Blackjack rules are simple enough to learn in five minutes, which is why this card game, also called 21, is a favorite at family game nights. Each player tries to build a hand that totals closer to 21 than the dealer's hand, without going over. This guide explains how to play blackjack at home with chips or points, including dealer rules, splitting, doubling down and a basic strategy chart you can keep beside the table.
Quick rules
- Number cards count face value, face cards count 10, and an ace counts 1 or 11.
- Each player and the dealer get two cards. One dealer card is face up.
- Players choose to hit (take a card) or stand (stop). Going over 21 is a bust and loses.
- The dealer must hit on 16 or less and stand on 17 or more.
- An ace plus a 10-value card as your first two cards is a blackjack, the best hand.
- Beat the dealer's total without busting to win your round.
What you need
- One standard 52-card deck for up to four players. Shuffle two decks together for five or more.
- Poker chips, buttons or matchsticks so everyone can track points. Give each player the same starting pile, for example 50 chips.
- A pen and paper or our scoreboard if you prefer to play for points.
Setup
- Choose a dealer. At home the dealer role usually rotates every five or ten rounds so everyone gets a turn.
- Shuffle well and have the player to the dealer's right cut the deck.
- Before each round, every player places a stake of chips (for example 1 to 5) in front of them. The dealer does not place a stake; the dealer plays for the house pile.
How to play
The deal
- Moving left from the dealer, deal one card face up to each player, then one card to the dealer face up.
- Deal a second card face up to each player and a second card to the dealer face down. This is the hole card.
- If the dealer's up card is an ace or a 10-value card, the dealer peeks at the hole card. If the dealer has blackjack, it is revealed at once and every player without blackjack loses their stake. A player who also has blackjack ties.
Card values
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| 2 to 10 | Face value |
| Jack, Queen, King | 10 |
| Ace | 1 or 11, whichever helps the hand |
A hand with an ace counted as 11 is called a soft hand (ace and 6 is soft 17). If drawing a card would push a soft hand over 21, the ace simply drops to 1.
The players' turns
- Starting at the dealer's left, each player plays their whole hand before the next player goes.
- Hit: ask for another card. You may hit as many times as you like.
- Stand: keep your total and end your turn.
- Double down: on your first two cards, double your stake and take exactly one more card.
- Split: if your first two cards are a pair, add a second equal stake and play them as two separate hands. Split aces receive only one card each.
- If your total goes over 21, you bust. Your stake goes to the dealer straight away, even if the dealer later busts too.
Dealer rules
- After all players finish, the dealer turns over the hole card.
- The dealer must hit on 16 or less and must stand on 17 or more. The dealer makes no choices.
- Agree before you start whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17. Standing on all 17s is the more common home rule and slightly friendlier to players.
Scoring
| Result | What happens to your chips |
|---|---|
| Blackjack (ace plus 10-value card in first two cards) | Win 3 to 2 (stake 2, receive 3 more) |
| Higher total than dealer, or dealer busts | Win 1 to 1 (equal to your stake) |
| Same total as dealer (a push) | Keep your stake, no win or loss |
| Lower total than dealer | Lose your stake |
| Bust (over 21) | Lose your stake |
A blackjack beats an ordinary 21 made with three or more cards. A 21 made after splitting counts as 21, not as a blackjack.
How to win
Each round is settled player by player against the dealer, not against the other players. At the end of the evening, or after a set number of rounds, the player with the most chips wins. If you play with points instead, record wins and losses on a score sheet.
