How to Play Blackjack
Online in South Africa

Learn to Play Blackjack

Blackjack, often referred to as Twenty-One, is one of the most famous casino card games ever created. Its rules are straightforward, the pace is exciting, and there’s plenty of room for skill and smart play. For advanced players who use perfect mathematical strategy and can track cards, the edge can sometimes tilt slightly in their favour.

Even for beginners who play sensibly, Blackjack remains one of the fairest games in any casino. The modern version grew in popularity after World War I, but the game’s history goes back to 18th-century France, where it was called Vingt-et-Un, meaning “21.” Today, Blackjack can be found in almost every casino worldwide.

In casino play, the dealer always represents the house, standing while managing all aspects of the game from shuffling to payouts. In home games, players usually take turns being the dealer, which changes the dynamic but keeps the same spirit of competition alive.

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What You Play With

Blackjack uses the familiar 52-card deck, although most casinos combine multiple decks to make card counting difficult. Six decks together—312 cards in total—is the standard setup in most casinos. A blank plastic card is placed near the bottom of the shoe to signal when it’s time to reshuffle. When four or more decks are used, the cards are drawn from a dealer’s shoe, a small box that lets the dealer slide cards out one at a time without touching the deck directly.

The Main Goal

The objective in Blackjack is simple: beat the dealer by reaching a total closer to 21 than theirs without exceeding 21. Going over 21 automatically ends your hand in a loss, known as a “bust.”

Understanding Card Values

All number cards count as their face value. Jacks, Queens, and Kings are each worth 10. The ace is unique—it can count as either 1 or 11, depending on which total benefits the player most. This flexibility gives the ace a special strategic role in the game.

How Bets Are Placed

Before any cards are dealt, players place their chips in front of them in the marked betting space. Each table sets its own minimum and maximum betting limits. Once everyone has placed a bet, the round begins and no further bets can be made until the next hand.

Mixing and Cutting the Cards

Before each round, the dealer shuffles the decks thoroughly, ensuring the cards are well mixed. A player is then invited to cut the deck by inserting the plastic cut card. The last 60 to 75 cards in the shoe are not used, a rule that helps limit card counting and keeps the game fair for everyone.

How the Cards Are Dealt

Once bets are locked in, each player receives two cards face up, and the dealer gets one card face up and one card face down. This hidden card is known as the “hole card.” In most modern casinos, all cards are dealt face up so players cannot touch them. This speeds up play and prevents confusion.

Older home versions of the game sometimes used face-down hands, but in casinos today, the standard face-up deal is the rule.

When You Hit a Natural

If a player’s first two cards total 21—an ace and a 10-value card—it’s called a “natural” or “blackjack.” When this happens, and the dealer doesn’t also have one, the player is paid one and a half times their wager. If the dealer also has blackjack, the round is a tie, known as a “push,” and the player’s bet is returned.

If the dealer’s face-up card is an ace or a 10, they check their face-down card immediately to see if they also have blackjack. If they do, the round ends right there, and the dealer collects all bets except those that also equal 21.

Deciding How to Play Your Hand

The player seated to the dealer’s left acts first. They can “hit” to take another card or “stand” to keep their total as is. Players can continue hitting until they either reach 21 or go over, which is an automatic loss. Once a player finishes, the next one takes their turn, and the process continues clockwise.

A hand that includes an ace with another card that is not worth 10 is called a “soft hand.” For example, an ace and a six can count as either 7 or 17. The player can choose which value works best. If another card pushes the total over 21, the ace automatically switches from 11 to 1, keeping the hand in play. This flexibility makes soft hands particularly strategic.

How the Dealer Plays

When all players have finished, the dealer reveals their hidden card. The dealer must draw cards until their total reaches at least 17. If they have 16 or less, they must take another card. When they hold an ace, it counts as 11 if that total stays between 17 and 21; otherwise, it counts as 1. The dealer’s actions follow strict house rules with no personal choice, unlike players who can choose freely.

How to Signal Your Move

To request another card, players can tap the table or motion with their fingers. To stand, they wave their hand side to side with the palm facing down. These gestures make it clear to the dealer and help prevent any confusion on camera in live casino settings.

Playing Two Hands from One

When the first two cards have the same value, such as two 9s or two 7s, the player can “split” them into two separate hands. An equal bet is placed on the new hand, and each hand is then played in turn. When splitting aces, only one card is dealt to each, and if a 10-value card follows, it counts as a regular 21, not as a blackjack. Each hand is played independently, and the dealer settles them one at a time.

When to Double Your Bet

If a player’s initial two cards total 9, 10, or 11, they can double their bet for a single extra card. This is known as “doubling down.” The dealer places the new card face down until the end of the round. Doubling down is a strong move when the dealer’s upcard looks weak. With two fives, players may either double down, split, or continue normally, depending on their preference and house rules.

Optional Insurance Bet

When the dealer’s face-up card is an ace, players are offered “insurance.” This side bet can be up to half of the original wager and predicts that the dealer’s hidden card is worth 10. If that’s true, the insurance pays 2 to 1. However, if the dealer doesn’t have blackjack, the insurance bet is lost. While tempting, insurance is generally not a good long-term strategy unless the deck is rich in 10-value cards.

How Rounds Are Settled

Once everyone’s cards are shown, the dealer compares their total with each player’s. If the dealer goes over 21, all players who have not busted automatically win. If the dealer stands, those with a higher total (without exceeding 21) win their bets, while those with lower totals lose. A tie results in no win or loss for either side.

One of the biggest advantages for the house is that players act first. If a player busts before the dealer’s turn, the casino immediately collects their bet, even if the dealer also busts later.

When the Deck Is Recycled

At the end of each round, the dealer gathers all cards and places them aside. When the cut card appears near the end of the shoe, the dealer stops dealing, reshuffles the entire deck, offers a new cut, and continues play. This prevents anyone from tracking which cards remain.

Playing Smart: Basic Blackjack Strategy

Winning at Blackjack isn’t about luck alone—it’s about making the right decisions based on your cards and the dealer’s visible one. When the dealer shows a strong card like a 7, 8, 9, 10, or ace, you should keep drawing until you reach 17 or more. If the dealer’s card is weak, such as 4, 5, or 6, stop hitting once you reach 12 or higher and let the dealer risk going bust. When the dealer shows a 2 or 3, stopping at 13 or higher is generally safest.

With soft hands that include an ace, continue drawing until you reach at least 18. Doubling down is most effective when your total is 11. With a total of 10, it’s wise to double unless the dealer has a 10 or ace showing. With 9, only double when the dealer’s card is between 2 and 6.

For pairs, splitting aces and 8s is always the right move. Never split 10s or 5s, and avoid splitting 4s unless the dealer’s card is weak. Pairs of 2s, 3s, or 7s can be split when the dealer shows a low card, but not against 8s, 9s, or higher. Following these guidelines helps reduce the house edge and keeps the game as close to even as possible.

Blackjack remains one of the few casino games where skill can truly influence the outcome. It combines mathematics, discipline, and instinct, rewarding players who think ahead while still leaving just enough to chance to make every hand exciting.