Blackjack practice

Table rules

• Two standard 52-card decks (104 cards), shuffled with a cryptographically secure Fisher–Yates shuffle.
• The shoe is reshuffled once about 75% has been dealt (78 cards). The counter above the table shows the cards left.
• Blackjack pays 3 to 2. Any other win pays 1 to 1. A push (tie) returns your bet.
• The dealer stands on all 17s, including soft 17.
• With an Ace or a 10-value card showing, the dealer peeks for blackjack. If the dealer has it, the hand ends right away and you lose only your original bet (unless you also have blackjack, which is a push).
• Insurance is offered when the dealer shows an Ace. It costs half your bet and pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has blackjack.
• You can double down on any first two cards, including after a split. You get exactly one more card.
• You can split any two cards of the same value (two 8s, or a King and a 10), up to four hands. Split Aces get one card each and can't be re-split or doubled.
• A 21 made after a split counts as 21, not blackjack, and pays 1 to 1.
• No surrender. You start with $500 in play chips, which resets every visit. Bets are $5 to $500 (never more than your balance) — not real money.

How to practise

Tap chips to build your bet, then press Deal. Use Hit, Stand, Double and Split on your turn — your running total is shown above each hand. Turn on Hint to see the basic strategy play for these exact rules (two decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split, no surrender). Basic strategy never takes insurance.

Start with $500 in play chips · resets every visit. Nothing is saved — every page load starts again at $500. Run out? Press Reset to $500. Sound is off by default and can be switched on above the table.

Want to know how real-money blackjack works at an online casino? Read our Bovada review or browse all guides. Fancy another table? Try baccarat practice. And whatever you play, set limits first — see our responsible gambling page.

How to play blackjack

Blackjack is a game between you and the dealer. You aren't playing against other players: your only goal is to finish with a hand that beats the dealer's without going over 21.

Card values

• Cards 2 to 10 are worth their number.
• Jacks, Queens and Kings are worth 10.
• An Ace is worth 1 or 11, whichever helps the hand more. A hand with an Ace counted as 11 is called soft (Ace + 6 is a soft 17). If counting the Ace as 11 would take you over 21, it counts as 1 and the hand becomes hard.
• A blackjack is an Ace plus a 10-value card as your first two cards. It beats any other 21 and pays 3 to 2 on this table.

How a round works

1. Place your bet with the chips, then press Deal.
2. You get two cards face up. The dealer gets one card face up (the up card) and one face down (the hole card).
3. If the dealer's up card is an Ace, you're offered insurance first. With an Ace or a 10-value card showing, the dealer checks for blackjack before you act.
4. You play your hand: hit, stand, double or split.
5. The dealer turns over the hole card and draws by fixed rules.
6. Hands are settled: a win pays 1 to 1, a blackjack pays 3 to 2, a tie (push) returns your bet, and a bust loses.

Your options

• Hit — take another card. You can keep hitting until you stand or go over 21 (bust).
• Stand — keep your total and end your turn.
• Double — double your bet on your first two cards and get exactly one more card. Best on strong starting totals like 10 or 11 against a weak dealer card.
• Split — if your first two cards have the same value, split them into two hands with a second bet of the same size. On this table you can split up to four hands and double after a split. Split Aces get one card each.
• Insurance — when the dealer shows an Ace, a side bet of half your stake that pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has blackjack. It's a separate bet on the hole card, and basic strategy never takes it.

The dealer's rules on this table

The dealer has no choices. They must hit on 16 or less and stand on 17 or more — including soft 17. Standing on soft 17 is slightly better for the player than hitting it. The dealer peeks for blackjack with an Ace or 10 showing, so if the dealer has blackjack you only lose your original bet.

Basic strategy in a nutshell

Basic strategy is the mathematically best play for every combination of your hand and the dealer's up card. It doesn't guarantee a win — no strategy does — but it keeps the house edge as low as these rules allow. In our own simulation of this exact table, perfect basic strategy left a house edge of roughly 0.4%. The core ideas:

• The dealer's up card matters as much as your own hand. 2 to 6 are weak for the dealer (they bust more often); 7 to Ace are strong.
• Against a weak dealer card, stand on 13 to 16 and let the dealer take the risk. Against a strong card, hit them.
• Double 11 against every dealer card, and 10 against 2 to 9.
• Always split Aces and 8s. Never split 10s or 5s.

Not sure? Turn on the Hint toggle above the table. It shows the basic strategy play for your exact hand on these rules, with a short reason, so you can check yourself as you go.

Common mistakes

• Taking insurance. It's a side bet that loses more than it wins over time, even when you hold a good hand.
• Copying the dealer. Always hitting until 17 ignores the dealer's up card and gives up a lot of value.
• Standing on 12 against a 2 or 3. Basic strategy hits here — the dealer isn't weak enough.
• Splitting 10s. A total of 20 is already a very strong hand.
• Not doubling. Skipping good doubles (like 11 against a 6) leaves money on the table.
• Treating soft hands like hard ones. Soft 17 can never bust with one more card, so it's usually a hit or a double, not a stand.
• Chasing losses. A run of bad hands doesn't make a win more likely. Set a limit before you play, even with play chips.

Frequently asked questions