Bojoko helps you learn everything you need to know about blackjack. We've prepared a complete guide to blackjack, including:
In addition, we've created dedicated pages for the following blackjack topics:
The internet is full of blackjack guides. Many of them are written by people who don't really understand the game. Reading those guides won't help you play blackjack better.
Other guides are bulkier, but the format isn't user-friendly. Instead of giving you instant answers peppered with examples and videos, you'd have to read through hundreds of pages to get the info you're looking for.
Our approach is different.
This blackjack guide is the only one you need to read. It covers every topic from the basics to advanced strategies, in an easy-to-follow format.
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Reading this guide will get you ready for the real tables.
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Learn the rules of blackjack. At first glance, blackjack appears to be a very simple game. Most people try to get their hand total as close to 21 without going over. Yet, you only need to beat the dealer's hand. If you dig deeper, you will find a complex and satisfying game underneath.
Blackjack is a card game played against the dealer. The object of the game is to build a hand value that is higher than that of the dealer's without going over 21.
A hand of blackjack plays out as follows:
The winner is the hand with a value that’s closest to 21 (or 21 exactly) without going over.
The overall objective in blackjack is to beat the dealer’s hand. If you get a total hand value of 21, then so much the better. However, you can beat the dealer with any number higher than what they have, as long as you don’t go over 21. You also win if they bust by going over 21 and you have any total under 21.
Sounds simple, right? Well, in theory, it is. However, there are certain subtleties that come into play. It’s these nuances that make blackjack entertaining and, importantly, a game where you can introduce various tactics and strategies.
In this guide, we’ll cover all of these features in more detail. However, before we do that, you need to know the basics and how to play.
The rules on card values in blackjack are very simple. Here's how they work:
Blackjack is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The colours and suits of the cards don’t matter. All that counts is the value associated with the card.
To get the total of any hand, you need to add up each of the cards in it.
EXAMPLE: You're dealt a 7 and an 8. This hand is worth 15. If you then get dealt a 3, the total goes up to 18.
If your total exceeds 21 at any time, you've gone "bust" and the hand is lost. The same rule applies to the dealer.
Determining the value of your hand really is that simple. The only time that things get more complicated is when you get an ace.
In blackjack, an Ace can be worth 1 or 11. Therefore, if you get a 10 and an Ace as your first two cards, your total is 21. This is known as "blackjack".
At other times in the game, an ace can be worth 1 or 11, depending on what works best under the circumstances. In these situations, the concept of "hard" and "soft" hands comes into play (see section below).
If you have a blackjack, you automatically win the hand as long as the dealer doesn't also have a blackjack. When you win with blackjack, your payout is 3:2 (in most variants) instead of the standard 1:1. In simple terms, 3:2 means you'll win 3 chips for every 2 chips you bet. Alternatively, you can say that blackjack is worth 1.5X your stake because 3/2 = 1.5.
EXAMPLE: If you wager £2 and hit blackjack at 3:2, your profit will be £3. You'll get 3 chips for the 2 chips you've staked. Since you also receive your stake back on a win, your total return will be £5 (£2 stake + £3 profit).
If the dealer also has a blackjack at the same time as you do, the hand is a tie. However, if the dealer creates a blackjack and you have any other total - including 21 built with three or more cards - the dealer wins.
When the dealer has an ace showing as an upcard, you can pay to take out insurance against them having a blackjack. If you do this and they have a blackjack, you'll receive a 2:1 payout on your insurance bet.
You may come across terms such as "hard" or "soft". This tells you whether the cards contain an ace that counts as 11 or not:
or
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE: You're dealt 4 + 5 = 9. You take a third card: Ace. Your total is now either:
There are two main reasons for understanding the difference between hard and soft hands.
The first one is that it affects the strategy that you use. If you look at the basic strategy chart, you will see that the decisions you make will differ between hard hands and soft hands. For example, if you have a hard 16, the strategy chart might tell you to stand. But a soft 16 could lead to you hitting.
The other situation is in terms of what the dealer does. Different casinos and games will have varying rules. For example, the dealer may have to hit on a soft 16 or stand on a soft 17 and so on. However, in most online variants, the dealer hits on all 16s and stands on all 17s.
The rules are simple. Anyone can learn how to play this game in little time - that's probably one reason blackjack has proved to be so popular over the years.
To get started, you need to place a bet. This is usually done using chips that each represent a cash value. You simply place the amount that you wish to wager and wait for the cards to be dealt.
The chips are colour-coded and typically have their value written on them. Individual blackjack games each have lower and upper betting limits that you need to stick to. These are called table limits.
You may choose to play with two or more hands at once in some multi-hand versions of the game. This means placing a separate bet on another player position at the same table.
Blackjack is played against the dealer, not against other players. Other players' hands don't affect the results of your own hand.
The casino will use a dealing shoe that contains a number of decks in it. Normally, four, six or eight packs of cards are used. Standard 52-card decks without jokers are used in blackjack.
You'll get your first two cards face-up. The dealer's first card will be face-up; the second is dealt face-down. This means that you are partially aware of how strong the dealer's hand is.
At this point, you need to make a decision on what to do next. Depending on your hand, you can do one of these moves:
Below, you'll find more detailed descriptions of each move.
To hit is to ask for another card, to stand is to stick with what you have.
The closer you can get to 21 without going over it, the better. You can keep on asking for more cards until you are happy with your hand. When you stand, the play then moves onto the next hand, before finally reaching the dealer's turn.
The dealer doesn't make these decisions as you do. They need to follow set rules that tell them when to hit and when to stand.
In the standard version, the dealer hits on any value below 17 and stands on any value of 17 or more.
You can split your hand into two if you have two cards of the same value in it. This means making another bet to the same value as your original stake. You can then carry on playing with both hands.
You may be restricted to just one additional card after splitting a couple of aces. With other values, there usually are no such restrictions.
This lets you double the original stake. However, if you choose to do this then you will only get one more card added to your hand. This is an exciting move that adds to the risk but gives you the potential for a bigger win.
You can only double down on your initial two-card hand. Some rule variations only allow doubling down on certain hand totals, e.g. from 9 to 11.
Surrendering means that you forfeit the game and lose half your initial stake. It can only be done at the start of the game before you ask for another card.
Not all casinos and blackjack versions have the surrender option, and it's especially rare in online blackjack.
There are two versions of the surrender rule:
Insurance is only offered when the dealer's visible card is an ace. By taking out insurance, you protect yourself against the possibility of the dealer having blackjack. The amount you put on this is usually half of your stake. It pays out as 2:1 to you if the dealer has 21 in their first two cards.
Insurance is a sucker bet and should never be taken. Read our complete analysis of insurance odds and payouts to learn why.
This is similar in some ways to the insurance option. Even money is a side bet offered when you have a blackjack hand and the dealer has an ace sitting face-up. If you accept this, then you receive an even money payout before the dealer checks their other card. This means that you are protected from a push if both you and the dealer have blackjack.
Just like insurance side bet, the odds for the even-money bet are not in your favour.
Blackjack is a game that has a clear set of behaviours and etiquette that should be followed at all times. These are designed to make it a safer, fairer experience for everyone involved. Learn how to signal your moves to the dealer.
In most blackjack tables, you shouldn't touch the cards at all.
The way that you touch the cards depends upon how they are dealt to you.
You can't use verbal instructions at a blackjack table, so it's important that you understand the hand signals that are used to tell the dealer what you want to do:
Hit
Stand
Double Down
Split
You never use cash at the table, instead, you exchange it for chips either before or at the blackjack table.
Stack your chips in ascending order with the lowest value chips on the top and the highest on the bottom.
Once you've placed a bet, don't touch your chips until the betting round is over and the dealer completes the action.
You can only join a game before a new betting round starts and never during a betting round.
You shouldn't place anything on the table except your stake. In most casinos, you will have a drinks-holder where you can safely place your drink while you play.
You shouldn't get angry with anyone else if the game isn't going the way you were expecting. Neither should you offer unsolicited advice to other players.
Just concentrate on your own game and enjoy it whatever happens.
Card games first became available on the internet in the 1990s. Since then, blackjack has become one of the most popular games played online. It is no longer necessary to play at home with friends or to go to a local casino. Learn how to play blackjack online.
There are a number of reasons why many players prefer online blackjack over the brick-and-mortar variant:
You can download our blackjack tool as a dedicated app on your mobile. Our blackjack trainer includes basic strategy and card counting drills plus a quick guide to the rules.
Blackjack trainer by Bojoko is available on Google Play and App Store:
You can read more about the app's features on the Free blackjack simulator & trainer page.
In order to play real money blackjack online, you need to:
We have explained all these steps in detail on our Best online casinos page.
