Almost all USA blackjack games feature the same objective—getting a higher total than the dealer without exceeding 21—but there are a number of rule variations that can alter the expected payout and house edge. In this article, we’ll examine the basics of American blackjack, look at some of the most common variants, and even touch on how they play 21 in the rest of the world.

Most Common American Blackjack Rules

The most common version of blackjack in US casinos is played with eight decks of cards. Aces count as 1 or 11, and a “blackjack” (comprised of an ace and a 10-point card) is the highest possible hand.

The player begins by making a wager. Afterwards, the player receives two cards and so does the dealer. One of the dealer’ cards, however, is left facing down (known as the hole card).

When the dealer’s up card is an ace, the player has the option to buy insurance. The player may only wager up to half of his initial bet, but insurance pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has a 10-point hole card that would give him blackjack.

If the dealer is showing an ace or 10-point card, he will look at his hole card to check for blackjack. If he does, the hand ends with the player forfeiting their initial wager. If the player also has a blackjack, the result is a push.

Assuming there’s no dealer blackjack on the draw, the game continues. The player now has the following options:

Hit – Player gets another card. This can be continued as long as the player doesn’t exceed a total of 21.

Stand – The player chooses to receive no additional cards.

Double – The player only gets one more card, but they’re able to double their bet.

Surrender – Before receiving additional cards, the player can choose to surrender. He only loses half his wager, but must sit out the rest of the hand.

Split – The player may choose to separate two 10-point cards into two distinct hands. Each one-card hand receives an additional card, and play then continues as normal. Split aces, however, only receive one additional card. Players can usually choose to re-split up to four times, and they may double their bet after a split.

Once the player has completed their turn, the dealer gets to take action. If their cards total 16 or less, then the dealer must draw. The dealer also stands on a soft 17 (comprised of an ace and additional cards totaling six points).

If the dealer busts or has a lower total, then the player wins even money. In the case of a player blackjack, the payout is 3 to 2.

American Blackjack Variants

While still adhering to the rules of blackjack, some casino games may employ variations on the standard rules. Here are some of the most common examples:

– The player automatically wins if they have six cards. This is known as the “Six-card Charlie” rule.

– The player is allowed to draw after splitting aces.

– The game uses less than eight decks.

– Late surrender allows the player to forfeit their hand and lose half their wager only after the dealer has checked for blackjack.

– Early surrender allows the player to forfeit their hand before the dealer checks for blackjack (assuming the dealer is showing a 10-point card).

– Aces can be resplit.

– Both dealer cards are displayed face up.

– The player may double regardless of how many cards they have.

– A split limit of two or three hands is imposed.

– The dealer is required to hit on a soft 17.

– If the player splits cards, they may not double afterwards.

– The player may only double if their total is 9 through 11. Another option is allowing the player to split only if they have a total of 10 or 11.

– Blackjack pays something other than 3 to 2. This can range from 7 to 5 to even money.

Blackjack Rules in Other Countries

Now that you’re familiar with the most common forms of USA blackjack games, let’s see how the game of 21 differs in other parts of the world.

– In the version of European blackjack played throughout Germany, the house uses six decks and the dealer doesn’t peek to check for blackjack. The player can double after a split, but they can only double on hard totals of nine through eleven. On a soft 17, the dealer stands.

– In the nation of Panama, the player-friendly rules include six decks, no dealer hole card, dealer hitting on a soft 17, and early surrender (except against an ace). On a dealer blackjack, a player who doubles or splits only loses their initial wager. The player is allowed to split any pair for a maximum of four hands, and they may double after the split. They may also double on any first two cards, as well as three-card totals ranging from 9 to 11.

– Tables in Finland offer some of the worst blackjack rules from the standpoint of the player. Played with six decks, this version features no surrender, unlimited splits, doubling on 9 through 11, and no hole card. Tying on a blackjack or 21 results in a push, but ties on 17 through 20 result in a dealer win. This last rule results in a rather unfavorable house edge of 8.92%.