Blackjack – How to Play, Rules, and Strategy Guide

No matter if you are the type of player that enjoys playing in-person or online, blackjack is generally a simple game to learn. The concept is for the player to play against the dealer, trying to beat them by having a hand that has a total closer to 21 without going over and “busting.”

Many crypto casinos offer provably fair games, blackjack included. We will go over this in more detail later on, but in short, this means players are able to self-verify the randomness of the game. Other crypto features that blackjack offers are:

• On-Chain Transparency: Any financial transaction is recorded “on-chain.” Examples include recording the bets, payouts, and bankrolls.

• Player-Controlled Seeds: Players can change their client seed at any time to prevent manipulation within the game.

• Cryptocurrency payments: Using cryptocurrency with no banks or card processors involved results in faster withdrawals and deposits, as well as no chargebacks and little to no processing fees.

Blackjack offers low and balanced volatility for players overall. The volatility in blackjack determines how much your bankroll can change over a short period, not if it is good or bad in the long run. Compared to games like slots, blackjack is considered to be stable. Blackjack is able to maintain this volatility due to its payouts being 1:1, along with strategies that reduce any extreme outcomes for players.

Throughout this article, you will be able to gain a more in-depth understanding of the game. We will discuss topics such as how-to play, common strategies, probability/payouts, and more. Let’s start with the basics before going on to anything more, though.

Gameplay and Rules

The Goal

As we briefly mentioned earlier, the goal is to beat the dealer. Players are able to do this by having a hand that is worth more than the dealer’s but doesn’t exceed 21. Players are also able to win if the dealer busts by going over 21. To determine the value of each card, blackjack makes it simple:

• Number Cards (2–10)= Face value

• Face Cards (J, Q, K) = 10 points

• Ace = either 1 or 11 points; depending on what benefits the hand 

Game Interface & Controls

How to Make a Bet

Placing your first bet is simple. A player will begin by choosing their wager amount through chips that represent credits/currency. It is also good to note that players are able to play multiple hands in a single game. Once the game begins, the dealer will then give you two cards and himself either one card or one card faced up and a second card faced down.

After all cards are dealt, the dealer will then let you choose from the following options:

• Hit

• Stand

• Double Down

• Split

• Surrender (if offered)

Once you have finished, the dealer will begin their turn by revealing their second card and deciding from the options as well. The outcome depends on a number of factors but is settled, and a new game can begin.

Another key factor to know is the difference between a soft hand and a hard hand. The only difference between the two is whether or not you have an ace. A soft hand is defined as when the player’s hand contains an ace since it can be considered one of two values. If the player’s hand uses the ace as a value of one, the hand is no longer considered soft.

When a player’s hand does not contain an ace, it is considered a hard hand. This is because the value of the hand cannot be changed. Another factor to note is if your first two cards are an ace and a 10-point card, this is an automatic blackjack, and you win unless the dealer also has one. In that case, you push and don’t win or lose.

Flow of Play

Step-by-Step

Step 1: Players first set their wager amount per hand.
Step 2: The round initiates once all bets are in. The dealer begins passing out cards.
Step 3: Next is for the player to decide what option they will choose from, trying not to bust.
Step 4: The dealer then takes their turn, and the outcome is decided. Players win by not busting and having a higher amount than the dealer. Players lose if they bust or if the dealer has a higher amount in their hand than the player.

Payouts

The payout for blackjack can sometimes vary depending on the casino, but in general, this chart shows the different outcomes and the payout ratios involved with them. 

Please read the terms section to understand each of the outcomes.

Typical Limits for Online Blackjack

• RNG, computer-dealt games are typically a minimum of $0.10 – $1 and a maximum of $500 – $5,000 .

• Live dealer games have a higher minimum usually around $5 – $25 and capping out at $1,000 – $5,000.

Crypto blackjack has a similar structure where the minimum  can start as low as a few cents, usually 0.00001 BTC or equivalent with a max of $50,000+ equivalent.