Basic strategy chart
Basic strategy is the mathematically best play for every hand. This simplified blackjack chart assumes several decks, the dealer stands on soft 17 and you may double after splitting. Find your hand, then look at the dealer's up card.
| Your hand | Dealer shows 2 to 6 | Dealer shows 7 to ace |
|---|---|---|
| Hard 8 or less | Hit | Hit |
| Hard 9 | Double on 3 to 6, otherwise hit | Hit |
| Hard 10 | Double | Double on 7 to 9, hit on 10 or ace |
| Hard 11 | Double | Double on 7 to 10, hit on ace |
| Hard 12 | Stand on 4 to 6, hit on 2 or 3 | Hit |
| Hard 13 to 16 | Stand | Hit |
| Hard 17 or more | Stand | Stand |
| Soft 13 to 16 (A,2 to A,5) | Double on 5 and 6 (A,4 and A,5 also on 4), otherwise hit | Hit |
| Soft 17 (A,6) | Double on 3 to 6, hit on 2 | Hit |
| Soft 18 (A,7) | Double on 3 to 6, stand on 2 | Stand on 7 or 8, hit on 9, 10 or ace |
| Soft 19 or more | Stand | Stand |
| Pair of aces or 8s | Split | Split |
| Pair of 10s | Stand | Stand |
| Pair of 5s | Play as hard 10 | Play as hard 10 |
| Pair of 9s | Split | Split on 8 or 9, stand on 7, 10 or ace |
| Pair of 2s, 3s or 7s | Split | Split 7s and small pairs on 7, otherwise hit |
| Pair of 4s | Split on 5 or 6, otherwise hit | Hit |
| Pair of 6s | Split | Hit |
Published charts differ slightly depending on the number of decks and whether the dealer hits soft 17, but these plays are correct or very close for most home games.
Variations
- Surrender: after seeing your first two cards, give up half your stake and fold. Useful with hard 16 against a dealer 9, 10 or ace.
- Insurance: when the dealer shows an ace, players may put out half their stake as a side guess that the dealer has blackjack, paid 2 to 1. Basic strategy says skip it.
- Dealer hits soft 17: a common alternative that slightly favors the dealer.
- Five card rule: some families let a player who draws five cards without busting win automatically.
- Kitchen table 21: a simpler version with no doubling or splitting, great for younger kids practicing addition.
Tips and strategy
- Assume the dealer's hole card is a 10. That is the single most common card value in the deck.
- When the dealer shows 2 to 6, the dealer is likely to bust, so stand on stiff hands (12 to 16) and let them draw.
- Always split aces and 8s, and never split 10s or 5s.
- Double on 11 against almost anything. It is the strongest starting total for doubling.
- Print or copy the chart above and keep it on the table while learning.
House rules to agree first
- Does the dealer hit or stand on soft 17?
- Can you double on any two cards, or only on 9, 10 and 11? Can you double after a split?
- How many times can a player split, and can split aces be split again?
- How often does the dealer role rotate, and what are the minimum and maximum chip stakes?
If you enjoy blackjack, try poker with the poker hand rankings, the adding game 99, or browse more card games for adults.
Questions people ask
What are the basic rules of blackjack?
Each player gets two cards and tries to finish closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. You can hit to take more cards or stand to stop. The dealer must hit on 16 or less and stand on 17 or more. Beating the dealer's total, or staying in when the dealer busts, wins the round.
What are the dealer rules in blackjack?
The dealer has no choices. The dealer reveals the hole card after all players finish, hits on any total of 16 or less and stands on 17 or more. Some tables make the dealer hit a soft 17 (a hand with an ace counted as 11), so agree on that before you start.
What is a blackjack chart?
A blackjack chart, also called a basic strategy chart, shows the best move for every combination of your hand and the dealer's up card. It tells you when to hit, stand, double down or split. Following it closely is the best way to play well without memorizing probabilities.
How do you play blackjack at home?
Use one deck for up to four players and give everyone an equal pile of chips or counters. Rotate the dealer every few rounds so everyone gets a turn. Play the standard rules on this page and count chips at the end to find the winner.
What are the rules for splitting in blackjack?
If your first two cards are the same value, you can put out a second equal stake and split them into two hands. Each hand gets a new second card and is played separately. Split aces usually get only one card each, and a 21 after splitting counts as 21, not blackjack.