How does Blackjack work?

Split, box and Super Pairs – if that’s hard to keep track of, you’re in the right place. We’ll walk you through the blackjack rules step by step.

approx. 3 min.

Maya

The Most Popular Card Game of Chance

Blackjack is the card game of chance most frequently played and offered in Casinos. Originally derived from the French Vingt-et-un, it is also associated with “17+4” or “21”. Its hallmarks are simple rules and a varied flow of play.

To make sure you have full confidence at the blackjack table next time, we explain the blackjack rules here and everything you need to know about this popular game.

In brief: What is Blackjack?

To win at blackjack, you need to achieve a higher score than the croupier with two or more cards. The highest score is 21, which must not be exceeded.

Aces count as either eleven or one point, face cards as ten points, and all other cards at their printed value. The game is played with six decks of 52 cards each. Now you know the most important blackjack rules and can soon get started!

Structure of a Blackjack Table

On the blackjack table there is a so-called box for active players as well as one or more betting fields for passive players. A maximum of seven active players per table play against the house. In addition, further passive players can participate at each seat (box) by betting that the box holder will beat the house.

As a box holder, you can also place an optional side bet on Super Pairs. With this extra stake, you bet on your first two cards. If you are dealt a pair, your winnings are paid out immediately and the regular blackjack game continues.

If the house’s first card is an ace, the player can place half of their stake on the insurance field and thus insure themselves against a blackjack by the house. If the house draws a blackjack, the insurance is paid out at 2:1; otherwise, it is collected.

All participants also have the opportunity, on the Super Jack fields, to place an additional bet equal to the table minimum on the house’s cards.

The Course of Play

Once each player has placed their bet in the designated marking on the table – the box – the dealer deals the cards face up in a clockwise direction. First, one card to each active box, then one to the house. After that, each box receives a second card. By saying “card”, the player can request additional cards as often as they like; by saying “stand”, they indicate that they do not want any more cards.

If the box holder exceeds 21 while drawing, they are bust. The house collects the stakes of the respective box. Only once all boxes have been played does the dealer draw further cards for the house. The dealer must draw up to and including 16, and may not draw beyond 17.

The Most Important Blackjack Terms

Splitting

The box holder may split whenever their first two cards are of equal value (e.g. two sixes or two face cards). They then continue with a split hand and two separate bets. The stake for each split hand must match the original bet.

Exception: with two split aces, only one additional card is dealt to each. Also, a split ace can no longer achieve blackjack, only the card value 21. Once the box holder has chosen to split, the passive player may also participate in that hand.

Double (to double down)

The base bet can be doubled if the first two cards have a value of 9, 10 or 11. When a player doubles down, they receive only one further card.

Side Bet "Super Pairs"

If you place a bet on the side game Super Pairs, you wager an extra stake on your first two cards. The following pairs are possible:

Super Pairs: a pair of hearts sevens
Identical Pairs: you draw a pair of the same suit, e.g. two nines of hearts
Coloured Pairs: you draw a pair of different red or black suits, e.g. ace of clubs and king of diamonds
Mixed Pairs: you draw a pair of different mixed suits, e.g. ten of hearts and ten of spades.

Side Bet "Super Jack"

On the Super Jack fields, you have the opportunity to place an additional bet equal to the table minimum on the house’s cards.

Super Jack: the house draws blackjack in hearts, e.g. ace of hearts and queen of hearts.
Gold Jack: the house draws blackjack in any one suit, e.g. ace of clubs and ten of clubs.
Silver Jack: the house draws blackjack, e.g. ace of spades and king of diamonds.
Bust: the house goes bust, e.g. ten of hearts, five of diamonds and seven of clubs.

How does Blackjack work?