Before you jump into the real money blackjack, it may be sensible to get the feel of the game by practising with play money. However, nowadays only registered players can access the play money version, so you have to create an account anyway.
You can also increase your gaming balance and take advantage of a blackjack bonus. More on that shortly.
Choose your stake size from a range of options. Blackjack games all have minimum and maximum wager levels. The system won't let you choose any amount that is lower than the minimum or higher than the maximum.
In most cases, you will see a pile of coloured chips of different values at the side of the screen. You need to click on the amount that you want to bet, which will then be transferred across to the betting area. If you make a mistake, you can change the amount before the cards are dealt.
If side bets like perfect pairs are available, they will have their own betting area. Place the chips here before the dealing begins. Additional bets to double down or split can be made when you are prompted.
It is important that you control your bankroll when playing online blackjack. You will see your balance rise or fall, depending upon whether you win or lose each hand. Your winnings are automatically added where appropriate.
In a lot of games, you have the option to simply re-bet the same amount on the next hand. This makes it easy to keep playing with the same stakes. If you are using a progressive system, such as Martingale where you double your bets after a loss, you need to remember to manually change the amount as needed.
As you play, you will want to keep a close eye on the balance. Remember, this is real money that you are using. Be particularly careful if you are playing with high stakes or making a lot of additional side-bets, as these soon add up.
Anyone who feels that they run the risk of betting too much can ask for a personal limit to be applied to their account.
You should check the banking details on the site to see how you can withdraw funds from your account. This can normally be done using the same methods that are available for depositing money.
A reputable, regulated casino will pay your winnings without any fuss. Their site will tell you how long withdrawals take and whether there is a fee involved.
Practically all casinos offer bonuses, but not all of them are aimed at blackjack players.
A vast majority of first deposit bonuses have wagering requirements that tell you how much you need to play before the bonus money is converted into withdrawable cash. Unfortunately for blackjack aficionados, blackjack and other casino table games don't fulfill the wagering requirements as fast as online slots do.
Here are the main mechanisms casinos use:
However, there are actual online blackjack bonuses too. These bonuses are a perfect fit for a blackjack player:
TIP: Remember to check the casino's terms and conditions carefully. Blackjack players need to pay extra attention to wagering requirements and restricted games lists.
A great bonus will let you play more games with free money. This makes it important for you to understand what makes up a good blackjack bonus.
You can find the best bonuses for blackjack players on our list of blackjack casinos.
Thankfully, online games are too well-controlled and regulated for this to be the case. While rigged games are something that players have been wary of ever since the first games were released, there's actually every reason to believe that playing on the internet is the best way to ensure absolute fairness at all times.
On Bojoko, we only feature regulated casinos with a gaming licence from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). These casinos are committed to fair play and need to follow some of the strictest licensing conditions in the world.
The results in all casino games are randomly generated. There are specialist, independent firms who test the software to make sure this is the case. Look for details of the game's random number generator and how it is tested. More on these below.
All virtual blackjack games online are powered by a random number generator (RNG). The counter to these games are live dealer tables (see section below).
RNG games are tested and certified as fair by third-party agencies, but what does this actually mean?
RNGs are programs that use complex algorithms to produce random results. Technically, online gaming results are pseudo-random. The results are close enough to random that they can't be guessed or generate a discernible pattern. However, the entire sequence of results is determined by a fixed number known as the seed.
The seed helps casino operators control the overall payout percentage. It also determines the house edge.
In a standard game of online blackjack, the return to player (RTP) is around 99.5%. This 0.05% is made possible by the seed within the game's RNG. Now, this doesn't mean results aren't random. They are. It basically means that each round of blackjack is random but within a certain framework i.e. within a set of limits defined by the seed.
The benefits of RNG blackjack games are:
Of course, there are some drawbacks to RNG blackjack games:
Get the perfect blend of online blackjack and live casino experience. Live dealers give you the best of both worlds. You get all of the convenience and security of online playing, with the added drama of the cards being dealt in front of you.
The action is streamed directly to your computer from a land-based casino or studio. This means that you can watch every move that the human dealer makes in real-time. It adds excitement, as you watch the cards being dealt one by one. Some games even zoom in on the cards at crucial moments.
You can find numerous different live dealer blackjack games online. These include straight-forward variants together with others that introduce more unusual rules.
Several of the biggest game developers have their own studios or casinos where they film these games. In some cases, blackjack is available in several different languages, with native-speaking dealers.
Live blackjack games online replace virtual dealers with real ones. Alongside standard variants, live dealer blackjack can include extra dynamics such as Common Draw (all players are dealt the same cards) and Bet Behind (you bet on the outcome of another player's hand).
Here's how you play a round of live dealer blackjack:
Another modern way of playing blackjack is on a mobile device. This gives you complete freedom to place your stakes wherever you are.
Bigger tablets give an impressive display due to the larger screen. However, the best games are also highly optimised to look good even on smaller smartphones. So, it doesn't really matter what type of device you use.
Playing mobile blackjack is no different to betting via your desktop. In practice, the only real change you'll notice is that mouse clicks are replaced by touches and swipes.
Are you a high-roller? You can easily find games to put high stakes on if this is what you want.
There is no doubt that placing a large wager on the table is thrilling. But it isn't right for everyone. This is why there are special high-roller games at some casinos. These variants let you play with higher amounts. Although each blackjack site will have its own limits, it's often the case that high stakes blackjack tables allow you to wager between £100 and £1,000+ per round.
Who is likely to want to play high-stakes games of blackjack?
One of the great things about online blackjack is the fact that you can play using very small stakes if you prefer. This is ideal if you are new to the game and want to get started gently.
Each game will tell you the lowest amount that you can stake. You can usually start playing from as little as £0.10 per round. There aren't many games specifically aimed at low-stakes players. However, the majority of standard blackjack titles let you choose a modest wager amount.
Of course, with lower stakes, you will win less when you beat the dealer. Your winnings are directly related to the amount you wager, so you should adjust your play style based on what you're aiming to get out of the game.
Low-stakes blackjack is best suited to the following players.
Thankfully, most good casinos have a wide selection of blackjack games on them. You can expect to see a range of titles with different variants, such as those using European and American rules.
Most of the best online casinos also now have live dealer blackjack as well as interesting variants such as Blackjack Switch, Spanish 21 and Super Fun Blackjack.
What do you need a blackjack site to offer? The following points are all things to look for.
Fortunately, there are many top casinos that meet all of these requirements comfortably. By checking out the latest casino reviews, you can see the latest sites to launch and the types of bonus that they provide.
At the time of writing, these are some of the biggest and best blackjack sites. Some of them also offer live casino bonuses:
New casinos are launched regularly, often with tempting bonuses. It is worth checking out what is new. You might even find that switching between a few different sites to keep things fresh makes sense.
Reducing the house edge should be a top priority for every blackjack player. There will always be a house edge, but a player can ensure that they are taking home as much as possible from their blackjack session. Learn the odds of blackjack and how to improve your chances of winning. Pay attention to rule variations and comps to come up on top.
In theory, yes. In practice, it's not so easy.
There are many things affecting your odds at the blackjack table. The house edge will vary from house to house and from table to table. The rules used at the table can give the house more advantages, or they can work in the player's favour.
Promotions and coupons can eliminate the house edge, if only for a single hand. A blackjack player has to always look at the bigger picture, where a bonus chip or a 0.1% drop in the house edge can have a massive impact. However, the most effective way to reduce the house edge is the basic blackjack strategy.
In this section, we look at different factors that have an impact on your bottom line.
The return-to-player rate indicates how much money a casino expects a player to be paid back over a period of gaming.
EXAMPLE: A 95% RTP suggests that a player should receive £95 from £100 of stakes.
Of course, it doesn't always work that way. If you stake £100 on your first blackjack hand and make £150 profit, it doesn't mean that you'll continue with an RTP of 250%! In the long term, casinos expect players' staking outcomes to trend close to their RTP line.
With blackjack, the RTP often starts at around 99.5%, where the casino expects a blackjack player to get back £99.50 from every £100 staked. At least, that's what the casino expects the perfect blackjack player to do. 99.5% is a very generous RTP for the player, with roulette offering 97.3% and some slot machines ranging as low as 85% RTP.
Blackjack is a game of strategy. While the element of chance is present in every draw of the card, the player has to respond tactically to a multitude of situations. This strategic element is less present in roulette and slots, where the mechanics of the game take over.
With its 0.5% house edge, the casino is essentially making a bet. It is banking on players making the wrong strategic decisions and unwittingly increasing the house edge. Fortunately, there are ways for both rookie and veteran blackjack players to try and bring the house edge as close as possible to that ideal 0.5% level.
If RTP is the amount a player can expect to win in the long run, house edge is the amount the casino expects to win over time. In essence, house edge is the partner of RTP or, if you like, it's the other side of the coin.
Therefore, if the house edge is 1%, the RTP will be 99% and vice versa. Like RTP, house edge is a theoretical long-term return rate that's typically calculated over 10,000 hands or more.
Now we've outlined concepts such as house edge, it's time to use them in a practical way. By taking what you know about blackjack odds and the in-game dynamics they create, you can implement some tactics that could help to improve your win rate.
If you read through the rest of our guide to blackjack, you'll find that we cover all of the following points in much greater detail. However, by way of a quick overview, here are six tips on how to win at blackjack.
Whenever you play blackjack or any casino game, you need to manage your money. Without a plan for how much you're going to stake, you risk going broke. According to serious blackjack players, you should only take a small percentage of your bankroll into any given game. The guidelines on this will vary depending on who you ask. However, it's generally accepted that you shouldn't take more than 5% of your total bankroll to the table.
Once you've sat down, you then need to set your bets accordingly. Again, it's possible to work in percentages. If you assume that you want to make at least 50 bets, you should wager no more than 2% of your in-game funds on a single round of blackjack.
EXAMPLE: If your total bankroll is £1,000, you should take no more than £50 into a game. If you sit down with £50, your maximum bet per round should be, approximately, £1.
Card counting is a way of tracking the dynamics of a deck/s. As a player, it's advantageous to know when there are more high cards left in the deck/s and when there are more low cards. By assigning values to different cards, you can establish a count that allows you to determine just that.
In simple terms, you assign values of +1, 0 and -1 to cards in the following way:
While counting cards, you need to keep a mental tally of the cards played and their total sum, according to the score system explained above. This number tells you when the deck is in your favour (more high cards) and when it's not (more low cards).
To get an accurate idea of how advantageous the situation is for betting big, the card counter needs to know how many decks are left in play. By dividing the running count with the number of decks, you get the "true count". This number tells you how many MORE big cards there were compared to small cards, if the game used only one deck.
Basic blackjack strategy is a mathematically sound guide on when you should hit, stand, split and double down. Basically, using a combination of blackjack odds and statistics, basic strategy shows you how to play all hands in all situations. To make basic blackjack strategy even more accessible, there are charts that show you exactly what to do in all situations.
One important thing to consider before you start playing is whether the game will pay out at 6:5 or 3:2. These ratios can have a huge impact on your winnings. The more you play at a 6:5 table, the more you will lose out to the house.
EXAMPLE: If you're playing at a 3:2 table and bet £10, blackjack earns you a £15 profit (i.e. 1.5X your stake). This, plus your stake back means your total return is £25. Bet £10 at a 6:5 table and blackjack earns you a £12 profit (i.e. 1.2X your stake).
When you compare 3:2 and 6:5 blackjack tables, the former offers a better overall return rate. Indeed, based on payouts, you'll earn 0.3% more at 3:2 tables when you hit blackjack.
TIP: Where possible, ensure you play blackjack at a table that pays 3:2, not 6:5.
The more decks in the game, the greater the house edge. You might think that more decks equate to more chances of hitting blackjack. After all, there are more cards that could make blackjack. Unfortunately, that's not the case.
Imagine that you are dealt an ace as your first card. What are the chances of hitting a ten on the next card to get a 21?
That decreasing probability might not seem like a big deal. However, anything that reduces your likelihood of getting a blackjack should be avoided where possible.
Due to the popularity of blackjack, there are always bonuses, promotions and ways to get something extra. You should use this to your advantage at every opportunity.
Some online casinos offer blackjack bonuses. In addition, land-based casinos offer blackjack bonuses in the form of bonus coupons.
Blackjack coupons are an effective way to reduce the house edge. Casinos give coupons to players, usually first-time visitors or regular faces. By sacrificing the house edge for a short time, casinos hope that they can encourage people to stick around and continue playing.
Blackjack Bonus Coupon: This coupon does exactly what the name suggests: it gives you a bonus if you make blackjack. This often takes the form of a 2:1 payout on your first blackjack in a session. A 3:2 table pays out at 1.5x and a 6:5 table pays out at 1.2x. However, with this coupon you'll earn 2X more for hitting blackjack.
Matchplay Coupon: A matchplay coupon allows you to double one of your bets. If you placed a £20 bet, a matchplay coupon worth £20 would allow you to match it. If you hit blackjack for a 3:2 payout, your standard bet should net you a £30 profit, as would your matchplay bet. This means your total profit would be £60.
Even though the player has ways to improve the odds, it is important to understand that gambling is always risky. Games that are more transparent and easier to calculate are generally better, but every single game is designed to make money for the casino.
When you play blackjack online, you will quickly notice that the casino will do everything to take away your edge. The games are played with multiple decks and the cards are shuffled after every round. These are just some of the little things that hurt the player.
In the end, casinos offer these games to make a profit. You as a player need to understand that the longer you play, the likelier it is that the casino wins. Statistically every round is negative for the player.
If you can identify the hooks and rule changes that keep you playing and help the casino win, you can become a better and more responsible player. It is easy to get carried away and play more than you intended. These games are not a way to fix any financial problems. They are only for entertainment. The more you play, the more the casino will win.
Side bets offer a higher potential payouts with a bigger house edge. Learn how different side bets work and whether they're good bets. Hint: they're not.
What are blackjack side bets?
Many blackjack games, both in land-based and online casinos, now feature side bets on a range of outcomes. These extras have been created by mathematicians and game theorists with two goals in mind:
For centuries, the game of blackjack remained untouched. It was a classic race to 21, with the player and the dealer going toe-to-toe in the pursuit of the best hand possible without busting. But in modern times, new additions like side bets have been brought in to update blackjack and add an extra dimension of trepidation into the mix.
Side bets have attracted a whole new audience to blackjack, particularly those for whom the traditional even-money payouts aren't enough. However, side bets also contain an element of risk as there's no skill involved. But, the generous rewards are worth it in many player's eyes.
In this chapter, we are going to look in more detail at four of the most popular blackjack side bets, namely:
Finally, we're going to ask whether these side bets are worth the risk?
There's no worse feeling at the blackjack table: the moment the dealer's upturned card is revealed as an ace. Instinctively, you know that your chances of winning that hand have dropped significantly, although optimists won't be giving up completely at this point.
Of course, there is a chance that the dealer has the unbeatable blackjack hand. However, some games allow us to ‘insure' against this possibility by betting a half stake on it. If the dealer does have blackjack, you'll be paid out at 2:1.
No. Even though it may seem like a wise move to make, the numbers suggest that taking insurance in blackjack is a losing play. To show you why, let's run the numbers.
EXAMPLE: There are 52 cards in a deck. We know that the dealer has an ace, and we know the identity of our own cards (for this example, let's assume we don't have a ten card).
However, this is under optimal conditions. If we add more decks to the mix, the odds change. Every time we add a deck, we add the probability of 16/52 into the mix. It's 16/52 instead of 16/49 because the new decks haven't had any cards removed.
Here are the insurance odds for the dealer hitting a blackjack, based on the number of decks in play:
As you can see, your odds of winning the insurance bet we're not great to begin with. Every new deck makes the odds even worse. However, the 2 to 1 payout remains the same.
If you we're to place £100 worth of insurance bets in a 6 deck game, on average you'd end up losing £6.79. Don't believe me? Here's the math:
£100 (your total bets) x 3 (2 to 1 payout) x 31.07% (the odds of winning your insurance bet) = £93.21. Deduct the £100 you bet, and you're almost £7 in the red.
RESULT: You stand to lose 6.97% for every insurance bet placed.
In short, the odds offered on the insurance side bet do not tally up with the actual probability of it being a winner. In the long term, we are throwing chips down the drain. The dealer is likely to win with their ace after the insurance wager has been settled – whether they have blackjack or not.
It is simply better to cut your losses and hope for a surprise win rather than compounding your misery.
PRO TIP: Blackjack pro Don Schlesinger doesn't completely rule out taking the insurance. In his list of advanced blackjack moves, "The illustrious 18", Schlesinger recommends taking the insurance when the true count is 3 or higher. You'll need to be counting the cards, though.
Here's a curious side bet that looks to ‘insure' players who are dealt a blackjack but where the dealer's upturned card is also an ace. If the dealer has blackjack, then all you get is a ‘push', i.e. your stake returned.
The odds are interesting on this bet because you will be paid out at even money, as the name suggests. That basically means you can double your money. However, it's a tactic that has been devised by casinos to tantalise newcomers to blackjack and those that haven't worked out the math:
Those odds lengthen on a dealer blackjack for every deck added into the equation. In conclusion, do not take the even money side bet when you're playing in 3:2 tables! However, if you're at a 6:5 blackjack table, even money side bets can be profitable.
FACT: Most games pay out at 3:2 for hitting blackjack. So, clearly your best option is to not take out the even money insurance for a return on 1:1. However, at a 6:5 blackjack table, even-money is a +EV bet. In terms of mathematics, you'll end up with an overall loss of £83.26 for every £100 wagered when you decline even money at a 6:5 table. However, we have yet to see a 6:5 table offering even money.
This is a bet placed before any cards are dealt, and the outcome is based upon your two cards. You can win on the Perfect Pairs bet in three ways:
Of course, the Perfect Pair is made possible by the number of decks being used in your game.
FACT: the casino has a house edge of c.a. 5.79% on Perfect Pairs, depending on the exact payout structure. On average, you lose roughly £6 for every £100 wagered.
The exact payouts of this side bet vary between casinos and game providers. As an example, we use the following payout structure:
No. It's a harsh reality but, like other blackjack side bets, perfect pairs have a negative expectation. In other words, you stand to lose, on average, more than you'll win.
To explain why this is true, let's consider your odds of winning and your potential returns:
EXAMPLE: The Mixed Colour Pair bet pays at 5:1.
QUESTION: What are your chances of landing this bet in a six-deck game?
THE MATHS: There are four of each card value in a deck (4/52). If you multiply that by six decks, you get 24/312.
RESULT: So, you have a roughly 1-in-13 chance of landing the Mixed Colour Pair.
CONCLUSION: The payout does not match the statistical likelihood of the pair hitting. So, by placing this side bet you will be a long-term loser.
The same principles are true for the Same Colour Pair (odds = 1-in-26, payout of 10:1) and the Perfect Pair (odds = 1-in-52, payout of 30:1).
Although the same perfect pairs side bet covers all of these possible combinations, the total payouts aren't high enough compared to the low odds of getting a pair. These are negative expectancy bets for the long-term, discerning blackjack player.
The 21+3 blackjack side game requires players to wager on the possibility that the three ‘known' cards on the table – the player's pair and the dealer's upturned card – will form a strong poker hand.
Prior to any cards being dealt, you will be able to place your 21+3 side bet. Then the four cards are dealt as normal: your two and those of the dealer. The idea is to create a recognised poker hand from your two cards and the dealer's upturned card. If they do, you will win! Once the 21+3 bet has been settled, the rest of the game will play out with standard blackjack rules.
You can earn a handy payout if you land one of the five different poker combinations available, with those prizes outlined below.
The number on the left dictates how much you win to a single stake, e.g. if you wagered £10 on your 21+3 side bet and won with a flush, you would earn £50 in winnings and get your £10 stake back.
The 21+3 blackjack payouts are as follows:
Of course, you can only establish whether these bets are potentially positive or not when you compare probabilities and payouts. If we use the above payouts and a game with six decks, the probabilities of making ranked hands are:
As you can see, the potential of hitting any single ranked hand is fairly low. When you add them together, you get a total RTP of 95.86%, which translates to a house edge of 4.14%.
Compared to the RTP of c.a. 99% of the base game played with the basic strategy, this isn't great. However, in a game where potential returns and excitement also matter, blackjack side bets do inject a little spice into the game.
Side bets are fun wagers that add a bit of extra excitement into your gaming, but long-term they do not yield positive results. That's not to say you can't profit from them because if you have a particularly lucky session then you can win and win well, but ultimately that would prove only to be short-term variance.
Blackjack side bets are gambles, whereas basic blackjack strategy enables us to get the house's edge down to a minuscule percentage when applied correctly.
Our advice? If you are having a good session and want to try something different, place your side bets only with the house's money, i.e. funds you have won from them. That way, there is no real risk to go with the obvious rewards.
We'll show you the most popular blackjack variants out there. From the traditional to the innovative, the following rundown will show you exactly how far the game has come since its inception.
By adding subtle twists, game developers have found ways to keep blackjack feeling fresh and play to the skill aspect of the game. Unlike other casino offerings, blackjack's dynamics allow skilled players to use certain strategies to improve their potential win rate. With this being true, different types of blackjack make it possible for you to try new moves.
The basic rules of blackjack are seen in many different versions of the game. Many of them simply add extra side bets or slightly different rules.
In this section, we look at the most popular blackjack versions and explain how they work.
American and European blackjack mainly vary in how the dealer receives their second card.
In American rules, the dealer's starting cards are placed face-down while the other is face-up. The dealer can peek to see if they have blackjack.
In European rules, the dealer only gets one card at the start. Their second card only comes after the player has taken their turn.
There are some additional differences between the two variants, but these are subtle. The main difference you'll notice is how the dealer receives their cards at the start of a round.
Here's a quick overview of the most popular blackjack games. Each link will take you to a more detailed description.
Here are some of the basic rules you'll find across all types of blackjack:
Before we move into specifics, let's quickly highlight the general payouts you can expect in a standard game of blackjack:
Below are some rules that are only available in certain types of offline and online blackjack. Before you play, make sure you ascertain whether these rules are in play:
Described by some as the best variant of blackjack, Spanish 21 is characterised by a low house edge. Although specific rule variants can alter the casino's edge, most dynamics result in an advantage of just 0.40%.
Blackjack Switch was invented and patented in 2009 by Geoff Hall. Under the rules of Blackjack Switch, you can swap your starting cards between hands. In general, when six decks are in play and standard rules apply, the house edge for Blackjack Switch is 0.58%.
To play Blackjack Switch, you'll need to place two bets of equal size. From here, you'll be dealt two hands consisting of two cards each. Before you decide whether you want to hit or stand, you can switch the second cards of each hand if you want.
EXAMPLE: You're dealt 8-J and A-2, you could switch the J and 2.Doing this would give you a total of 10 and 21. At this point, you can stand on 21 and hit 10 (which is better than hitting the soft 13 you previously had).
As you can see, with the right cards and knowledge, Blackjack Switch gives you the chance to turn weak hands into positive opportunities. Of course, this advantage doesn't come for free. In addition to the rules listed below, all non-busted hands are classed as a tie if the dealer makes 22 (i.e. the dealer doesn't bust on 22).
The RTP for Blackjack Switch is 99.42% based thanks to the above conditions and the payouts below:
Blackjack Switch often offers a Super Match side bet. If the 4 cards in player's two starting hands include the following combinations, there are some handsome payouts:
Invented by Geoff Hall, Free Bet Blackjack is attractive to casual players because, as the name suggests, you can make bets for free. As per the rules of Free Bet Blackjack, the house will pay for you to split or double down on certain hands. Yes, that's right, you can split or double for free.
General blackjack rules apply, except:
Under standard conditions, the house edge for Free Bet Blackjack is 1.04%. That's higher than some variants. However, the free bets do provide a unique dynamic.
Free Doubles: If you've got a hard total (i.e. a total without an ace) of 9, 10 or 11, you can use a free bet to double down. Doubles on other totals are allowed but you have to pay for them yourself. If you lose or tie, you only lose your original wager. If you win, you receive your original wager back plus a payout equal to double the free wager.
Free Splits: You can split any pair, except tens, for free. When you use a free split, the house token is replaced with real chips and you play out the round as if you'd paid for the split yourself. If you use a free split, you're still entitled to free doubles and free re-splits.
The cost of these free bets is that you lose certain benefits and the dealer has a little more flexibility, as you'll see above.
Particularly popular in Las Vegas, Super Fun 21 blackjack is designed to live up to its moniker. The rules of Super Fun 21 are more liberal than classic variants. You have more options when it comes to betting, hitting and standing.
The rules of Super Fun 21 means the house edge can be:
The trade-off for better betting conditions is that blackjack (an Ace and a 10/picture card) only pays out at 1:1 rather than 3:2.
A mash-up of blackjack and poker, this variant essentially takes the scoring system of the former and combines it with the showdown dynamics of the latter.
Blackjack Poker has a hand ranking system that takes inspiration from poker. Your job is to try and make the best-ranked hand that outranks the dealer's hand. If you can do that, you'll receive a payout in accordance with the value of your hand.
A round of blackjack poker flows in the following way:
When everyone has completed their turn, a showdown takes place and the following rules apply:
You define the value of your hand by adding up the card values together and comparing this total sum to the dealer's hand. This is where the blackjack element comes in. Scoring a hand is based on the standard blackjack card values:
When you combine the above with the hand rankings below, your two-card total determines the payout you recieve. To win the hand, you need to have a combination that ranks higher than the dealer's.
When it comes to blackjack variants, Pontoon may be the most interesting. As well as offering better dynamics than many of its counterparts, there are two versions: Australian and British.
In Australia, Pontoon is virtually identical to Spanish 21. We won't run through the rules of Australian Pontoon as you can check them in the Spanish 21 section. However, the one rule that's worth noting is the late surrender. If the dealer's up card is a ten or an ace, you can late surrender but will lose your entire bet if the dealer makes blackjack.
In British Pontoon, the general flow of play mirrors classic blackjack. However, there are some rule changes listed below.
The main feature you need to be aware of is five-card trick, a.k.a. five-card charlie. Make any total with five cards without going bust (i.e. over 21) and you'll win the hand and a 2:1 payout.
European Blackjack would be described as one of the classics. In other words, it's a variant that's been around for decades and, in general, uses the basic rule set players have come to expect from blackjack.
European Blackjack has a fairly low house edge of 0.62%. This takes into account strict rules regarding doubles and splitting.
The defining feature in European Blackjack is the "no peek" rule. In certain types of blackjack, one of the dealer's cards will be exposed and one will be face-down on the table. To speed up the game and provide you with some more information, the dealer will peek at the unexposed card if their up card is an ace. If the dealer has blackjack, it's exposed immediately and the round is over (i.e. you lose, or tie if you also have blackjack).
But in European Blackjack, the dealer doesn't check for blackjack if they have an ace exposed. Therefore, you have to make your moves and wait to learn your fate. Other than that, the rules of European Blackjack are standard.
Otherwise known as the "main" type of blackjack, American games are what you'll find in virtually every casino in the world. There are technically two main types of American Blackjack: Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
We'll outline the rules for each variant below. American Blackjack requires the dealer to stand on soft 17 and you can double down after splits.
Tournament blackjack differs greatly from conventional casino blackjack. In this section, we'll cover the dynamics of the tournaments and effective strategies for winning a cash prize at the end of it.
There may be instances where land-based and online casinos advertise blackjack tournaments to their customers. These large-scale events are designed to involve multiple blackjack players at once, as they battle for supremacy and a chance to finish 'in the money'.
As the rules for regular blackjack differ from casino to casino, the structure and rules of each blackjack tournament will vary. Yet, there are some common aspects of all tournament events.
Typically, blackjack tournaments feature a round system. During the early rounds, the top two players with the most chips at each table move to the next round until a final table is set.
This move typically occurs every 25-30 hands of blackjack. This prevents card counters from gaining an edge in the tournament and also ensures engaging, quick-fire action.
As regular blackjack games are largely influenced by the number of decks in play, specific tournaments will also deem whether:
In the latter stages of a blackjack tournament, the format may change somewhat, with only one player from each table advancing to the next round.
Some tournaments will narrow their structure down to a heads-up game between two players. Others will have a full "final table" of players to do battle and get the most amount of chips to become the outright winner.
At the beginning of a blackjack tournament, all players start with the same number of chips at their respective tables and will play the same number of hands.
At the end of each round (a predefined number of blackjack hands) the players that have the highest chip stacks will advance to the next round.
This will sometimes be the top two players with the highest chip stacks, while other tournaments will focus solely on the top player per table.
You don't need to increase your chip stack that much to progress through a blackjack tournament. Depending on how aggressive your fellow players may be, you might simply need to survive and preserve your chip stack to outlast those who take big risks with their chips and fail.
Even if you end up with fewer chips than you started with, it's still possible to make progress in a blackjack tournament.
Many fans of blackjack also like the concept of blackjack tournaments as it's a great way of enjoying their favourite table game whilst limiting their risk. Losses made in blackjack tournaments are restricted exclusively to tournament entry fees alone.
Another sizable difference between casino and tournament blackjack is the way in which players can get an edge over the game. In casino blackjack, you can count cards and master keeping track of the running count of the game, so that you know when to bet big.
However, card counting is not the most effective way to gain an edge in tournament blackjack. That's because your opponent is not the dealer, it's the other players at the table. Learning how to play better than your opponents is the most important edge in blackjack tournaments.
Blackjack tournaments can be staged in a variety of formats. Take a look at the most popular tournament formats below and see which ones you like the sound of most:
The most common format of tournament blackjack is an elimination-style event. In this format, you will play against the other players at your table, with only those with the highest chip stack at each table progressing to the next round, and all others eliminated.
In some cases, these elimination tournaments will permit a 're-buy' allowing players to re-enter once for the cost of the entry fee again.
This format of blackjack tournaments does not involve players being eliminated at any stage of the game.
Players must simply accumulate as many chips as possible by the end of a predetermined number of rounds.The tournament leaderboard is highly visible throughout to ensure players know how many chips they need to win.
In the vast majority of blackjack tournaments you play with chips that do not have fiat currency value. By contrast, live-money blackjack tournaments require players to pay in cash for their tournament chips at the table.
This eradicates the ceiling on players as they can spend as much as they wish on chips to chase tournament victory.
Some land-based – and online – casinos will stage weekly and even daily blackjack tournaments with predetermined prize pools and relatively low entry fees by comparison with major tournaments with six-figure prizes.
Some land-based casinos will also stage sit ‘n' go blackjack tournaments in the same format as sit ‘n' go poker games. Once all seats at a blackjack table have been filled the tournament can begin.
These are particularly popular with casual players that can't commit to entering major tournaments at specific dates and times.
Here are some practical tips to make your way to the final table.
You'll want to be selective with the blackjack tournaments you enter. Be sure to choose those that offer the best equity in terms of prize money. There will be some events where the prize pool is less than the combined sum of entry fees. But there are also plenty of others that offer more bang for your buck.
The easiest way to find out the percentage of entry fees that are included in the overall prize pool is to ask the tournament director.
The figure should be transparent and, if it's not, this should be a red flag to you. Ultimately, try to enter tournaments that return as near to 100% of the sum of entry fees as possible.
Before you give over your hard-earned cash, be sure to read through the tournament's playing rules. There are many examples of players that have blindly entered blackjack tournaments only to make expensive strategic errors during the game, resulting in their elimination or fall down the leaderboard.
Legitimate blackjack tournaments will offer a clear, concise list of rules, including:
In a tournament, there are two things to focus on. Firstly, you need to try and beat the dealer as you would in a standard game. However, beyond that, you also need to think about your position at the table. Because your aim is to accumulate more chips/wins than everyone else, you need to have an awareness of what's going on at the table.
As that is the case, you should always stay on top of how many chips your opponents have at the table, as well as your own. By keeping track of your opponents' chip counts, you can determine how to size your next wagers so as not to jeopardise your position at the table, or on the overall leaderboard.
You also need to know how to assess the potential outcomes of an opponent's hand after the deal. For instance, if it's clear that their hand is at risk of going bust or being too low, you will know when the time is right to strike and increase the size of your own bet to boost your chip count.
In these tournaments, the first person to bet on each hand moves around the table with each hand that's played, rather like the dealer button in poker.
Once it's determined who will be betting first in the first round, you'll need to be aware of your own betting position final round - where you'll need to know how aggressively to bet.
Those with the dealer button, when it comes to this stage of betting, are always at a disadvantage as they can only view the wagers made by their competitors after they have acted.
Some players in blackjack tournaments also experience something of a quandary when they enter the chip lead. When you are dubbed chip lead, many players decide between trying to build on their lead or sitting tight and allow others to wilt under the pressure.
The easiest strategy is to keep a close rein on your nearest challenger. What we mean by that is you should always try to match the wager of your rival.
This way, if you win, they win and if you lose, they lose. There's no way for them to overtake you – unless their hand wins and yours doesn't, of course.
If you are behind the chip leader going into the final round of a blackjack tournament, you will need to try and wager more than the table leader, which may result in doubling down on your initial bet size.
The strategy itself is rather simple. There is a saying among blackjack tournament fanatics that goes: "if in doubt, put it out". If you're unsure whether the time is right to bet big, go for the jugular and try to reassert your position at the table.
Although they are few and far between, some land-based and online casinos arrange freeroll blackjack tournaments for their customers.
Freeroll tournaments do not require players to pay to enter. They offer beginners to blackjack or tournament blackjack a chance to hone their skills before entering bigger events.
There are some freeroll blackjack tournaments that will also offer up a modest guaranteed prize pool, which can be hugely beneficial to build up your own blackjack bankroll.
Whichever way you look at it, blackjack tournaments are a fun, engaging way to experience blackjack; whether you are a first-timer or someone that has played conventional casino blackjack for many years and fancies a different competitive challenge.
We pay homage to some of the best blackjack brains in history. Learn how blackjack has evolved during the last 5 centuries and how it has achieved the analytical and scientific attention it deserves.
