How to Play Classic Blackjack

Widely regarded as the most popular form of Blackjack in the world, Classic Blackjack is just one of a number of online Blackjack variations available at our tables. Join the action on Single Player and Multi-Player tables now!

In Classic Blackjack eight 52-card decks are used. The decks are shuffled together before every hand is dealt, and dealers do not receive a hole card. Dealers must hit on a soft 17 (a hand containing an ace that totals either seven or 17), and should you hit Blackjack you will be paid at 3:2 odds.

If the player’s hand loses to Blackjack, then only the mandatory initial bet is forfeited and all other optional bets that have not bust (splits and doubles) will be pushed and returned.

A minimum bet applies on Classic Blackjack tables, but more betting options become available as hands progress. Players can double down on any two-card hand, meaning you can double your initial bet, so long as you are committed to ‘standing’ after being dealt one additional card.

Player can also split two cards if they are paired or of equal value. So if you are dealt nine-nine, king-queen, seven-seven or jack-ten you can create two hands for an additional wager of the same amount. Here are some additional rules on splitting:

• Players can split three times for a total of four hands, except when dealt a pair of aces
• Aces may be split only once, after which players will receive only one card for each split hand
• Players can double down on any hand, including after a non-ace split

When playing at Classic Blackjack tables, players cannot ‘surrender’. But if the dealer has an Ace and you think they are about to hit Blackjack, you can also buy ‘insurance’. This means should the dealer hit Blackjack, you’ll still be paid 2:1 on your bet.

If you have been dealt Blackjack, and the dealer is showing an ace, even money is a special type of insurance bet that can be made. If you decide to take even money, the payout will be 1:1, regardless of whether the dealer has Blackjack or not. If you do not take even money, the hand will play out as normal.

The theoretical return to player (RTP) for Classic Blackjack is 99.41%. The RTP is calculated taking in account the usage of the game’s basic strategy on the player’s side.

The house edge is based on statistical grounds and it is equal to the difference between 1 and the RTP (before taxing).

For more on how to play the game, visit our Blackjack Rules page.