 1 face down. Some versions of Blackjack see the Dealer giving themselves 1 card only at this point (in this case, the 2nd card is dealt face up after all Players have finished their actions).
4. You now need to decide your move on each of your hands. The 2 main choices are Hit or Stand. Hit means receive another card. Stand means you don’t want another card and you are satisfied with what you have. If you Stand, you take no further action in the hand, if you Hit you have the same decision to make again after receiving your next card. There are sometimes 3 other decisions you can make, Double, Split, and Insurance. These will be explained later.
5. After all, Players have completed their hands, the Dealer deals him/herself cards until they have at least 17. It is worth noting that the Dealer has no say in what they do, they have to Hit until they get at least 17, even if all Players have only 15 and the Dealer has 16.
6. Once the dealer has 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21 he will Stand. If he gets 22 or more, the dealer busts, and all Players left in the hand win.
As mentioned above, there are 3 other actions you can sometimes take:
Double Down
This Doubles your bet (you need to place a further bet the same amount as your initial bet) and gives you 1 further card, after which your hand is finished irrespective of what card you get. If you win, you get Double your total bet.
You would normally only Double if you have a 9, 10, or 11 and the Dealer doesn’t have an Ace or a 10 – See the chart below for more details.
Split Cards
If you get 2 cards of the same value, you can Split them and play with 2 hands, each containing 1 of the cards. You will need to pay a bet equal to your initial bet and you will get dealt another card for each hand. You then decide for each hand whether to Hit or Stand. If you get 21 after Splitting, this only counts as 21 and not Blackjack. If you Split Aces, you will only get dealt 1 more card and will then need to Stand. At most casinos, if your 2nd card is the same as the first, you will be allowed to Split again if you wish.
Blackjack Insurance
If the Dealer shows an Ace as their face-up card, all Players have the option of Insurance. If you choose to take Insurance, you will place a bet equal to half your initial bet. If the Dealer then gets Blackjack, so the 2nd card has a value of 10, you will get Double your bet, if not you lose the Insurance bet.
The game ends
1. The hand ends for a Player when either your hand goes over 21 meaning you Bust and lose your bet, or when the Dealer completes their actions.
2. Once the Dealer has completed their action, the payouts take place for all remaining Players still in the hand.
3. If you have a higher total than the Dealer and both totals are 21 or below, you win the hand and get Double your bet. If you and the Dealer have the same total, you Push the hand and get your stake back (Unless one of you has 21 with their first cards, known as Blackjack and the other has 21 with 3 cards or more, in which case whoever has Blackjack will win the Hand). If the Dealer has a higher total than you and both are 21 or less, the Dealer wins and you lose your stake.
4. If the Dealer gets over 21, they Bust and all remaining Players win Double their stake.
5. If you get 21 with 2 cards, you have Blackjack, and if the Dealer doesn’t have 21 with their first 2 cards, you get 1.5 your bet back, as well as the bet itself – equivalent to 2.5 times your bet. If the Dealer also has Blackjack, you Push and get your stake returned.
Blackjack Definitions
Hit
Hit means to draw another card. You can request a hit as many times as you like, but if your total goes over twenty-one, you will bust and lose the hand.
Stand
Stand means the player receives no more cards. The hand as it currently stands will be judged against the dealers.
Split
If you have two cards of the same denomination, a Split button will appear. You can split your cards into two hands and play each hand separately. Your original bet will be duplicated for the new hand. Each hand will be played out as usual except when splitting Aces, where only one additional card per hand is dealt. The split option can only be used once per hand — you cannot split part of a split hand. Any winning 21 obtained after splitting a pair is paid 1-to-1.
Double Down
If you select this option, two things will happen: you will get exactly one more card, your turn will end, and your bet will be doubled.
How To Beat Blackjack Dealer
Surrender
Where permitted (usually on a Blackjack Surrender table), a player may give up his first two cards and lose only one-half his original bet.
Blackjack Payouts
If you win the hand, you will get back your original bet plus the same amount in profit. A hand that consists of an Ace and any ten-value card is called a natural twenty-one, or a natural blackjack (except in the case of a Split hand – see details above). If you win with a natural blackjack, you will be paid off at three-to-two, which means you get your original bet back plus a 150% profit. (So if you bet £50 and win with a natural twenty-one, you get £50 (your bet) plus £75 (your bet plus half of your bet), which totals to £125).