Dealer's Rules for Blackjack

While players are able to choose their options, dealers are set to strict guidelines made by the casino on what to choose when playing. When the round begins, the dealer gets dealt two cards just like the player; however, one is facing upwards while the second card is face down.

There are universal rules that may differ when playing certain variations, but these are the general rules that dealers have to follow when playing a game of blackjack. First, let us go over what the dealer cannot do. The dealer cannot double down, split their cards into multiple hands, surrender whether it is offered or not, and they cannot choose to hit or stand freely.

Many casinos give the dealer a total that they have to try and achieve. The dealer must keep hitting until the minimum of that total has been reached, but once that set total has been met, the dealer must stand. If the dealer busts, the remaining players’ hands automatically win no matter how low the total is, as long as the player’s hand did not bust as well.

Another important rule to know is if the dealer has to hit or stand on a soft 17. This is one of the most talked about and controversial rules. As a player, it is always preferred to play at soft 17 tables. There are two scenarios: the dealer must stand on a soft 17, or they hit on the soft 17. If the dealer stands, this is better for you as a player since this limits their total to 17. This can seem like a good total, but it limits the dealer and gives the player the chance to win, whereas if the dealer is able to hit, they can then use the ace as 1 point and, in some cases, get a higher total than 17 and win.

Fairness & RTP

What is "Provably Fair"?

Provably fair games have tremendously changed online gambling for players. Provably fair games use a cryptographic system that allows players to verify that each hand was not manipulated by the casino or dealt in the casino’s favor. This gives players a chance to trust the game/provider without having to rely on or blindly trust third-party auditors or casinos by testing the fairness themselves.

How It Works

Provably fair blackjack has three main components to it:

1. Server Seed: The value generated by the server before the game that is hidden until the game has ended.

2. Client Seed: The value either chosen by or given to a player.

3. Nonce: A counter that starts at 0 or 1 and increases each round to create a new, unique round. This prevents producing the same results when using the same seed.

Here are the steps on how provably fair is used in blackjack games:

Step 1:The casino generates and commits to a server seed that can’t be changed later. This seed is hashed and shown to the player beforehand but cannot be reversed and shown to the player.

Step 2: The player chooses or generates their own seed.

Note: Since the player controls it, there is no way for the casino to predict the outcome.

Step 3:Each hand increases the nonce to ensure that every hand produces various outcomes.

Step 4: The deck is generated by combining the three components and runs it through a cryptographic hash function.

Step 5: The cards are then dealt from that deck, and the game is played through as normal.

Step 6: When the game ends, the casino then reveals the server seed, and players are able to verify that nothing was changed.

Players can verify in two ways; the first is by hashing the client seed that was revealed after to see if it matches the hash they published before the game. The second way is by regenerating the game by using a built-in verification tool and plugging in the same seeds and nonce; if the outcome is the same, then you know the game was fair and not manipulated.

Key Stats

RTP and House Edge

Many online casinos, especially crypto, are able to have higher RTP since there aren’t as many financial factors in play as land-based casinos. Online blackjack offers one of the highest RTP percentages, ranging from 99.4%–99.7%. Depending on the rules and strategies used, the house edge can be as low as 0.3%–0.6%. It is always best to note that the RTP is measured over the course of hundreds of games and not just a few in a short period of time.

Probability of Outcome

Approximate Frequency of Obtaining a Blackjack

• 4.75% for players

• 4.8% for dealers

Betting Strategies

Strategy 1: The Basic Strategy

If a player is new or advanced, it is always best to have a foundation and know the basics before playing. This strategy is to help players know the mathematically optimal move for every hand imaginable. This strategy can be used in any online casino and reduces the house edge to around 0.3%–0.6%. Knowing which option to choose from when you are dealt a hand is crucial, so here are the core concepts to follow to help you on your blackjack journey:

• Always split aces and 8s

• Never split 10s or 5s

• Double down on 11

• Stand on 13–16 when the dealer’s hand shows 2–6

• Hit on 12–16 when the dealer’s hand shows 7–Ace

• Never take the insurance side bet

Below are tables that are to let you know what options to choose. The far left column represents a player's hand and the top row represents the dealer's face up card.

