Blackjack rules — complete 2026 guide
Learn how blackjack is played, basic strategy, side bets and why it is one of the smartest games in the casino.
Updated: 2026-04-30 · By the CasinoMenu.se editors
Blackjack is one of the few casino games where your decisions actually move the odds. With correct basic strategy the house edge can be squeezed below half a percent. That makes blackjack one of the most mathematically fair games in the casino — provided you actually learn to play correctly.
How a hand plays
You and the dealer each receive two cards. Your goal is to land closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. Face cards count as 10. The ace counts as 1 or 11. The dealer shows one card up and one face-down. You then decide whether to take more cards (Hit), stand, double down or split a pair.
Once all players are done the dealer reveals the down card. The dealer follows fixed rules: draw to 17 or higher, stand on 17 (some tables also have the dealer stand on Soft 17). Beat the dealer without busting and you are paid 1:1. A blackjack — ace plus a 10-value card on the first two cards — typically pays 3:2.
Your actions in detail
Hit: take another card. Stand: keep your hand. Double Down: double the bet and receive exactly one more card. Split: divide a pair into two hands (costs an extra bet). Surrender (if available): fold and get half your bet back — useful on hard 16 versus dealer 9, 10 or ace.
Insurance is offered when the dealer shows an ace. It is a side bet that pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack. Insurance is not a value play — on a standard six-deck shoe the house edge on insurance is about 7%.
Basic strategy in three lines
A complete basic strategy chart lists the correct play for every combination of your hand and the dealer's up card. Memorise it if you play regularly — it minimises the house edge without card counting.
- Stand on hard 17 or higher.
- Double on 11 against anything except a dealer ace.
- Always split aces and eights.
- Never split fours, fives or tens.
- Hit Soft 17 against dealer 7 or higher, otherwise stand.
Side bets and variants
Perfect Pairs, 21+3 and Lucky Lucky are popular side bets, but their house edge is often 3–8 percent — several times the base game. They add entertainment but materially lower your long-term value.
Common variants you will meet include European Blackjack (no dealer hole card), Spanish 21 (all tens removed) and Blackjack Switch (swap the top cards between two hands). Rules around Double, Split and dealer Soft-17 move the house edge far more than the variant name.
Key takeaways
- Basic strategy pushes the house edge below 0.5%.
- A blackjack should pay 3:2 — avoid 6:5 tables.
- Insurance and side bets have a high house edge.
- Split aces and eights, double on 11.
Frequently asked questions
Is card counting illegal online?
Card counting is not illegal, but online RNG blackjack reshuffles each hand and most live tables shuffle each round. That makes counting practically impossible.
Does blackjack count toward bonus wagering?
Typically only 5–10 percent of the wager counts. Some casinos exclude blackjack entirely from bonus play. Read the terms.
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