Blackjack Odds
Knowing the blackjack odds will make you a better player and hopefully beat the odds when playing at a casino. If you want to apply any gambling strategy successfully you need to know the odds of the game you’re playing. It goes without saying but we’ll say it anyway: the odds are always in favor of the house. How else do you think they can create billion-dollar mega-casinos in Las Vegas? The Blackjack rules are carefully structured to ensure a house edge. But just how heavily are the Blackjack odds weighed in favor of the house? If you’re a smart player, you know the house edge not as great as one might think – and certainly not insurmountable. You will be able to calculate the following:
- Blackjack odds variations
- Odds of busting
- Player advantage VS dealer up-card
Blackjack Odds Variations
If you want to be serious about playing blackjack you need to be able to calculate your odds for the game you’re playing. The blackjack odds depend on the different types of rule variations. Some online blackjack sites can be unclear about this so you need to pay attention. You can also adjust your blackjack strategy according to these rules. The following table shows the effect that rule variations have on the player’s expected return after taking the proper strategy adjustments. These changes are relative to the standard Atlantic City rules which result in a player’s expected return of -0.43%: 8 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, the player can double on any first 2 cards, the player may double after splitting and the player may split to 4 hands. I will explain some of the rule variations under the table.
| Rule Variations | Effect |
|---|---|
| Five Card Charlie | +1.46% |
| Player 21-points is automatic winner | +0.54% |
| Early surrender against ace | +0.39% |
| Early surrender against ten | +0.24% |
| Player may double on any number of cards | +0.23% |
| Player may draw to split aces | +0.19% |
| Six card Charlie | +0.16% |
| Player may resplit aces | +0.08% |
| Late surrender against ten | +0.07% |
| Seven card Charlie | +0.01% |
| Late surrender against ace | +0.00% |
| Split to only 2 hands | -0.01% |
| No-peek: ace showing | -0.01% |
| Player may double on 9-10-11 only | -0.09% |
| No-peek ten showing | -0.10% |
| Player may not resplit | -0.10% |
| Player may not double after splitting | -0.14% |
| Player may double on 10-11 only | -0.18% |
| Blackjack pays 6-5 | -1.39% |
| Player loses 17 ties | -1.87% |
| Blackjack pays 1 to 1 | -2.27% |
| Player loses 17-18 ties | -3.58% |
| Player loses 17-19 ties | -5.30% |
| Player loses 17-20 ties | -8.38% |
| Player loses 17-21 ties | -8.86% |
| Dealer bust on 22 is a push | -9.53% |
Five, six and seven-card Charlie:
a Charlie is an automatic winner, so in a six-card Charlie the player wins on any six-card hand that didn’t bust.
No-peek rule:
The dealer doesn’t peek to see if he has a Blackjack.
How to calculate? You start with the basic Atlantic City rules (-0.43%) and take the rule variations according to the game you are playing to calculate the effect it has on the expected return. For example “Player may double on any number of cards” (+0.23%) and “Player may not resplit” (-0.10%). The expected player return would now be -0.43% +0.23% -0.10%= -0.30%. These blackjack odds (-0.30%) are better for the player than under the standard Atlantic City rules (-0.43).
Blackjack Odds of busting
This table is used to calculate the blackjack odds of the player busting if he hits. This can be useful but I think a smart person already knows that if he hits on 16 he has more chances of busting when he hits on 12.
| Hand | % Bust if hit |
|---|---|
| 21 | 100% |
| 20 | 92% |
| 19 | 85% |
| 18 | 77% |
| 17 | 69% |
| 16 | 62% |
| 15 | 58% |
| 14 | 56% |
| 13 | 39% |
| 12 | 31% |
| 11 or less | 0% |
Player advantage VS the dealers up-card
This table is more useful than the odds of busting because it calculates how much the dealer’s up-card has a positive effect on your odds and the odds of him/her (the dealer) busting.
| Dealer Up Card | Dealer bust % | Player Advantage % |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 35.32% | 9.5% |
| 3 | 37.58% | 13.6% |
| 4 | 40.27% | 18.4% |
| 5 | 42.88% | 23.1% |
| 6 | 42.10% | 23.8% |
| 7 | 26.00% | 14.6% |
| 8 | 23.84% | 5.4% |
| 9 | 23.34% | -4.4% |
| 10,J,Q,K | 21.47% | -16.8% |
| A | 11.62% | -15.9% |
Blackjack Basic Strategy
Why Does The Blackjack Dealer Have An Advantage
For Blackjack Basic Strategy the first thing to look at is the tables below. This has details of what you should do to optimize your chances with every version of your starting hand versus the Dealers visible card.
