In American Blackjack, the croupier deals two cards to the player face-up. The dealer's first card is face-up and the second card is dealt face down. The objective of the game is simply for the player to put together a stronger hand total than the dealer, without exceeding 21. If your hand total is greater than 21, you automatically lose – irrespective of the dealer’s hand total. When you go over 21, you bust and it's game over.
After your first two cards have been dealt, it's decision time. You can choose to hit (take additional cards), stand/stay (stick with your hand total), double down (take one more card and stand), split (play two separate hands when you have identical cards), or take insurance (when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace). In American Blackjack, like other variants of the game, a natural blackjack (Ace +10-value card) is the strongest possible hand. A three-card 21 or greater is not blackjack, and will always lose to a natural blackjack.
But here's the thing: You don't need 21 to beat the dealer. Any player hand total that is greater than the dealer’s hand total will win the round. In blackjack, a winning hand pays even money. Of course, if your opening two cards are blackjack – you're in the money. As soon as you have completed your actions, it's the dealer's turn to act. The dealer must draw on 16 and stand on all 17s (hard and soft). Recall that a hard 17 includes an Ace valued at 1, or no Ace at all. A soft 17 by contrast includes an Ace valued at 11. Either way, whenever a dealer has a hand total of 17+ they have to stand. Your goal is simply to beat the dealer's hand total, given these rules.
American Blackjack games are really easy to play at 888casino Canada. Now, it's decision time – how many hands will you play? You can play 1 hand up to 5 hands simultaneously. That's right folks! American Blackjack is a multi-hand blackjack game. Next, pick your bet size. There are low minimum C$ bets for casual players, and high maximum C$ bets for the high rollers. Your betting possibilities are available on the bottom right of your screen. Customized table color options are possible too. You can even switch off the background beats, and toggle Turbo mode (on/off) as you wish. Don't forget to click Save to lock in your preferences.
Get this – you can even practice American Blackjack free before you play for real. This is a great way to test your blackjack skills at zero risk of loss. Once you are ready, deposit at the cashier and play for real. Naturally, we encourage responsible gaming on every play, so set a budget and stick to it. Choose your chip value and click the bet button on the table. You must meet the minimum and maximum bet requirements for each round of play. With that out of the way, simply click the Deal button to get the action going.
Whether you’re playing 1 hand or 5 hands, the action unfolds in the same way. A single face-up card is dealt to each hand that you are playing in turn, followed by a second face-up card. The dealer's first card is dealt face up, and the other face down. You can choose how to play your hands with all of the action options available. In American Blackjack games, any hand total that exceeds 21 automatically loses. Each hand is evaluated on its merits. You'll know instantly if a hand busts, because it automatically loses and is unplayable. Once you've played all your hands, any payment due to you will be paid, and a new round of blackjack begins.
If you wish to play the same bets as the previous round, simply continue betting. You can also clear the deck and start afresh. It's worth highlighting that the dealer must draw on 16 and stand on all 17s. Sometimes, you'll be able to Double Down which allows you to double your bet for one final card. No additional betting will be permitted once you've doubled down. As always, once you've finished betting, it's the dealer's turn. While many players can participate in American Blackjack games, players compete against the dealer, not against one another.
AMERICAN BLACKJACK CARD VALUES
- Aces have two faces – 1 and 11
- 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 – nominal value
- 10, Jack, Queen, King – all valued at 10
AMERICAN BLACKJACK ACTIONS
- Hit – Take another card. You can keep hitting until you're satisfied with your hand total, or until you bust – whichever comes first.
- Stay/Stand – Stick with your hand total without any additional cards.
- Bust – If your hand total exceeds 21, you automatically lose and forfeit your bets.
- A Hard Hand – Any blackjack hand that contains an Ace valued at 1, or no Ace at all. For example, 10+9 = hard 19, or 7+8+5+ Ace = 21.
- A Soft Hand – a soft hand includes an Ace valued at 11. It is soft because the Ace can assume two values. Consider 9 + Ace = Soft 20.
- Double down – when you Double down, you take one more card and double your bet. Whatever results you get are final. No further actions are allowed.
- Split – you can split a pair of identical cards, but only if they are your first two cards dealt. Examples include King-King, 9-9, 3-3, et cetera. When you split, you pay to bet on each separate hand. You can play each split hand as you wish, but if you split Aces, a 10-value card will not form blackjack; it's the equivalent of a three-card 21. If the dealer has blackjack with their two cards, that always beats a three-card+ blackjack.
- Insurance – think of insurance as a hedge against a dealer blackjack. If the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, you may opt for insurance. It cost 50% more than your original bet, and insurance pays 2:1. If the dealer's face down card is a 10-value card, you win double your insurance bet back. We advise against insurance bets because they are known as sucker bets; the odds of a dealer having blackjack are 4/13, and the odds of a dealer not having blackjack are 9/13.
- A Push – this occurs if your hand and the dealer’s hand are equal in value. The dealer’s hand total must be at least 17, since the dealer will draw on 16 and stand on all 17s. Therefore, if your hand total is 16 and the dealer’s hand total is 16 or less, the dealer will draw and no push will be possible.
There is a unique option available to players known as Even Money. If you've got a blackjack hand (2-card blackjack on your opening Hand), and the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, you can choose a payout of 1:1 and end the hand immediately. You don't need to wait for the dealer’s face down card to be revealed.
RULES OF AMERICAN BLACKJACK
- American Blackjack games are played between player and dealer, not between players.
- 6 decks of cards are used, with 52 cards in each deck.
- The cards are shuffled after every round of play.
- 2 cards are dealt face-up to each player, and each player hand (1-5 hands can be played). 1 card is dealt face-up to the dealer and the other card is dealt face down.
- The objective of blackjack is to beat the dealer's hand total without exceeding 21.
- Select your chip size for betting purposes and click deal.
- Available actions include hit, stand, double down, split, and insurance. Each option will be available when appropriate.
- The player hand must always be completed before the dealer plays.
- Each hand in American Blackjack is played on its merits.
- A three card+ 21 always loses to a Natural Blackjack.
AMERICAN BLACKJACK ON MOBILE
You're welcome to download the mobile casino app for Android and iOS devices. Simply navigate to the Google Play Store, or the App Store to get your free app. We are 100% licensed and regulated to offer real-money casino games to legal-age players. Take American Blackjack with you on the go, as you please.
For detailed rules on how to play American Blackjack, kindly click here.
Payouts
- Winning Hand – 1:1
- Blackjack – 3:2
- Insurance – 2:1
- Even Money – 1:1
