Blackjack Rules

Key Features

• •6-deck shoe
• •Dealer stands on soft 17
• •3:2 blackjack payout
• •Double on any two cards
• •Split up to 4 hands

Overview

Classic Blackjack is the foundation of all blackjack variants. The goal is to beat the dealer by getting a hand total closer to 21 without going over. Number cards are worth their face value, face cards are worth 10, and Aces count as 1 or 11.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.The game uses a 6-deck shoe. Cards are shuffled and dealt from the shoe until the cut card is reached.
2. 2.Each player receives two cards face up. The dealer receives one card face up (upcard) and one face down (hole card).
3. 3.Blackjack (natural 21) is an Ace plus any 10-value card. It pays 3:2 unless the dealer also has blackjack, which results in a push.
4. 4.Players may hit (take another card), stand (keep their total), double down (double the bet and receive exactly one more card), or split (if dealt a pair, create two separate hands).
5. 5.Splitting is allowed up to 4 hands. After splitting Aces, only one card is dealt to each hand.
6. 6.The dealer must stand on all 17s, including soft 17 (Ace + 6).
7. 7.If the dealer shows an Ace, insurance is offered at 2:1. Insurance pays if the dealer has blackjack.
8. 8.A hand exceeding 21 is a bust and loses immediately, regardless of the dealer outcome.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •6 or 8 deck shoe
• •Dealer peeks for blackjack
• •Hole card dealt face down
• •Double on any two cards
• •Late surrender available

Overview

American Blackjack is the most widely played version in US casinos. Its defining feature is the hole card -- the dealer receives a face-down card and peeks for blackjack before players act. This protects players from losing additional bets (doubles and splits) when the dealer has a natural.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Uses 6 or 8 decks. The dealer receives a hole card face down alongside the upcard.
2. 2.When the dealer shows an Ace or 10-value card, they peek at the hole card to check for blackjack before players make decisions.
3. 3.If the dealer has blackjack, the hand ends immediately. Players lose only their original bet -- any doubles or splits are returned.
4. 4.Players can double on any two cards, giving maximum flexibility for aggressive plays.
5. 5.Late surrender is available: after the dealer checks for blackjack, players can forfeit half their bet instead of playing a difficult hand.
6. 6.Standard splitting and doubling rules apply. Double after split is typically allowed.
7. 7.The peek rule is the key difference from European style -- it provides certainty and allows more aggressive strategy.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •2-deck shoe
• •No hole card (ENHC)
• •Dealer stands on soft 17
• •Double on 9-11 only
• •No resplit

Overview

European Blackjack follows the No Hole Card (ENHC) rule. The dealer does not receive or peek at a second card until all players have acted. This means doubles and splits can be lost to a dealer natural, requiring more cautious play against dealer 10 and Ace.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Uses 2 decks, fewer than most variants. The smaller shoe makes card awareness more impactful.
2. 2.The dealer takes only the upcard initially. The second card is dealt after all players finish their hands.
3. 3.Since there is no peek, players risk losing their full doubled or split bets if the dealer ends up with a natural 21.
4. 4.Doubling is restricted to hard totals of 9, 10, or 11 only. No doubling on soft hands or other totals.
5. 5.Resplitting is not allowed. If you split and receive another pair, you must play it as a single hand.
6. 6.Dealer stands on all 17s, including soft 17.
7. 7.The ENHC rule demands conservative play against dealer 10 and Ace -- avoid doubling or splitting in those situations.
8. 8.Despite the restrictions, the 2-deck format and S17 rule keep the house edge low at 0.39%.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •4-deck shoe
• •Dealer stands on soft 17
• •Double on any two cards
• •Split up to 4 hands
• •Double after split

Overview

Vegas Strip Blackjack represents the liberal rules found at premium Las Vegas Strip casinos. With only 4 decks, dealer standing on soft 17, and full doubling and splitting flexibility, it offers some of the best odds in standard blackjack.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Uses a 4-deck shoe, smaller than the typical 6 or 8 decks, which benefits the player.
2. 2.Dealer stands on all 17s including soft 17, reducing the dealer advantage on borderline hands.
3. 3.Players can double on any two cards, with no restrictions on total.
4. 4.Splitting is allowed up to 4 hands. Pairs can be resplit if another matching card is dealt.
5. 5.Double after split is permitted, adding significant value to splitting plays.
6. 6.The dealer peeks for blackjack (American-style hole card rule).
7. 7.Insurance is offered when the dealer shows an Ace.
8. 8.The combination of 4 decks, S17, and DAS creates one of the lowest house edges at 0.35%.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •8-deck shoe
• •Late surrender
• •Dealer stands on soft 17
• •Double on any two cards
• •Split up to 3 times
• •Double after split

Overview

Atlantic City Blackjack follows the rules standardized by New Jersey gaming regulations. It uses 8 decks with late surrender, dealer stands on soft 17, and allows generous splitting and doubling. The late surrender option is particularly valuable for reducing losses on difficult hands.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Uses an 8-deck shoe, the largest standard configuration.
2. 2.Late surrender is available after the dealer checks for blackjack. Surrendering forfeits half your bet.
3. 3.Dealer stands on all 17s including soft 17.
4. 4.Players can double on any two cards. Double after split is allowed.
5. 5.Splitting is permitted up to 3 times, creating a maximum of 4 hands from one original hand.
6. 6.The dealer peeks for blackjack when showing Ace or 10-value card.
7. 7.Insurance is offered at 2:1 when the dealer shows an Ace.
8. 8.Late surrender is the standout rule: surrender 16 vs dealer 9, 10, or Ace, and 15 vs dealer 10 for optimal play.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •Single deck (52 cards)
• •Lowest house edge
• •Dealer stands on soft 17
• •Double on 10-11 only
• •No resplit aces

Overview

Single Deck Blackjack uses just one standard 52-card deck, giving it the lowest house edge of any blackjack variant. The small deck makes every card removal significant and rewards players who pay close attention to the cards that have been played.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Only 52 cards in play. Each card removed from the deck has a measurable effect on the remaining probabilities.
2. 2.Dealer stands on all 17s including soft 17.
3. 3.Doubling is restricted to hard totals of 10 and 11 only.
4. 4.Aces can be split but not resplit. After splitting Aces, only one card is dealt to each.
5. 5.Blackjack pays 3:2. Some casinos offer 6:5 on single deck -- avoid those tables.
6. 6.The 0.15% house edge is the lowest of any standard blackjack game.
7. 7.Card removal effects are much larger with one deck. Removing a single Ace shifts the odds noticeably.
8. 8.The restricted doubling rules are the main trade-off for the extremely low house edge.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •2 decks (104 cards)
• •Low house edge
• •Dealer hits soft 17
• •Double on any two cards
• •Split up to 4 hands

Overview

Double Deck Blackjack strikes a balance between the precision of single deck and the stability of multi-deck games. With 104 cards and dealer hitting soft 17, it offers a low house edge while allowing full doubling flexibility.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Uses 2 decks (104 cards). Card removal effects are meaningful but less extreme than single deck.
2. 2.Dealer hits soft 17 (H17). This is less favorable than S17 but is offset by other liberal rules.
3. 3.Players can double on any two cards, unlike the restricted doubling in single deck.
4. 4.Splitting is allowed up to 4 hands with full flexibility.
5. 5.Blackjack pays 3:2.
6. 6.The H17 rule means the dealer is more likely to improve soft hands but also more likely to bust.
7. 7.Adjust basic strategy for H17: double 11 vs Ace and double soft 19 vs 6 become correct plays.
8. 8.At 0.28% house edge, this is the second-best standard variant after single deck.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •Play 1-5 hands at once
• •6-deck shoe
• •Dealer stands on soft 17
• •Independent bets per hand
• •Same rules as Classic

Overview

Multi-Hand Blackjack lets you play up to 5 hands simultaneously against a single dealer hand. Each hand is independent with its own bet, and standard Classic Blackjack rules apply to each. The format increases action per round and variance.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Players choose to play 1 to 5 hands per round, each with an independent bet.
2. 2.All hands are played against the same dealer hand.
3. 3.Uses a 6-deck shoe with standard Classic Blackjack rules.
4. 4.Dealer stands on all 17s. Blackjack pays 3:2.
5. 5.Each hand can be hit, stood, doubled, or split independently.
6. 6.Hands do not interact -- the decision on one hand should not influence another.
7. 7.Total bet exposure scales with the number of hands. Five hands at $10 each means $50 at risk per round.
8. 8.The house edge per hand is the same as Classic (0.46%), but variance increases with more hands.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •48-card deck (no 10s)
• •Player 21 always wins
• •Bonus payouts for special hands
• •Double on any number of cards
• •Late surrender after doubling
• •Hit/double after split aces

Overview

Spanish 21 uses a modified 48-card deck where all four 10s are removed (face cards J, Q, K remain). To compensate for the missing 10s, the game offers liberal player-friendly rules including bonus payouts, late surrender after doubling, and the guarantee that player 21 always wins.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Each deck has 48 cards: standard 52 minus the four 10-value cards. Only J, Q, K serve as 10-value cards.
2. 2.Player 21 always wins, even against dealer 21. This is the single most valuable rule.
3. 3.Bonus payouts for multi-card 21: 5-card 21 pays 3:2, 6-card 21 pays 2:1, 7+ card 21 pays 3:1.
4. 4.A suited 6-7-8 pays 2:1. A spaded 6-7-8 pays 3:1.
5. 5.Three 7s pay 3:2 (suited pays 2:1, spaded pays 3:1).
6. 6.Players can double on any number of cards, not just the first two.
7. 7.Late surrender is available even after doubling -- forfeit the doubled bet if the hand goes wrong.
8. 8.Hit and double after splitting Aces is allowed -- extremely rare in blackjack variants.
9. 9.The missing 10s reduce the probability of naturals and strong totals, but the bonus rules more than compensate.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •8-deck shoe
• •Twist/Stick/Buy instead of Hit/Stand/Double
• •Five Card Trick pays 2:1
• •Dealer wins ties (no push)
• •Both dealer cards face down
• •Must twist on 14 or below

Overview

Pontoon is the British equivalent of blackjack with distinct terminology and rules. Players twist (hit), stick (stand), and buy (double). Both dealer cards are face down, the dealer wins all ties, and a Five Card Trick (5 cards without busting) pays 2:1.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Uses an 8-deck shoe.
2. 2.Both dealer cards are dealt face down -- players have no information about the dealer hand until the end.
3. 3.A Pontoon (natural 21) is the best hand, paying 2:1.
4. 4.Five Card Trick: any hand of 5 cards totaling 21 or under pays 2:1. It beats any non-Pontoon hand.
5. 5.The dealer wins all ties. There are no pushes in Pontoon.
6. 6.Players must twist (hit) on 14 or below. You cannot stick on a hand of 14 or less.
7. 7.Buy (double down) is allowed on any two cards, but only before twisting. After twisting, you can no longer buy.
8. 8.Terminology: twist = hit, stick = stand, buy = double down.
9. 9.Hand rankings from best to worst: Pontoon, Five Card Trick, hand total closest to 21.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •Two hands dealt
• •Swap top cards between hands
• •Dealer 22 pushes all non-blackjack hands
• •Blackjack pays even money
• •6-deck shoe
• •Double after split

Overview

Blackjack Switch deals you two hands and lets you swap the top (second) card between them. This unique mechanic creates strategic depth as you evaluate four possible hand combinations. To offset this advantage, dealer 22 pushes and blackjack pays even money.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Two hands are dealt to each player position, each with a separate equal bet.
2. 2.After the initial deal, players may swap the second card of each hand between the two hands.
3. 3.The swap is optional -- you can keep the original cards if they are already strong.
4. 4.Blackjack pays even money (1:1) instead of the traditional 3:2.
5. 5.If the dealer totals exactly 22, all remaining player hands push instead of winning. Player blackjack still beats dealer 22.
6. 6.Uses a 6-deck shoe with standard hitting and standing rules.
7. 7.Dealer hits soft 17 in most versions.
8. 8.Double after split is permitted.
9. 9.The swap mechanic is the defining feature -- always evaluate all four possible combinations before deciding.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •Both dealer cards visible
• •Dealer wins ties (except natural 21)
• •Blackjack pays even money
• •8-deck shoe
• •No insurance
• •No surrender

Overview

Double Exposure deals both dealer cards face up, giving players complete information about the dealer hand. This significant advantage is balanced by the dealer winning all ties (except on natural 21) and blackjack paying even money.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Both dealer cards are dealt face up. Players see the full dealer total before making any decisions.
2. 2.Dealer wins all ties except when both player and dealer have a natural 21, which pushes.
3. 3.Blackjack pays even money (1:1).
4. 4.Uses an 8-deck shoe.
5. 5.No insurance is offered since the dealer hand is fully visible.
6. 6.No surrender is available.
7. 7.Strategy changes dramatically: decisions are based on the dealer total rather than just the upcard.
8. 8.Players should hit when behind the dealer total and stand when ahead.
9. 9.The 0.69% house edge reflects the balance between full information and the tie-loses rule.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •Both dealer cards visible
• •Player natural 21 beats dealer natural
• •Blackjack pays even money
• •Dealer hits soft 17
• •Double on any two cards

Overview

Face Up 21 is similar to Double Exposure with both dealer cards visible, but with a key difference: player natural 21 beats dealer natural 21. The dealer also hits soft 17, adding more variance to dealer outcomes.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Both dealer cards are dealt face up, identical to Double Exposure.
2. 2.Player natural 21 (blackjack) beats dealer natural 21. In Double Exposure, this is a push.
3. 3.Blackjack pays even money (1:1).
4. 4.Dealer hits soft 17, unlike Double Exposure where the dealer typically stands on all 17s.
5. 5.Uses an 8-deck shoe.
6. 6.Double on any two cards is permitted.
7. 7.No insurance offered since the dealer hand is fully visible.
8. 8.The natural-21 advantage and H17 are the distinguishing rules from Double Exposure.
9. 9.Strategy is similar to Double Exposure but adjusted for H17 and the natural 21 rule.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •Single deck
• •Diamond blackjack pays 2:1
• •6+ card 20 auto-wins
• •5+ card 21 pays 2:1
• •Double on any number of cards
• •Late surrender on any number of cards

Overview

Super Fun 21 is a single-deck variant packed with bonus features. A diamond-suited blackjack pays 2:1, hands of 6 or more cards totaling 20 or less auto-win, and players can double or surrender on any number of cards. The trade-off is a higher house edge than standard single deck.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Uses a single deck of 52 cards.
2. 2.Diamond blackjack (Ace and 10-value card, both diamond suit) pays 2:1 instead of 1:1.
3. 3.All other blackjacks pay even money (1:1), not the standard 3:2.
4. 4.Player 21 always beats dealer 21.
5. 5.A hand of 6 or more cards totaling 20 or less automatically wins.
6. 6.A hand of 5 or more cards totaling exactly 21 pays 2:1.
7. 7.Players can double on any number of cards, not just the first two.
8. 8.Late surrender is available on any number of cards, offering an escape from bad multi-card hands.
9. 9.The 0.94% house edge is higher than standard single deck due to the even-money blackjack payout.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •Spanish deck (no 10s)
• •Double your bet after seeing dealer upcard
• •8-deck shoe
• •Late surrender
• •No double after split