H-Hit

S-Stand

DD-Double down

SP-Split

DS -Don't Split

This next table is to display when to split a pair of the same cards. If not, then there what to do when you shouldn't split the cards

Strategy 2: Flat Betting

Note: Betting strategies are to help your bankroll, not to guarantee profit.

While there are betting systems that people like to use for other games such as roulette and slots, it is recommended by math and even professionals to just use a flat bet. Flat betting is when a player bets the same amount for each hand. So instead of chasing losses like a negative progressive or chasing wins in a positive progressive, betting the same amount every time keeps the risk low and minimizes the volatility.

Flat betting can be beneficial for playing longer sessions and works best alongside the basic strategy mentioned above. It helps prevent your bankroll from collapsing and can prevent emotional betting. Many casinos don’t favor this betting strategy since they know that progressions increase the volatility and accelerate bankroll loss, but they can’t control how you bet, so it is best to conserve your bankroll and stick to the same bet. It is a good rule of thumb to only wager 1–2% of your total bankroll.

Example:
You start with a bankroll of $500 and bet $10 (2% of your bankroll), and no matter if you win, lose, or push, you keep betting the same $10 wager.

Another factor that plays into this being one of the best betting strategies is that casinos have betting limits. Many tables, whether they are computer-dealt, live dealers, or crypto, have minimum bet amounts and maximum amount a player is allowed to make. With progressive systems it is easy to hit the maximums especially when you have to keep doubling to try and gain a profit. 

Terminology 

• Blackjack: One hand hits exactly 21 points.

• Win: When the player’s hand is valued higher than the dealer’s but not higher than 21.

• Insurance: Side bet offered if the dealer’s face-up card is an ace. It is a wager on whether the dealer has a blackjack.

• Push: When you and the dealer’s hand equal the same amount; tie.

• Bust: When the hand exceeds 21 points.

• Hit: Receive an additional card.

• Stand: Keep the hand that you have.

• Double Down: Receive an additional card and double your wager.

• Split: If you have two of the same cards in one hand, you are able to split it into two separate hands.

• Surrender (if offered): In some cases, players are able to forfeit half of their wager and back out of the game.

How to Get Started

Step-by-Step

1. Choose a Casino: First, you must choose a casino. Players are able to find the best casino due to our expert ratings and safety badges.

2. Deposit Crypto: Once you find the casino of your choice, create an account and make your first crypto deposit.

3. Play: Once you have made your first deposit, then you can begin finding and playing your favorite blackjack table.

Conclusion

Unlike most online casino games, the flashiest blackjack table is not always the best. Making sure you choose the right table is considered more important than any bet a player can place. Blackjack will remain popular in casinos not only because it is a classic but because it is evolving with the times, working equally well with RNG, live dealers, and even crypto formats. Just remember that whether you are a casual player or an advanced player, the most basic strategy can work for you, and decisions do matter.

FAQ

How do you play blackjack?

Players try to get their hand totaling higher than the dealer without going over 21 points.

Is 21 and blackjack the same game?

Yes, blackjack is also known as 21 since the goal of the game is to get a blackjack or not go over 21.

Is online blackjack rigged?

No. Online casinos not only use an RNG to create randomness and fair play, but they also have provably fair systems in place for players to verify for themselves.

Do other players affect your gameplay?

The only way other players may affect you is by getting the cards you possibly would’ve gotten if they weren’t there, but the way they play does not affect you at all or change the outcome of you winning.

Is insurance in blackjack good?

The short answer is no. Taking insurance benefits the casino more than the player in most situations. It is best to just avoid it all together along with the other side bets.

Do blackjack dealers have rules?

Yes. The casino creates strict rules and guidelines for the dealer to abide by. It is best to learn the dealer rules to help cater to your gameplay.