How to Play Blackjack: Rules, Beginner Tips & Card Values
Blackjack is one of the most familiar card games in both online and in-person casinos, yet it can feel a bit unclear when you first meet it. The appeal is simple: quick rounds, clear rules, and decisions that matter.
This guide explains the basics for UK players in a straightforward way, with player protections in mind. If you are curious about how blackjack works, what to expect online or at a table, or you just want to understand the game before trying it, read on to learn more.
What Is Blackjack and How Does the Game Work?
Blackjack is a card game where you play against the dealer. The aim is to finish with a hand total as close to 21 as possible without going over. Each player gets two cards, and the dealer receives two cards, one face up and one face down.
Games use one or more standard 52-card decks. After the first deal, you choose whether to take another card, stick with what you have, or use options such as splitting or doubling down if the table allows them. You win if your total beats the dealer’s without exceeding 21.
You will find blackjack at most casinos and on licensed UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) sites. Online versions come in two main formats: live dealer tables streamed in real time, and digital tables where outcomes are produced by audited random number generators. Table rules and betting limits can vary, so it might help to check the on-screen rules or table plaque before joining. Many tables start from £1 per round, while some higher-limit games accept much larger stakes.
Players should always remember to gamble responsibly and within their means- never wager more than you can afford to lose.
Blackjack Rules Explained for Beginners
If the basics above sound clear, the rest follows naturally. In each round, your decisions shape what happens next. You may take an extra card, called a hit, or you may stand and let the dealer complete their hand. If your total goes over 21, that is a bust and your round ends.
At most tables the dealer completes the hand after all players finish. A common rule is that the dealer must draw to 16 and stand on 17. Some tables require the dealer to hit on a soft 17, which is a 17 that includes an Ace counted as 11. Small rule changes like this can affect how often the dealer improves or goes over.
If your total is higher than the dealer’s and 21 or under, you win. If both totals match, it is a push and your stake is returned. An initial two-card 21 is a blackjack and usually pays more than a standard win. Some tables also offer an insurance bet when the dealer shows an Ace. Insurance is a separate wager that pays if the dealer’s hidden card makes a blackjack, and it comes with different odds to your main bet.
Card Values and How to Count Them
Every card value in blackjack is straightforward. Number cards from 2 to 10 are worth their face value. Face cards such as Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth ten. Aces are flexible, counted as either one or eleven, depending on what helps your hand without going over 21.
This is why you will hear the terms soft and hard. A soft hand contains an Ace counted as eleven, such as Ace and 6, which can also be treated as 7 if needed. A hard hand has either no Ace or an Ace that must be counted as one, like 10 and 7.
Multiple decks do not change how you count cards, but they do influence which combinations appear more often. Most casino and online versions use several decks, and the rules screen will tell you how many are in play.
How Do You Win at Blackjack?
A round ends with one of a few outcomes. You win if your total is higher than the dealer’s without exceeding 21. You lose if you bust, or if the dealer finishes with a higher total that is 21 or under. When both totals match, it is a push and your stake is returned.
An opening two-card 21 is a blackjack and usually pays at a higher rate than a normal win. Standard wins, such as a total of 20 beating the dealer’s 18, are paid at even money.
Some games include optional side bets that sit alongside your main wager. These pay based on specific card patterns or the dealer’s final hand rather than whether you beat the dealer in the usual way. Side bets have separate rules and paytables, so the on-screen help section is the best place to see how they work.
Table Layout and Player Options
A blackjack table is semi-circular, with the dealer facing the players. Each seat has a clear betting area and a space where your cards are placed face up. In online games, these spaces appear on screen and work in the same way. Chips or digital tokens show your stake, and minimum and maximum limits are displayed at the table.
Once the initial cards are dealt, you choose how to proceed. The dealer handles all cards and completes their own hand after players finish. The layout makes it easy to follow who is acting and what decisions are available.
Hit, Stand, Split and Double Down
Hit means taking another card to try to improve your total. For example, a hard 12 could become 17 with a 5, or it could go over 21 with a 10.
Stand means holding your current total and letting the dealer play. A total like 19 is often strong enough to stand, since only a narrow range of dealer outcomes will beat it.
Split is offered when your first two cards are the same value, such as 8 and 8 or King and 10. Splitting creates two hands, and you place a second bet equal to your original stake. Each new hand then receives another card. Many tables restrict resplitting, and some treat split Aces differently, often allowing only one additional card to each Ace.
Double down lets you double your original stake in return for exactly one extra card. This is commonly available on your first two cards and sometimes after a split, depending on the rules. Some tables allow doubling on any two-card total, while others limit it to specific totals such as 9, 10, or 11.
All of these options are shown clearly at the table, and the rules panel highlights any variations so you know what is available before you act.
Blackjack Payouts and Odds
Paytables explain how wins are paid. A blackjack, meaning an Ace with a ten-value card on the first deal, typically pays 3 to 2. So a £10 bet would return £15 in winnings plus your £10 stake. Standard wins usually pay 1 to 1.
Some tables offer 6 to 5 on blackjack instead of 3 to 2. That lower rate reduces overall returns, so it is worth checking before you sit down. If both you and the dealer finish with the same total, the result is a push and your stake comes back.
Insurance is offered when the dealer shows an Ace and usually pays 2 to 1 if the dealer’s hidden card is a ten. Because the chance of that hidden card being a ten is less than one in three, insurance pays differently to your main bet and tends to affect your overall returns in a different way.
From a single deck, the probability of being dealt a blackjack is about 4.8%. Other rules also shape long-term outcomes, such as whether the dealer hits a soft 17 and how many decks are used. Online games display their rules and are tested to ensure fair dealing and random results, so the paytable might be a helpful guide to what to expect.
Play Blackjack Online at Ivy Casino
If you want to try blackjack online, Ivy Casino offers a simple way to get started. The site is licensed and regulated in the UK, with games checked for fair results and secure payments handled with care.
You will find a range of tables, from digital games to live dealer rooms. Each table shows its rules, bet limits, and payouts upfront, so you can choose a style that suits you. Minimum stakes start from £1, which makes it easy to learn the flow of the game and build confidence at your own pace.
Player support is ready to help with account or game questions, and practical tools such as deposit limits and reality checks are available if you want them. Outcomes are produced by random card dealing, and live tables are hosted by trained dealers in real time.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.