Blackjack variants

One game — many rulebooks

Every version of blackjack rests on the same foundation: get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. The differences live in the details, and those details move the maths in meaningful ways: whether the dealer deals himself two cards up front or draws the second only after the players have acted (no hole card), whether he stands on soft 17, how many decks are in the shoe, and how a natural blackjack pays — a fair 3:2 or a stingy 6:5. It's those details, not the name on the felt, that decide how good a table really is.

Below are breakdowns of specific variants. Beginners should start with classic blackjack: it has the simplest rules and one of the lowest house edges around. Once you're comfortable, move on to the European game and other versions — but always check the exact rules of the table in front of you before you play.