Overview

Double Attack Blackjack lets players see the dealer upcard before deciding to double their initial bet. It uses a Spanish deck (no 10s) with 8 decks. Late surrender is available but double after split is not.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Uses 8 decks of Spanish cards: 48 cards per deck with the four 10-value cards removed (J, Q, K remain).
2. 2.After the dealer upcard is shown, players may double their original bet before receiving their own cards.
3. 3.This "double attack" bet is the core mechanic -- raise when the dealer shows a weak card.
4. 4.Late surrender is available after receiving your hand.
5. 5.Blackjack pays even money (1:1).
6. 6.No double after split is allowed, limiting the value of splitting.
7. 7.Insurance is typically offered at modified odds.
8. 8.The missing 10s affect hand probabilities similarly to Spanish 21.
9. 9.Optimal play involves raising the bet against dealer upcards of 2 through 8.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •Free doubles on hard 9-11
• •Free splits on all pairs except 10s
• •Dealer 22 pushes
• •6-deck shoe
• •Blackjack pays 3:2
• •Push tokens for free bets

Overview

Free Bet Blackjack was invented by Geoff Hall. The house covers the cost of doubles on hard 9, 10, and 11 and splits on all pairs except 10s. In exchange, if the dealer totals 22, all non-blackjack hands push. Blackjack pays the standard 3:2.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Uses a 6-deck shoe with standard dealing procedures.
2. 2.Free doubles: when a player has hard 9, 10, or 11, the double bet is placed by the house using a special push token.
3. 3.Free splits: all pairs except 10-value cards can be split for free, with the house covering the second bet.
4. 4.If the player wins a free double or split, they receive full winnings. If they lose, they only lose the original bet.
5. 5.Dealer 22 pushes all non-blackjack hands. This is the house edge recovery mechanism.
6. 6.Player blackjack still wins against dealer 22.
7. 7.Blackjack pays 3:2, better than most variant games.
8. 8.Dealer hits soft 17 in most versions.
9. 9.The free bets make doubling and splitting nearly always correct on qualifying hands.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •Blackjack pays 3:2
• •6-deck shoe
• •Standard rules
• •Lower house edge
• •Player-friendly payout

Overview

3:2 Blackjack refers to any blackjack game where a natural 21 pays 3:2 -- that is, $15 for every $10 wagered. This is the traditional and player-friendly payout ratio that has been standard since blackjack was introduced to casinos.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Blackjack pays 3:2: a $10 bet returns $25 ($10 original + $15 winnings) on a natural 21.
2. 2.Uses standard 6-deck rules identical to Classic Blackjack.
3. 3.Dealer stands on all 17s including soft 17.
4. 4.Double on any two cards. Split up to 4 hands.
5. 5.The 3:2 payout is what players should always look for at any blackjack table.
6. 6.The house edge at a 3:2 table is approximately 0.43% with basic strategy.
7. 7.Compared to 6:5, the 3:2 payout saves the player nearly 1% in house edge.
8. 8.Every serious blackjack player should verify the payout ratio before sitting down at a table.

Also Known As

Key Features

• •Blackjack pays 6:5 only
• •Significantly higher house edge
• •6-deck shoe
• •Often found on lower-limit tables
• •Not recommended for serious players

Overview

6:5 Blackjack is a reduced-payout variant where a natural 21 pays only 6:5 instead of the traditional 3:2. This means a $10 bet returns only $22 ($12 winnings) instead of $25 ($15 winnings). The reduced payout dramatically increases the house edge.

Detailed Rules

1. 1.Blackjack pays 6:5: a $10 bet returns $22 ($10 original + $12 winnings) instead of the $25 from a 3:2 table.
2. 2.The difference is $3 per $10 bet on every natural 21 -- this adds up significantly over time.
3. 3.House edge increases from approximately 0.43% to 1.39% solely due to the payout change.
4. 4.All other rules are typically identical to standard 6-deck blackjack.
5. 5.Often found on lower-minimum tables to attract recreational players.
6. 6.Some single-deck tables offer 6:5 to offset the naturally low house edge.
7. 7.Insurance becomes even more unfavorable at 6:5 tables.
8. 8.Experienced players universally recommend avoiding 6:5 tables when 3:2 alternatives exist.

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