How a Hand Is Played
Every player places a bet before any cards are dealt. The dealer then deals two cards to each player and two to themselves — one face up (the upcard) and one face down (the hole card).
Your Options
- Hit
- Take another card. You can hit as many times as you like until you stand or bust.
- Stand
- Take no more cards and lock in your current total.
- Double Down
- Double your original bet and take exactly one more card, then you are forced to stand. Most useful on totals of 9, 10, or 11.
- Split
- If your first two cards have the same value, separate them into two hands and place a second bet equal to the first. Each hand is then played normally.
- Surrender
- Offered at some tables. Give up the hand immediately and get half your bet back. Only available as your first decision.
- Insurance
- Offered when the dealer's upcard is an ace. It is a side bet paying 2:1 that the dealer has blackjack. It is a losing bet long-term — skip it.
Dealer Rules
The dealer has no choices. They follow a fixed procedure:
- Hit on any total of 16 or less.
- Stand on any hard total of 17 or more.
- On a soft 17 (an ace counted as 11, plus 6), the dealer either hits or stands depending on the house rules. "Stands on soft 17" is slightly better for you.
Payouts
| Outcome | Pays |
|---|---|
| Blackjack (ace + 10-value) | 3:2 (or 6:5 at worse tables) |
| Regular win | 1:1 |
| Insurance win | 2:1 |
| Push (tie) | Bet returned |
| Loss or bust | Bet lost |
Hard vs. Soft Hands
A soft hand contains an ace being counted as 11, so it cannot bust with one more card — the ace simply drops to 1. A 7 is a soft 18. A hard hand has no ace, or has an ace that must count as 1. 10 + 8 is a hard 18. The distinction matters a lot for strategy.