It is useful if you can remember this as best you can to give you the best possible advantage against the House.
If your hand contains an Ace, look at the 2nd chart, if you have a pair the same value, look at the bottom chart. For all others, the top chart is the place to look.
Blackjack Chart
Blackjack Playing Strategy
Use this Blackjack strategy chart as a cheatsheet if you will. It will help you memorize what actions to take with your opening hand.
How to Play Hard Hands:
A hard hand is two starting cards that do not contain an ace.
If you have eight or less, always Hit.
If you have Nine: Double if the Dealer has 3 to 6 – otherwise Hit.
If you have Ten: Double if the Dealer has 2 to 9 – otherwise Hit.
If you have Eleven: Double if the Dealer has 2 to 10, Hit if the Dealer has Ace.
If you have Twelve: Hit if the Dealer has 2 or 3, Stand if the Dealer has 4 to 6, otherwise Hit.
If you have 13- 16: Stand if the Dealer has 2 to 6, otherwise, Hit.
If you have 17 – 21: Always Stand.
How to Play Soft Hands:
A soft hand is when one of your starting hands contains an ace.
If you have Ace 2 or Ace 3: Double if the Dealer has 5 or 6 – otherwise Hit.
If you have Ace 4 or Ace 5: Double if the Dealer has 4 to 6 – otherwise Hit.
If you have Ace 6: Double if the Dealer has 3 to 6 – otherwise Hit.
If you have Ace 7: Stand if the Dealer has 2, 7 or 8. Double 3 -to 6 – otherwise Hit.
If you have Ace 8 or Ace 9: Always Stand.
How to Play Pairs
If you have a pair of Aces or Eights: Always Split.
If you have a pair of twos or threes: Split if the Dealer has 2 – 7, otherwise Hit.
If you have a pair of fours: Split if the Dealer has 5 or 6 – otherwise Hit.
If you have a pair of fives: Double if the Dealer has 2 to 9 – otherwise Hit.
If you have a pair of sixes: Split if the Dealer has 2 to 6 – otherwise Hit.
If you have a pair of sevens: Split 2 to 7 – otherwise Hit.
If you have a pair of nines: Split 2 to 6, and 8 or 9. Stand if the Dealer has 7, 10 or Ace.
If you have a pair of tens: Always Stand.
Strategy Card
Blackjack Tips
Taking Insurance or Even Money
Blackjack is a gambling game, so hedging your bet and playing safe by taking Insurance or even money doesn’t make much sense. In around 7 out of ten instances the Dealer shows an Ace they will not have blackjack, so buying Insurance is a losing long-term strategy and should be avoided.
Splitting Tens when Dealer shows 6
It is always a good idea to maximize your bets when the Dealer shows a 6 as this gives them the biggest chance of Busting, and although you will still expect to make money if you Split (less than $18 extra per $100), you can expect to make over $70 per $100 in bets by doing nothing and Standing on 20. There is a high chance that the Dealer will Bust, so always Stand on a hard 17 or greater.
Standing on 16 when Dealer shows Ace
Standing on 16 when the Dealer has a Ten is not nearly as bad as when the Dealer has an Ace. There is a good chance you will Bust when Hitting on 16, but at least you give yourself a chance to win or push the hand, otherwise in order to win you have to count on the Dealer Busting with an Ace.
Playing Blackjack At The Casino
Standing on Soft 18 when Dealer shows 6
As mentioned above, the Dealer having a 6 is the best possible hand for the Player as it presents the best chance of the Dealer Busting. You need to, therefore, try and maximize your returns in this situation, so Double and try to take down a bigger win. You can’t bust by taking one more card, so go for it!
Standing on Soft 18 when Dealer shows 9
This is a common one, and although 18 isn’t a bad total in Blackjack, when the Dealer has a 9 there is a high chance they will get a Ten or an Ace (38% of the time to be exact), so give yourself a chance to win and Hit it!
Hitting 11 when Dealer shows Ten
One of the best things about Blackjack is being able to control when to put more money on the table. If you have an 11 and the Dealer doesn’t get more money down by Doubling. You can expect to make about $18 for every $100 you bet, while Hitting will only earn you about $12.
