Last Updated on April 10, 2025
There’s something clean about blackjack. A straight game. Two hands. Yours and the dealer’s. No bluster, no dice, no wheels or bouncing balls. It doesn’t promise the glamour of poker or the explosive noise of slots, but it offers something better: control. Not over the cards, perhaps, but over the decisions. You can sit quietly and still play well. That’s part of its appeal. The edge is slim. With the right approach, it’s even slimmer.
And for those not heading to a brick-and-mortar casino, the same experience is more accessible than ever. Most online casinos now offer multiple blackjack tables, with varying stakes and rule variations. Some have low minimums, others offer live dealers for the full table atmosphere. The best of these platforms—clean interfaces, clear odds, and no-nonsense rules—serve seasoned players and beginners equally well. A few even explain the basic strategy chart as you play, which is a kindness that would never happen at Caesars or the Bellagio.
Table of Contents
What Blackjack Actually Is
The aim is simple: get closer to 21 than the dealer does, without going over. Face cards count as ten. Aces as one or eleven, depending on what helps you most. The dealer deals two cards to each player, and two to themselves. One of the dealer’s cards is face-up. That’s the one you’ll be watching.
It’s a game of decisions: hit or stand, double or split. There are no wild cards, no community cards, no one bluffing or showboating. Every choice you make is public. And yet the game has depth. Enough to keep legends like Edward O. Thorp interested. He wrote Beat the Dealer in the 1960s and turned the casino world on its head by proving blackjack could be beaten with mathematics. Casinos rewrote the rules. The players rewrote their notebooks.
Learning the Basic Moves
If you remember nothing else, remember this: always assume the dealer has a ten behind their face-up card. That’s the guiding principle behind basic strategy. If they’re showing a six or lower, you stand on most hands. If they’re showing a seven or higher, you need to be more aggressive.
Then there’s the split. If you’re dealt a pair, you can often split them into two hands—doubling your stake but increasing your odds. Always split eights. Never split tens. These aren’t superstitions. They’re decisions backed by millions of simulated hands and cold, hard probability. A beginner doesn’t need to memorise the full basic strategy chart, but it helps to print one and keep it nearby if you’re playing online. At a live table, learn the essentials, and take it slow.
When to Double Down
Doubling down is a confident move. You double your bet, take one more card, and then stand—whatever happens. You do it when the odds are in your favour. A classic double-down hand? A total of 11, especially if the dealer shows a 6. The chances of drawing a ten and making 21 are high, and the dealer’s chances of busting are decent.
But here’s the thing about doubling down: it requires a bit of nerve. And bankroll. If you’re playing low-stakes tables, it’s less risky. Online, many platforms will even flash a “Double?” prompt when it makes sense mathematically. That doesn’t mean you have to take it. But the suggestion is usually sound.
Playing With the Decks in Mind
Casinos don’t use one deck. That would be too easy to track. Most games use six or eight decks shuffled together. This makes card counting far more difficult. The more decks in play, the harder it becomes to predict anything.
That said, some online games (especially the single-deck variants) can offer more favourable odds. Always check the rules before you sit down. A blackjack payout of 3:2 is standard. If it’s 6:5, walk away. The difference might seem small, but over time it matters. Small rule changes affect the house edge more than most players realise.
The Trap of Insurance
Sometimes, when the dealer shows an Ace, you’ll be offered “insurance.” It’s a side bet that pays out if the dealer has blackjack. On the surface, it sounds sensible. Protect your hand. In practice? It’s a poor bet. Mathematically, the odds are not in your favour. Long-term, it drains more than it saves.
Professional players almost never take insurance. If you’re counting cards (which, as a beginner, you shouldn’t be doing), it might occasionally make sense. Otherwise, say no. Let the game play out.
Stay Cool and Stick to the Plan
It’s tempting to go with your gut. Especially after a few drinks. But blackjack rewards discipline, not impulse. Stick to your plan. Follow the strategy. Don’t chase losses or get greedy after a win. If you’re tired or distracted, log off or cash out. It’s not a game that forgives lapses.
And don’t worry too much about the others at the table. People get strange about “third base”—the last player to act before the dealer. They’ll blame you if you hit when you shouldn’t and the dealer ends up making a hand. Ignore it. Your job is to make the best decision for your hand, not theirs. The deck doesn’t care about drama.
One More Thing: Know When to Walk Away
Winning is nice. So is breaking even. But knowing when to leave is a skill all its own. Set limits—both time and money. If you’ve made a decent profit, take it. If you’ve lost what you budgeted, don’t chase. This is a game designed to be played over time. And ultimately, it’s a form of entertainment. The odds are close, but not in your favour long-term unless you’re counting.
It’s supposed to be fun. If it isn’t, it’s time to close the tab or leave the table. That’s not defeat. That’s sense.
FAQs
1. What is the best strategy for beginners?
Learn the basic strategy chart. Play low-stakes games while practising. Avoid side bets and insurance until you’re more experienced.
2. Is blackjack a game of luck or skill?
Both. The cards are random, but your decisions influence the outcome. Smart play narrows the house edge considerably.
3. Should I always hit on 16?
It depends on what the dealer is showing. If the dealer shows a 7 or higher, yes. If they show a 6 or lower, stand. This is one of the most common decision points in the game.
