Betting Rules to Winning Hands: Online Blackjack Rule Book

Ask a stranger to list popular card games and, undoubtedly, blackjack will be among the first few rattled off. Or maybe they'll list '21', but we're counting that too.

It's a casino floor favourite for good reason; it's easy to learn how to play blackjack online, and the blackjack rules are simple. Pull up a chair at our range of online blackjack tables whenever you're ready to test them out.

We'll walk you through the basics: card values, winning hands, betting rules, side bets, and how the online table compares to a traditional casino.

A Guide to Playing Online Blackjack

How do you play blackjack?

Blackjack rules are relatively straightforward. Players will be given two cards face up, while the dealer receives one face up and one face down.

The object of the game is to beat the dealer by having a higher hand than theirs, as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it. You'll have the choice to "hit" (take additional cards) or "stand" (keep your current hand). If your hand or the dealer's exceeds 21, it's called a bust.

How do you win in blackjack?

There are a few different ways you can win in blackjack games.

The best possible hand is "Blackjack", when your first two cards are an Ace (worth 1 or 11) and a face card (a Jack, Queen or King, each worth 10). If you're dealt Blackjack, you win immediately.

If neither hand hits Blackjack, you'll need to be closer to 21 than the dealer without exceeding it. If the dealer's hand is closer or you bust, the house wins.

How are the cards valued in blackjack?

The Ace can be worth either 1 or 11, so it's up to the player to decide. The Jack, Queen and King are worth 10, and any other card is worth the pip value displayed on the card. For a full breakdown of what every blackjack card is worth, we've got a dedicated read.

The number of decks in play varies, but the six-deck game is the most popular, which consists of 312 cards. This is the case in Multihand Blackjack and Phoenix Blackjack.

Playing the Hand: What Are Your Options?

Here's where it gets interesting; let your strategic mind take over. If neither you nor the dealer has Blackjack, each player decides how to play their hand, starting from the player to the left of the dealer in a clockwise rotation. Here are the blackjack terms you'll need to know:

Stand

If you're happy with your first two cards, "stand" ends your turn with no extra card.

Hit

Deciding to "hit" means you'd like another card to get closer to 21. You can keep hitting, one card at a time, until you choose to stand or go bust. The dealer's hand runs on stricter rules: 16 or less, they must hit; 17 or more, they must stand.

Double Down

"Doubling", as the name hints, is when you place a double wager to receive only one additional card, then end your turn.

Split

If your first two cards have the same value, such as two 4s or two 9s, you have the choice to "split" them. Place a second wager matching your original bet, and the dealer will draw one card onto each split to form two hands, played one after the other.

Whether you can split two different face cards, such as a Queen and a King, depends on the game. This is not possible in Single Deck Blackjack, for example, so check the individual rules first.

The Difference Between a "Hard Hand" and a "Soft Hand" in Blackjack

Knowing the difference between "hard" and "soft" hands is important for developing a basic strategy in blackjack, as they offer different odds.

The difference comes down to the Ace. A hand is soft when it contains an Ace that can be counted as 1 or 11, so you can't bust on the next card. A hard hand either has no Ace or contains one that must be counted as 1 to avoid a bust.

A hand of 8 and 7 (totalling 15), or 10, 5 and an Ace valued at 1 (totalling 16), are hard hands. A hand of Ace and 6 (totalling 17, with the Ace counted as 11), or Ace, 4 and 2 (totalling 17), are soft hands.

If drawing additional cards would take the hand over 21, the Ace can drop to 1 to avoid busting. That flexibility gives soft hands more room to manoeuvre.

How to Play Blackjack at a Casino: The Betting Rules

At the start of the game, the decks are shuffled, and players place their bets. Each player is then dealt two cards face up in a clockwise rotation. The dealer takes one card face up, and one face down, and that hidden card is referred to as the "hole" card.

If your first two cards are an Ace and a face card, you have 21 - Blackjack! If the dealer doesn't match, the dealer will immediately pay out 3 to 2 (one and a half times) your wager.

If the dealer's face-up card is an Ace or a face card, they'll check their hole card. If it also adds up to 21, they have blackjack too, and it's a "push", or tie, with your original wager returned.

Can You Place a Side Bet During a Game of Blackjack?

Fancy a side bet? The insurance bet is offered when the dealer's face-up card is an Ace, in some versions of the game. Take it, and you're betting the dealer's face-down card is a face card, giving them blackjack. The wager can be up to half your original bet and pays out at 2 to 1 if you're right.

Insurance isn't the only wager available beyond the main hand. Our guide to blackjack side bets covers the rest, and which tables include them.

How to Play Blackjack at Home

A home game runs on the same blackjack rules as any casino table. One person takes the dealer role, one to eight decks are used depending on the group, and the standard moves all apply: hit, stand, double, split. The dealer follows the same 16-or-less-hit, 17-or-more-stand rule.

It's a good way to get comfortable with the moves before you sit down at a proper table. Once the decisions feel second nature, our Virgin Games mobile casino app is a smooth next stop for the same hands wherever you happen to be. Free to download on both iOS and Android, it carries the same blackjack line-up as the site, live dealer tables included.

How Does Online Blackjack Differ from Traditional Blackjack?

When you play blackjack in an online casino, instead of traditional blackjack in a land-based casino, the rules and objective stay the same online. There are plenty of benefits, though: the variety of games, the flexibility to take on the dealer whenever you'd like, and tables starting at £1, so you can set your own stakes.

The other key difference is the live dealer, or lack of one. Online, you control the speed and when the hands are dealt, which is not the case in brick-and-mortar or live casinos.

Make Your Move at the Blackjack Table

Playing blackjack rewards preparation. Basic blackjack betting strategies (a set of statistically informed decisions for every hand against every dealer upcard) can bring the house edge to under 1%.

Virgin Games has something for every type of blackjack player, from classic versions to sharper new takes on the game. Set your budget, pick your table, play at your own pace. Blackjack, done Virgin style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is blackjack a game of skill or chance?

Both. The cards dealt are down to chance, but your decisions shift the odds. Basic strategy, played consistently, brings the house edge to under 1%.

What's the difference between blackjack and 21?

There isn't one. 21 is another name for blackjack, taken from the target hand total. The rules, moves and winning hand are the same.

Can you play blackjack online for free?

Yes. Many online casinos, Virgin Games included, offer free-to-play blackjack where you can get comfortable with the rules before switching to real-money tables.

Can you count cards in online blackjack?

Not in any useful way. Standard online blackjack runs on a Random Number Generator that reshuffles after every hand, so there's no running shoe to track.

Explore the full collection of online blackjack at Virgin Games, from classic single-deck tables to multi-hand games and live dealer blackjack streamed from real studios. Browse every table, learn the payouts, set your spend limits, and play on your terms. Join today.

All offers mentioned correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change.