Blackjack FAQ — Common Questions Answered

What is the goal of blackjack?

Beat the dealer by finishing the hand with a higher total than them without exceeding 21. If your total goes above 21 you bust and lose your bet immediately, regardless of the dealer’s hand. If the dealer busts and you haven’t, you win. If you and the dealer finish with the same total, it’s a push (tie) and your stake is returned.

What is a “natural blackjack”?

A natural blackjack — often just called a blackjack — is a two-card hand totalling 21: an ace combined with any 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen, or King). It’s the best possible starting hand and typically pays 3:2 on your stake rather than the standard 1:1. If both you and the dealer hold a blackjack, the hand is a push.

What are the card values in blackjack?

Number cards (2–10) are worth their face value. Face cards — Jack, Queen, and King — are each worth 10. The ace is worth either 1 or 11, whichever is more favourable to the holder at the time. A hand that uses the ace as 11 without busting is called a “soft hand”; when the ace must count as 1 to avoid a bust, it’s a “hard hand.”

What is the house edge in blackjack?

In a standard six-deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17 (S17) and the table pays 3:2 for a natural blackjack, the house edge is approximately 0.5% when the player uses correct basic strategy. That makes blackjack one of the lowest house-edge games in the casino. The house edge rises significantly with unfavourable rules: a 6:5 payout instead of 3:2 adds about 1.4 percentage points alone.

What is basic strategy, and do I need it?

Basic strategy is the mathematically optimal decision for every possible combination of your hand and the dealer’s upcard. It was derived through computer simulation of millions of hands. Consistently following basic strategy reduces the house edge to its theoretical minimum — around 0.5% in a standard game. You don’t need to memorise it all at once, but learning the core decisions (hard totals, always split aces and 8s, never split 10s or 5s) meaningfully improves your results. The complete strategy guide covers every decision in full.

Should I take insurance when the dealer shows an ace?

Almost never. Insurance is a side bet that the dealer has a 10-value hole card, completing a blackjack. It pays 2:1, but in a six-deck game only about 30.7% of remaining cards are 10-value — below the 33.3% break-even point. The house edge on insurance runs to around 7.5%, making it one of the worst bets at the table. Basic strategy says decline insurance in virtually all circumstances. The “even money” offer when you hold a blackjack and the dealer shows an ace is mathematically identical — the same advice applies.

When should I split pairs?

Two rules apply unconditionally: always split aces, and always split 8s. A pair of aces gives you a weak total (2 or 12), and splitting gives you a chance to build two strong hands. A pair of 8s totals 16 — the worst hand in blackjack — and splitting limits your losses. Two rules also apply unconditionally in reverse: never split 10s (a total of 20 is already very strong) and never split 5s (a pair of 5s is a hard 10, one of the best doubling hands). For all other pairs, the correct play depends on the dealer’s upcard — see the strategy guide for the full pair-splitting chart.

What does “soft 17” mean, and why does it matter?

A soft 17 is a hand totalling 17 that contains an ace counted as 11 — typically ace + 6. It’s called “soft” because you cannot bust on the next card: if you draw a 10, the ace drops to 1 and you still have 17. The dealer rule for soft 17 — whether to stand (S17) or hit (H17) — is printed on the table felt. S17 is more favourable to the player; H17 increases the house edge by approximately 0.2 percentage points. When choosing a table, prefer S17.

Is card counting legal?

Yes. Card counting is a mental skill — there is no cheating device or rule violation involved. Casinos are private establishments, however, and they retain the right to ask any player to leave or to stop playing blackjack. Casinos use countermeasures including continuous shuffle machines, mid-shoe shuffling, and tracking systems to identify counters. If you are identified as a counter, the casino may restrict your play. The act of counting is not illegal in any jurisdiction where blackjack is played legally.

What is the difference between 3:2 and 6:5 blackjack?

The payout for a natural blackjack. On a 3:2 table, a $10 bet wins $15 when you hit blackjack. On a 6:5 table, the same bet wins only $12. The difference adds approximately 1.4 percentage points to the house edge — wiping out most of the advantage that basic strategy recovers. Always look for a 3:2 payout. If a casino only offers 6:5 tables, consider a different game or a different casino.

What is the difference between online blackjack and live dealer blackjack?

Standard online blackjack uses a random number generator (RNG) to produce each card draw. The software is fast and available around the clock, but there is no physical deck and no human element. Live dealer blackjack streams a real human dealer at a real table — either in a dedicated studio or on an actual casino floor — with real cards dealt and the outcome determined by that physical deal. Live dealer games move at the pace of a real table and include a chat function, giving them a social texture that RNG games lack. Both formats can use the same basic strategy.

How do I choose the best blackjack table?

Prioritise in this order: (1) 3:2 payout for a natural blackjack — this is non-negotiable; (2) S17 rule (dealer stands on soft 17) rather than H17; (3) as few decks as possible; (4) doubling allowed on any two cards (not restricted to 9–11); (5) double after split (DAS) permitted. A single-deck S17 game with 3:2 and liberal doubling rules is the best configuration available, though it’s increasingly rare. Any six-deck S17 game paying 3:2 is a reasonable choice. Avoid 6:5 tables regardless of any other favourable rules.

---

Still have questions about the rules? The complete blackjack rules guide covers every option and dealer obligation in detail. Ready to play? Try blackjack for free — no stakes, no registration.