Standing on a 12 when Dealer shows 2
This one divides Players a lot as plenty won’t want to risk Busting. However, there are plenty of cards that can save a Dealer who has a 2, so instead of hoping they Bust, take another card and try and get a better total.
Doubling 11 when Dealer shows Ace
Any time the Dealer has an Ace you need to be cautious. Just Hit instead of Doubling, there is no point betting more money against the Dealers Ace.
Hitting 2/2 when Dealer shows 7
Another important one of our Blackjack tips. Twos are actually reasonable cards to start with for a Player. It is likely the Dealer has a “stiff hand” or a 17, therefore Split that 2/2 and make some money.
Hitting 4/4 when Dealer shows 6
There is a consensus that you should Double 4/4 against a 6 to try and maximize your returns as the Dealer has a high chance of Busting, but we would recommend you Split the hand against a Dealers 6. When the Dealer shows a 6, you generally want to play as many hands as possible because the Dealer is likely to Bust.
Related Blackjack Articles:
Counting Cards in Blackjack
Blackjack Multi-Deck vs Single-Deck
Real Money Blackjack Sites
Featured Gambling Guides
Blackjack is not a team game, nor is it a competition with other players. It is contest of each individual against the dealer. Players wager and win or lose, independent of what happens with others.
That said, most Blackjack tables feature from five to seven betting spots. There is seating for just as many players, who come and go at will. The parade of ever-changing tablemates can be quite a challenge for the serious Blackjack player, who may have to endure visits from novices, partiers, loudmouths, drunks, slow players, poor players, know-it-alls, high stakes bettors, penny pinchers, tourists, off-duty casino staff, and all various other forms of distraction.
Playing Heads Up
An attractive alternative is playing alone against the dealer. This can be accomplished either by sitting down at an empty table and asking the pit boss to open it or by outlasting everyone else and ending up as the only player at a previously busy table.
That said, many players admit they are afraid to go “heads up” against a dealer. They fear being out-maneuvered, rushed to make decisions, and taken advantage of by someone whose job it is to play Blackjack for a living. Yet playing alone against the dealer is actually in a player’s best interests, for many good reasons. For example, card counters find that playing Blackjack alone against the dealer makes it much easier to keep track of what’s been played.
First and foremost among the advantage, however, is the opportunity to win more money faster. How much a player can profit in an hour is a function of the number of hands dealt, and fewer players means more deals. Assuming the average hand consists of 2.7 cards, a full table of seven players plus the dealer sees 22 cards per deal. A single player alone with a dealer will see just six cards. That means at least three times as many cards can be seen per hour.
For a good player, most hands do not require a lot of decision-making—it is either hit or stand. If a betting strategy is employed, knowing how much to wager is a quick decision, too, so it is quite possible to play even four or five times faster than a full table.
On the downside, the pace is so fast when playing alone that there is little time for sipping a drink, let alone taking a mental break. Beginners and intermediate players who need time to think may prefer the pace of a full table. Heads up is for those who know their Basic Blackjack Strategy forwards and backwards and can almost play hands on auto-pilot.
More Pros and Cons
It is quite common to get on a roll or hit a bad slump when playing alone with a dealer. When the latter occurs, it is best to slow down the game by taking a break. It is not possible to “sit out” a hand when playing heads up, but the dealer will not act until a bet is placed, so taking a breather without leaving the table is most certainly allowed by delaying putting up a wager.
A bigger challenge is when a winning streak comes along and spectators start to gather. Having an audience can cause a form of “performance anxiety.” Worse still, an eager beaver may sit down at the table and say “I want in on this.” Proper etiquette would be for the new player to ask permission to join the table, which can always be declined, but it is really up to the pit bosses whether others can be seated when you are playing alone. Providing the dealer and pit crew with tips can help make their decision a little easier.
Other ways to discourage game-crashers include sitting in the middle-most seat and playing at a higher stakes table. Simply requesting a private game is not out of order, either.
Another intrinsic advantage of going heads up is the ability to play multiple hands. Some casinos require only that the player make at least a minimum bet on each spot. Others insist that equal amounts be wagered for each hand. And some will allow any number of hands to be played, but require that they be bet continuously. Once off a spot for a hand, the spot may not be regained. Obviously, it is important to be familiar with the House Rules before opening up a table for solo play.