How to Play Blackjack
Learn blackjack in under two minutes: the aim of the game, card values, hit, stand, double and split, the dealer’s rules, and why basic strategy matters.
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About this video: How to Play Blackjack
How to Play Blackjack is a short narrated video guide from The Casino Deals. In it, you’ll learn blackjack in under two minutes: the aim of the game, card values, hit, stand, double and split, the dealer’s rules, and why basic strategy matters.
In addition, the video runs for 1 min 30 sec and works on any phone, tablet or computer. For example, you can switch on captions in the player, or use the chapters above to jump straight to the part you need.
After that, the full written guide covers the detail, with tables, examples and FAQs. Also, every video guide has its own page, so you can bookmark it or share it with a friend.
However, rules and offers change. For that reason, we check every video against the Gambling Commission and other official sources. In fact, we last checked this one on 13 October 2026.
Read the transcript
Blackjack is one of the simplest casino games to learn, and one of the best value if you play it well. Here’s the quick version.
You’re playing against the dealer, not the other players. The aim is to finish with a hand closer to 21 than the dealer’s… without going over.
Number cards are worth their face value. Jacks, queens and kings are worth 10. And an ace counts as 1 or 11, whichever helps you more.
Your first two cards matter. An ace plus a ten-value card is a blackjack, and it usually pays 3 to 2. Watch out for tables paying 6 to 5… that’s a worse deal.
Then it’s your decision. Hit to take another card. Stand to stick with what you’ve got. Double down to double your stake and take exactly one more card. Or split a pair into two separate hands.
The dealer plays by fixed rules, usually drawing until they reach 17 or more. If they bust, everyone still in the hand wins.
Following basic strategy, which is a chart of the best move for every hand, brings the house edge down to roughly half a percent, depending on the rules. But the casino still has the edge over time.
You can try it for free in our free blackjack game, and set a budget before you play for real. 18+. Please gamble responsibly.
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18+ only. Gambling can be addictive; please play responsibly. Free, confidential help: BeGambleAware.org or the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.