Check the table before you sit
Look at the felt or the game's help screen for four things: the blackjack payout (3:2, never 6:5), whether the dealer stands or hits on soft 17, the number of decks and whether you can double after splitting. Each one shifts the edge, and together they decide whether the game is worth your time.
Our blackjack casinos page has a table of how much each rule costs.
The hands that matter most
| Your hand | Dealer shows | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Hard 12 | 4 to 6 | Stand |
| Hard 12 | 2, 3 or 7 to ace | Hit |
| Hard 16 | 7 to ace | Hit (surrender if allowed) |
| 11 | 2 to 10 | Double |
| Soft 18 (A,7) | 3 to 6 | Double (stand if you can't) |
| Soft 18 (A,7) | 9, 10, ace | Hit |
| 8,8 | Any | Split |
| A,A | Any | Split |
| 10,10 | Any | Stand |
A few plays change with the rules: in single-deck games A,8 against a 6 becomes a double, and 8,8 against an ace becomes a surrender where doubling after a split is not allowed. Use a chart built for the exact rules of your table.
Card counting online
Counting needs a shoe that is dealt deep before the shuffle. RNG tables reshuffle after every hand, so counting does nothing there. Live tables often deal well into the shoe, but casinos watch bet spreads and can limit or close an account they suspect. Treat counting as a hobby, not an income.
If you try it, the Hi-Lo count is the usual starting point: +1 for 2 to 6, 0 for 7 to 9, −1 for tens and aces, divided by the decks left to get the true count.
Bankroll and bonuses
Even with basic strategy, blackjack swings. A common rule is a unit of 1% to 2% of your bankroll, so 50 to 100 bets before you could run out. Set a loss limit for each session and stop when you hit it.
Most welcome bonuses count blackjack at 10% or less toward wagering, and some exclude it. Wager-free cashback is the bonus type that suits blackjack best. More on our bonus page.
Checks for a new casino
- Find the licence on the regulator's register before depositing.
- Read the withdrawal terms for caps and pending times.
- Start with small stakes until a first withdrawal has landed.
- Set a session time limit; fatigue costs more than a bad rule.