Blackjack has come a long way since the days of sailors playing for matchsticks to pass the time on lengthy voyages.
In the intervening 500 years or so, blackjack has gone from a pastime to a billion-dollar industry in its own right, with university professors and mathematics geniuses coming up with strategies to help players get one over on the casino.
In this chapter, we will quickly explore the origins and history of blackjack, from those humble beginnings through to the technical revolution of the 2000s.
We'll also take some time to pay homage to the major contributors of knowledge in blackjack and the hall of famers, while revealing more about the annual Blackjack Ball, which brings together the game's sharpest thinkers for a yearly summit with one common aim: taking down the house!
Blackjack dates back to the late 1600s, although its actual origins are unclear. In his book Historia Del Juego En España, author Marc Fontbana notes that Miguel de Cervantes first wrote about blackjack in his book Novelas Ejemplares.
Cervantes referred to the game as 'veintiuna' and certain historians believe this was the first indication that blackjack was played in the 1600s.
Historians such as David Parlett believe the French game 'Vingt-et-Un', played in the 18th century, is a more accurate precursor to modern blackjack. Just like "Ventiuna", also Vingt-et-Un literally translates as '21'. It was common in gaming establishments during the 19th century.
French colonists took Vingt-et-Un to North America in the 1800s, where it quickly grew in popularity despite gambling still being prohibited. The game also made its way to the UK in the 19th century. Many didn't realise it was actually French and pronounced it ‘Van John'.
Around the time of the First World War, blackjack was renamed as Pontoon in the UK. In the US, it is believed that Vingt-et-Un became blackjack in underground games houses in the early 1900s.
When gambling was legalised in Nevada in 1931, the game became a focal point of the first casinos to be built in the state. Still the world's betting capital to this day, millions of dollars are wagered on the felt each and every day in Las Vegas, with blackjack remaining ever popular.
When we talk about the legends of the game, the earlier pioneers are important to note. Everyone who made an impression – from travellers transporting the game to new lands, to the casino owners – deserves a place in the spotlight.
Of course, in the modern era, there are also people who have helped the game. Through a combination of strategies, tactics and innovations, today's blackjack heroes are also an important part of the game.
According to David Parlett's History of Card Games, blackjack got its name in the US back in the 1930s. The story goes that casinos promised a special payout if they were dealt the ace of spades and a black jack (spades or clubs). As you'd expect, the hand was known as 'blackjack'.
John Scarne also claims that the name "blackjack" was inscribed on tables in Chicago as far back as 1919. However, there's no material evidence to back this up.
Throughout the annals of time, and especially in the past century, a number of canny operators have come along and changed the way we look at – and play – blackjack.
One of the first legends of the game that we have to mention is Julian Braun, who in the 1960s became the forefather of what we know today as basic blackjack strategy. He was an IBM programmer and a mathematician. He figured out that the house's edge could be minimised if people played 'perfectly'.
This meant playing the percentages that gave them the best possible chance of either a) winning or b) minimising their losses.
Thanks to Braun, we now have blackjack strategy charts that tell use when to hit, stand, split and double down. However, we can trace the origins of blackjack strategy to the 1950s, where the fantastically-named 'Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse' changed the way that players thought about the game.
Roger Baldwin, a private in the US Army and a mathematics graduate, joined forces with three of his colleagues at the Aberdeen Proving Ground: Wilbert Canley, another maths grad, Herbert Maisel, who would go on to become a professor at Georgetown University, and James McDermott, who had a maths Masters degree.
Together, they penned the book Playing Blackjack to Win, which is still revered to this day. One chapter involved an introduction to card counting, which has become the casino's Achilles heel to this day!
A number of other authors have also served up their blackjack expertise in their writing.
Peter Griffin – No, not the Family Guy patriarch – Griffin was a mathematician and blackjack player. He wrote the famous book, The Theory of Blackjack. This book is widely considered to be the Bible of blackjack and one that all aspiring players should read.
Responsible for a number of game-changing insights, Griffin calculated that the disadvantage of the ‘average' blackjack player was 2% per hand.
Edward O. Thorp - The leading authority on card counting in the early days was Edward O. Thorp. A PhD holder in mathematics, Thorp was convinced that players could gain an advantage in blackjack. He believes that there was an edge in games where the deck wasn't shuffled after each round. Thorp created a numerical counting strategy that is still widely used today.
Lawrence Revere - Revere was one of the first professional blackjack players – his book, Playing Blackjack as a Business – offered tips on how others could follow suit. He had a background working in casinos, so knew how the betting floor worked, and he went on to become something of a master in avoiding detection while utilising a variety of card counting techniques.
The Blackjack Hall of Fame was established in 2002 and can be found at the Barona Casino in San Diego, California. It is home to the best players, writers and thinkers of the game in history, with 24 inductees at the time of writing in December 2019.
All of the characters we have mentioned above are present in the Blackjack Hall of Fame, from the Four Horsemen and Julian Braun to Lawrence Revere, Peter Griffin and Edward O. Thorp. Started in the early noughties, originally 21 experts from the world of blackjack were nominated for induction into the Hall of Fame, with a public vote taking place on the web to see who got the nod.
The final voting was completed at the Blackjack Ball, an annual gathering of the biggest names in the industry, and seven initial members were chosen. From then on, attendees were able to nominate and vote on inductees.
From 2006 potential candidates have been nominated by Hall of Fame members and voted on at the Blackjack Ball. There were two new members inducted per year until 2006, when it was reduced to one. An exception was made in 2007 when all four of the Horsemen were inducted.
As you may be aware, card counters tend to work in teams to maximise their advantage. And a number of inductees into the Hall of Fame have 'earned' their place through their work in these teams.
Al Francesco, one of the founding fathers of counting teams. He was among the inaugural inductees alongside Ken Uston, a vocal defender of the rights of card counters who has sued Atlantic City casinos in the past. Also hailed as a legend is Tommy Hyland who famously managed his own team of card counters.
The 2019 inductee was Rob Reitzen, a modern blackjack guru. He's believed to have won more money playing the game than anybody else. A card counter, shuffle sequencer and algorithm specialist, Reitzen once won more than $500,000 in a single weekend from Caesars Palace. He was also a founding member of the CORE player-banking operation.
The Blackjack Ball is an annual gathering of players, writers and mathematicians to celebrate the year in blackjack. It features a dinner and social events, as well as voting for the next nominees into the Blackjack Hall of Fame. Five finalists also compete for the 'World's Greatest Blackjack Player' title.
The Blackjack Ball was founded by Max Rubin, a former casino worker turned blackjack pro who penned the book Comp City. He wanted to bring together the best thinkers in the game in one place, as well as celebrate excellence in the preceding year on the tables. Since 2017, he has been joined on hosting duties by Richard Munchkin, an advantage player in his own right, co-host of the seminal 'Gambling with an Edge' podcast and author of Gambling Wizards: Conversations with the World's Greatest Gamblers.
The Ball is invite-only. Rubin hands out around 100 invitations per event to the top advantage players and those who have contributed to a wider understanding of the game. The invite list is vetted and signed off on by Hall of Famers.
At the Blackjack Ball, the best players from around the world share their success stories and tips for beating the house. So, if the event was attended by a casino employee, for example, they would learn how these game-changing players were able to maximise their advantage, and it might even lead to a change in the rules etc.
As a consequence, the location, time and date of the Blackjack Ball are kept as a sworn secret, while security staff are employed to check attendees for recording devices and so on.
Each invitee has to ‘donate' two things to the Blackjack Ball:
Failure to do so results in refusal of entry and being placed on the barred list. The Calcutta is a pari-mutuel betting pool in which attendees bet on who they believe will win the 'World's Greatest Blackjack Player' competition.
Incredibly, the Blackjack Ball is sponsored by the Barona Casino in San Diego, but on one condition: players in attendance have to agree that they will never play blackjack at the Barona!
The casino also offers lifetime complimentary entry to Blackjack Hall of Famers, which includes accommodation, meals and drinks, again on the proviso of never setting foot on the gaming floor.
At the Blackjack Ball, the best players compete in a one-off tournament. Named the Grosjean Cup, after James Grosjean (three times winner of the World's Greatest Blackjack Player) this event is also hotly contested. Winners receive a 15-litre bottle of Luc Belaire Rose Champagne courtesy of Hall of Famer Don Johnson.
Both Grosjean and Richard Munchkin, who also won the contest three times, have now been barred from entering following their monopolisation of the competition.
Blackjack has left its imprint on western popular culture and we have collected the best works on the topic. Find entertaining and educational books and movies featuring blackjack. Whether you're looking to improve your skills, understand the ritual surrounding the game or just have fun, we've got you covered.
These are the books that most blackjack enthusiasts hold in high regard. They contain explanations of strategy and useful theory to help you beat the dealer online or at a table.
Our list starts off with books for beginners and moves to the more technical and advanced stuff. If you're new to blackjack, start from the top and make your way down. More experienced players will most likely want to start near the bottom.
It may seem like a generic title that these days would be considered 'click-bait', but The World's Greatest Blackjack Book by Lance Humble is the best place for any would-be blackjack player to start. The book is hailed as the ‘Bible of Blackjack.'
It teaches you everything that you need to know, covering a whole range of strategies. The book recommends the still useful Hi-Opt 1 system.
It's a nice way to develop your skills as it's not too heavy in its material and mixes in plenty of extra tips.
This book takes a different approach to most blackjack titles. As the title suggests, it doesn't focus on counting cards. This can come in handy for a beginner who sees the practice as a rather tricky skill to learn.
The book gives a behind-the-scenes look at the industry and comes from John Lucas' research and observations as a blackjack dealer.
The book's primary concerns are bankroll management, wise betting, and strategy that applies to the modern game. This is instead of a statistical model focus.
If The World's Greatest Blackjack Book is the original Bible, Dynamic Blackjack – The Professional Approach is the new testament. The book by Maverick Sharp addresses the changing times of blackjack in the 21st century.
It's a big book, some 600 pages long, but it includes all the vital information of the classic books updated for the modern player. It also includes a look at online casino blackjack play.
Quite possibly the best element of the book is the specialised strategy that the author created, the Dynamic Matrix Pro Strategy.
Dynamic Blackjack can be a great place to start, but we suggest reading the older titles first. Sharp's comprehensive book is more effective on top of base knowledge.
While there is plenty for the novice to consider in Blackjack Attack: Playing the Pros' Way, the book is geared towards experienced players. It features over 400 charts to build on basic blackjack concepts with a high level of sophisticated thinking.
Written by Don Schlesinger with the help of some of the finest blackjack experts and researchers, Blackjack Attack is an examination of the mechanics of blackjack.
It is also a very comprehensive strategy and skill reference guide. It's all about winning and giving the player every tool necessary to be a perfect all-rounder in the game.
Stanford Wong is one of the most revered blackjack players and blackjack book authors around. His book Professional Blackjack is the ultimate read for those who want to perfect blackjack.
It's very pleasant to read a book that's not only a helpful blackjack guide but is also a good read. Outside of his writing in the book, the charts included are also helpful.
Wong has covered all counting strategies you'd need to know. There is also a bunch that you may have never even heard of before.
The modern blackjack player may not have a need for table skills anymore. Live blackjack online is a couple of taps away after all.
But anyone that wants to beat the dealer in person must read the following book. It concerns important supplementary blackjack skills.
Ian Andersen's Burning the Tables in Las Vegas is crucial reading for high-stakes blackjack players. The book follows on from Turning the Tables on Las Vegas.
Burning the Tables shares anecdotes and a lot of important information on how to stay camouflaged in a casino. Andersen explains the surrender option and the psychology of casinos to keep you under the radar.
Sometimes, you don't want to read a big fat book about statistics, card counting strategies, or how to avoid detection; you just want an enjoyable read that recounts some tales of the classic card game.
These books are much more leisurely reads. While they don't teach blackjack skill, they will teach you some lessons along the way.
Even though the full title of this book is far too long, it is a very entertaining novelisation of real-life events. As the title says, Bringing Down the House is about the MIT blackjack team that counted cards in Las Vegas to win millions of dollars.
Written by Ben Mezrich, the book gives an inside look at the team's infamous rise, but some say that it contains many fictional elements. There is a fair bit of fluff, but that helps to make it entertaining.
There are two movie versions of Bringing Down the House: a Hollywood filmatization "21" from 2008 and a Canadian production "The Last Casino" from 2004.
Many blackjack books come from the past experiences of the author. Here, you get the feeling that Barry Meadow set off on a journey of playing blackjack to write the book itself.
Blackjack Autumn by Barry Meadow is a fun read, following the adventure of Meadow as he ditches his regular life for two months to play blackjack in every casino in Nevada.
Whether you need to enhance your blackjack skills or want a good fun read that takes you into the world of blackjack, there's one up there for you to enjoy.
The action may be over-the-top, but you can't deny that the use of blackjack in these movies is very exciting.
From Academy Award winners to smash-hit comedies, these are the best blackjack movies for your entertainment.
Rain Man swept up at the 1989 Academy Awards, reeling in Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director (Barry Levinson), Original Screenplay, Best Writing, and Best Actor in a Leading Role (Dustin Hoffman).
Now a classic piece of cinema, Hoffman's portrayal of a Ray, who has autism and savant syndrome, earned praise across the board. In the movie, Ray has an incredible recall and a mental calculator that far surpasses the ability of most people.
As such, when times get tough, Ray and his brother (Tom Cruise) turn to blackjack to count cards and stack chips. Rain Man ticks all the boxes as a great film and one that has a very entertaining blackjack sequence.
Before he embarked on a long line of comedies, and even before he was in Jurassic Park: The Lost World, Vince Vaughn co-starred in Swingers alongside Jon Favreau – who also wrote the script.
The first film released under Favreau's pen, Swingers helped to propel Vaughn and Favreau to stardom as well as fellow stars Heather Graham and Ron Livingston.
It takes place during the swing revival of the 90s. Swingers focuses on the lives of two best friends and fellow actors (played by Favreau and Vaughn) trying to make it in Hollywood.
Blackjack doesn't become the focus of the film, but the blackjack scene in this comedy-drama delivers some laughs. It will be of particular amusement to those in the know as the source of the hilarity is the bad advice to always double down.
The Hangover is a superbly funny film that managed to please audiences and critics alike. The sequels didn't do as well with critics, but the first movie has everything. The Hangover has comedy, action, drama, blackjack, a lost baby, a tiger, gangsters and Mike Tyson.
Taking place in Las Vegas, the protagonists (played by Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis) blackout on a stag-do, losing the groom in the process. So, they have to go about Sin City retracing their steps. The blackjack comes in when they find out that their inebriated selves became indebted to a gangster.
Alan, played by Galifianakis, has been reading a book called "The World's Greatest Blackjack Book" (sound familiar?). With the knowledge from the book, Alan counts cards at the blackjack table in an attempt to save the day. It's a fun little nod to Rain Man.
Drawing much of its story from the infamous MIT blackjack team, many say that The Last Casino is a better rendition of the tale than the Hollywood movie 21 (2008).
The Canadian movie follows the story of a mathematics professor who gets banned from a casino for counting cards. In debt, he decides to create a team of card counters comprised of students from his university.
Blackjack is the central focus of The Last Casino. It sees the players go around Ottawa and Quebec to win at the classic card game by using their card-counting prowess. As far as blackjack movies go, this is the best of the more blackjack-focussed ones.
Sometimes, you don't want to kick back, relax, and enjoy a movie. Sometimes, you want to gain insight or learn a little something about the great game of blackjack.
So, here are some intriguing documentaries on the matter of blackjack.
This blackjack documentary follows Don Johnson as he discusses his infamous $15 million winning streak in Las Vegas. It looks at Johnson's strategies of tipping casino promotions and goodwill in his favour. He uses very straightforward methods, collecting thousands in free bets.
As the documentary progresses, Johnson's primary fuel behind his streak becomes him paying very close attention to dealers. He calls them out on mistakes and is generally a nuisance. It's a very intriguing look at how much power the player can have at a blackjack table.
Consider The Hot Shoe as your kind of cover-all documentary about blackjack. The focus is on the strategy of card counting, interviewing those who have found success as well as casinos who claim to be battling the practice.
It gives a special look at behind-the-scenes casino surveillance rooms and how the MIT blackjack team prepares. As a very nice bonus for beginners, The Hot Shoe also has a little section of tips and tricks for blackjack.
The title of this documentary is enticing enough to lure in even the most casual of blackjack fans. Quite surprisingly, the subject of the documentary – Church Team – was one of the most well-funded blackjack teams and yet consisted of almost all Christians.
In 2011, the team disbanded, with the documentary revealing some of the troubles that they had at casinos. The primary focus does lean towards the conflict between Christianity and gambling. But it's still an engaging watch for any blackjack player.
There are the best blackjack movies and blackjack documentaries out now. If you burn through those, check out the likes of Croupier, The Cooler, and Breaking Vegas.
Blackjack is a game with a rich and diverse vocabulary. Whether you're hitting or splitting, drawing or going bust, it is important that you know exactly what you're saying – and what other people are saying to you. Learn how to talk the talk with the common terms used in blackjack.
