Play Blackjack with Crypto

Let’s start with the user interface of a typical crypto blackjack game. Opening a Blackjack game in an online casino will show you the following:

• The dealer
• The table with seats, both available and occupied
• The shoe (the device used to hold and dispense the cards)

The most popular version of the game is played with 6 decks of 52 cards, however you may come across versions that use anywhere between 1-8 decks. Make sure you read each game’s info page before you start playing - you should understand what you’re getting into.

Once you take a seat, the betting options will become available to you. Depending on the game, you may be able to take multiple seats at the same table. You will also see betting chips with different values, which you can click to choose your betting amount. The betting limits will vary, depending on the table. You will have a predetermined amount of time to place your bets, usually marked by a countdown timer on your screen. Then the dealer will draw cards for everyone.

The objective of the game is to score as close as possible to the number 21, without going over it.

Face cards are worth 10 points and number cards are equal to their face value, while aces can either be 1 or 11 - the player decides.

You are not playing against other players on the table, but against the dealer.

1. Starting the game

Starting clockwise, the dealer gives each player and themselves one up-facing card (for the dealer, this is known as the upcard). Another round of cards is dealt face-up for the players, but the dealer gets a down-facing card (the hole card). So, each player has 2 up-facing cards and the dealer has one up-facing card and one down-facing card at the start of the round.

2. Blackjack or Naturals

When a player is dealt an Ace and a "ten-card" (a face card or 10) as their first two cards, it's called a natural or blackjack. This can play out in the following ways:

• If the player has a natural and the dealer does not, the player receives a payout of x1.5 their bet immediately - 3:2.
• If the dealer has a natural, they collect the bets of all players without naturals.
• If both the dealer and a player have naturals, it results in a tie, and the player's bet is returned, or Pushed.
• When the dealer's initial card is a ten-card or an Ace, they check their facedown card to see if they have blackjack. If the initial card is neither an ace or a ten-card, the dealer reveals the hole card card later in the game.

Hitting and Standing

Players start from the left of the dealer and choose to "stand" (keep their current hand) or "hit" (request additional cards to reach or get closer to 21). If a player's total exceeds 21, they go "bust" and lose their bet to the dealer.

Aces combined with non-ten cards create "soft hands" allowing the ace to count as 1 or 11. For instance, a "soft 15" (Ace and 4) can be counted as 5 or 15. Players can adjust their strategy based on this flexibility, drawing cards to improve their hand or adjusting the ace's value if they bust.

Depending on your hand and the dealer’s hand, more options may become available to you:

❇️ Insurance bet

If the dealer’s upcard is an ace, before players take their turns, they can choose to place an insurance bet, a side bet of up to half the original bet. You’re basically wagering that the dealer’s hole card is a 10-card (a face card or a 10), thus making the hand blackjack. If the dealer does get Blackjack, the hand ends and players with insurance bets win, with a payout of 2:1 on the half-amount insurance bet. Essentially, insurance bets allow you to break even for the round in case the dealer draws Blackjack.

If, however, the dealer does not get blackjack, then you lose your insurance bet and your original hand bet stands until the round is resolved.

❇️ Split Pairs

If a player is dealt two cards of the same rank, such as two Kings (K) or two sevens (7), they have the option to split them into separate hands during their turn. To do so, the player places an additional bet equal to their original wager on the second hand. The player then plays each hand individually, starting with the left-hand side, deciding to stand or hit before proceeding to the next hand. The dealer settles each hand separately based on its outcome.

When splitting Aces, each Ace receives one additional card and no further cards can be drawn. Additionally, if a ten-card is dealt to one of these split aces, the payout is equal to the original bet (1:1), not the usual 3:2 payout for a blackjack in other situations.

❇️ Double Down

Players can choose to double their bet if their initial hand totals 9, 10, or 11. They place an additional bet equal to their original wager and receive one more card face down, which remains concealed until the hand concludes.

If dealt two fives, players have the option to split the pair, double down, or proceed with their hand as usual. Importantly, dealers do not have the ability to split or double down.

Remember, you don’t have to do any of the above, they are just additional choices that become available to you under specific circumstances.

When the players finish their turns, it is now the dealer’s turn.

4. The dealer’s turn

After dealing to all players and any optional bets have been placed, the dealer flips over their face-down card.

• If the dealer's total reaches 17 or more, they must stand.
• If their total is 16 or less, they are required to draw another card.

This process continues until the dealer's total is 17 or higher, at which point they must stand.

However, if the dealer holds an Ace that can be counted as 11 without exceeding 21, they must count it as 11 and stand. Unlike the dealer, who follows automatic rules for every play, players have the option to decide whether to draw additional cards or not.

At the end of the round, the following scenarios may transpire:

• If a player busts, they lose their wager, even if the dealer also busts.
• If a player gets Blackjack (an ace and a ten-card), they are paid 1.5 times their bet amount (3:2).
• If the dealer goes over 21, they pay each remaining player an amount equal to their bet (1:1 payout).
• If the dealer stands at 21 or less, they pay players with higher totals (up to 21) and collect from those with lower totals (1:1 payout).
• In the event of a tie, no money is exchanged.

For a summary of the payouts, refer to the table below:

Apart from the standard bet you place on your hand, hoping you will be the winner, you can also place side bets that predict outcomes other than whether the player or the dealer will win. Most of these can be placed before the round starts (i.e. before the cards have been dealt) and offer a significantly higher payout than the 1:1 for standard wins. Each blackjack table is different and may be using different variations, so make sure you carefully read the rules and payouts for each table individually.

Perfect Pairs

A Perfect Pairs side bet predicts that your first two cards will form a mixed, colored or perfect pair:

• Mixed pair: Two cards of the same rambo but different colors (one red, one black), such as the seven of hearts and the seven of spades. Usually this pays out 6:1.
• