Blackjack is a fun, risk/reward card game that can be enjoyed by two or more players.

Get the value of your cards close to 21 without going over for a chance to win.

Find the video tutorial and written explanation for how to play blackjack below.

Blackjack Tutorial

Needed

Two or more players; 52 card deck; Poker chips

Objective

The objective of the game is to get your card total closer to 21 than the dealer without going over 21. Although there may be multiple players are in the game, each player is only playing against the dealer.

Card Value

  • Jack/Queen/King: 10

  • 2-10: Face Value

  • Ace: 1 or 11

Bet

Each player will bet an amount of poker chips before the cards are dealt.

Deal

Each player is dealt two cards face up, one card at a time. The dealer keeps one of his/her two cards face down.

Game Play

Each player has the choice to hit or stay. A hit is signaled by tapping the table and indicates the player wants another card. A stay is signaled by waving your hand above the table and indicates a player does not want anymore cards.

The player left of the dealer is first to hit or stay. If a player’s cards value exceeds 21, it is known as a bust. A player that busts loses his/her bet immediately. After each player has stayed or busted, the dealer flips up his/her face down card.

If the dealer’s cards value 16 or less, he/she has to hit. If the dealer’s card value 17 or more, the dealer has to stay. If a player’s cards value is closer to 21 than the dealer, he/she wins. The dealer will pay the winning player the amount of chips bet.

If the dealer’s cards value is closer to 21 than a player’s cards value, the player loses the chips bet to the dealer. If a player and the dealer tie, it is a push, and the player keeps his/her original bet. If the dealer busts, all players that did not bust win.

Special Hands

Blackjack: When a player’s first two cards equal 21, it is a blackjack. The blackjack pays out 3:2. For example, a player that bet two chips wins three chips for a blackjack.

Split: When a player’s first two cards are the same rank, he/she can split them. An additional bet has to be made equal to the player’s first bet, and a hand signal of two pointing fingers is made. The split cards are played separately with an additional card being added to each split card. The player then decides to hit or stay for each of the split cards.

Double Down: A player can add to his/her bet, and a hand signal of one pointed finger is made. This means the player gets only one more card. A double down is usually made when a player’s first two cards equal 9, 10, or 11.