You might get worried that someone is insulting you when they're actually calling you the 'anchor'. Similarly, you don't want to get confused when you've got a 'push' with the dealer. Before you first sit down at the blackjack table, familiarise yourself with our glossary of the most important blackjack terms.
Learning the language of blackjack is as important as developing your strategy. In fact, the terminology and tactics of blackjack basically go hand in hand. The only question is, are they soft hands or hard hands? Find out below.
A card which can count for a value of either 1 or 11. When worth 11, an ace is an essential part of a natural blackjack. When worth 1, an ace is a desirable card that allows the players to keep building their hand.
ActionThe sum of money bet by a player over the course of a blackjack session.
Anchor playerThe player sitting to the right of the dealer; e.g. the last one to play the hand. Also known as the third base.
The strategy of counting cards as a spectator rather than a player. By keeping track of the cards, a back counter can sit down at the table at a favourable moment. Also known as wonging.
Bad beatWhen you have a strong hand in a strong position but the dealer pulls a miracle card/s to win, that's a bad beat.
Balanced countingA system where positive and negative cards have equal weight. Once the final card of a deck has been dealt, a balanced count would produce a net total of zero.
BankrollThe sum of money that a player is willing to use for betting. A player may have a session bankroll for use on one day and a bigger bankroll for general blackjack use.
Basic strategyA set of tactics that is statistically the most effective way for someone to play blackjack. The basic strategy determines what a player should do at each in-game situation, with successful completion of these tactics reducing the house edge as much as possible.
BreakWhen a hand reaches a total that is greater than 21, and the player therefore loses. Also known as bust.
Burn cardsThe cards discarded by the dealer over the course of a game.
BustWhen a hand reaches a total that is greater than 21, and the player therefore loses. Also known as break.
BuyThis term for doubling a bet is traditionally used in pontoon, a variant of blackjack.
Buy inEntering a game of blackjack by converting money for chips.
A system in which a player keeps track of the cards which have been played and those that have been discarded. This allows the player to establish which cards remain in the deck. A card counter uses probability to determine which card will be next out of the deck and makes their bet accordingly.
ChipA token with cash value that can be staked on a hand of blackjack. Online casinos will still use chips as a visual guide for bets, despite not requiring the physical transaction of money and tokens.
CutAn act by a dealer that splits the deck after a shuffle.
Cut cardA plastic card inserted in the deck that marks the next time a dealer will shuffle.
A progressive betting strategy, also used by players in other casino games like roulette. A player following the system raises the size of their bet by one unit after each loss and reduces their bet by one unit after each winning hand.
DealThe distribution of cards to the players, completed by the blackjack dealer.
DeckA standard collection of 52 cards. A blackjack game can use several decks.
Deck penetrationThe proportion of cards that has been used before the dealer undergoes a new shuffle. Also known simply as penetration.
DeviationTactically moving away from the basic blackjack strategy, usually to take advantage of a favourable moment in a card counting system.
DoubleTo make an extra bet at the same value of the original stake. A player can choose to double after seeing their first two cards, at which point they are dealt a solitary additional draw card. Also known as doubling down.
Down cardA card that is dealt to be facing down on the table.
A player can forfeit their hand before the dealer has an opportunity to look for a blackjack in their cards.
Eighty-six'dWhen a player is ejected from a casino or prohibited from entering in the first place. Also written as 86'd.
Even moneyA player can be paid out at this rate when they have achieved a natural blackjack and the dealer's upcard is an ace. The player can take a payout of 1:1 before the dealer has the chance to reveal a blackjack of their own. This acts as a form of insurance.
The cards that have a face on them – jacks, queens, and kings. Also known as court cards or picture cards.
Face-down gameA variation on classic blackjack in which a player's cards are dealt facing downwards on the table.
Face-up gameA variation on classic blackjack in which a player's cards are dealt facing upwards on the table, so each player can see the quality of each other's hands. The standard way to play blackjack.
First baseThe seat immediately to the left of the dealer. The player at first base is first to act on a hand. This term is borrowed from the baseball position of first base.
Five-card CharlieAn automatic victory in some blackjack games, where a player manages to draw five cards to their hand without surpassing a total of 21. This rule is not present in all games of blackjack.
Flat betWagering the same value of chips on consecutive hands in a session of blackjack.
The cards that have been dealt to each player and to the dealer.
Hard handA hand that uses an ace with a value of 1, rather than the value of 11 used in a soft hand. Hard hand can also be used more broadly to describe any hand without an ace.
HitWhen a player requests that the dealer draws them another card.
Hole cardThe card in the dealer's hand that is placed face down on the table, only to be turned over once each player has acted on their hand.
House edgeThe advantage that the casino has over the player. The house edge is the percentage that a player is expected to lose from their wagers in a session of blackjack. For example, a house edge of 2% indicates that a player should return £98 from £100 of stakes. The house edge is theoretical and naturally affected by a player's strategy at the blackjack table.
A player can make an insurance bet when the dealer's upcard is an ace. This side bet can be up to 50% of the value of their main bet for this hand. The side bet pays out at 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack. The bet loses if not.
A player can forfeit their hand after the dealer has an opportunity to look for a blackjack in their cards.
A progressive betting system, often used in other classic casino games. A player doubles the size of their bet after each loss, before returning to a standard stake size after a win.
Being dealt two cards with a cumulative value of 21 at the beginning of a hand. This consists of an ace (with value 11) and either a 10 or a face card. Also known as a blackjack or a natural blackjack.
Negative countWhen a card counting system takes a value below zero. This indicates that the cards are not in the player's favour.
A variation of blackjack where the dealer only draws from 1 or 2 decks of cards. The dealer holds these cards in their hand. This contrasts with a shoe game, which often uses as many as 8 decks of cards.
PontoonA variation of blackjack which similarly descended from the ancient card game, twenty-one.
Positive countWhen a card counting system takes a value above zero. This indicates that the cards are currently in the player's favour.
Progressive systemA betting strategy determined by the success of the previous hand.
PushWhen the player has the same value in their hand as the dealer. In a push scenario, the player neither takes any winnings nor loses their stake. Also known as tie.
To receive another card from the dealer.
ResplitWhen a player splits again after an initial split, if dealt another hand that includes a pair. A player's original hand becomes two hands after the split, then becomes four hands after the resplit.
Risk of ruinThe mathematical probability of a player losing the entirety of their bankroll.
Running countThe value of a card count at any given moment. The running count starts at zero with a new deck, then gains and loses value from there.
The total of funds that a player has designated for a session of blackjack.
ShoeA device that the dealer uses in blackjack games with more than 4 decks. The shoe holds the cards until use and gives its name to a shoe game.
Shoe gameA variation of blackjack where the dealer uses cards from several decks. A shoe game often consists of 4, 5, 6 or 8 decks, with the dealer dealing the cards from a shoe. This contrasts with a pitch game, which uses just 1 or 2 decks.
Soft handA hand that uses an ace with a value of 11, such as in a natural. This differs from a hard hand, where an ace has a value of 1.
SplitWhen a player receives a hand with two cards of equal value, they have the option to turn this into two hands of equal value. The player can then bet on each hand separately.
StandWhen a player opts against drawing more cards. Also known as stay.
StaySee stand.
Stiff handA hard hand that has a value between 12 and 16. The player could exceed 21 and go bust if they choose to draw another card on a stiff hand.
SurrenderA player decides to fold rather than play through a hand, receiving half of their bet back. This can take the form of an early surrender or a late surrender.
An act by the player or by the dealer which gives an indication about the strength of their hand, or that reveals their strategy.
Third baseThe last player to act before the dealer reveals their hand. This contrasts with the first base, who acts first and, like that term, is borrowed from baseball. Also known as anchor player.
TieWhen the player has the same value in their hand as the dealer. In a tie, the player neither takes any winnings nor loses their stake. Also known as push.
True countThe running count divided by the number of decks that are yet to be dealt. This gives a card counter a more accurate idea of what cards remain in the shoe.
Twenty-oneA card game first recorded in 17th-century Spain, which has inspired the creation of games like blackjack and pontoon. The key objective of scoring 21 remains central to modern blackjack.
TwistThe equivalent to 'hit' in pontoon, where a player asks to be dealt another card.
The dealer's card that is placed face-up on the table, with the other card in the dealer's initial hand placed face-down. The up card or upcard enables players to predict the quality of the hand that the dealer might have.
The bet made by a player.
WongingThe strategy of counting cards as an observer rather than a player. By keeping track of the cards without actually betting, a player can pick a favourable moment in the shoe to sit down at the table and start wagering. Also known as back counting.
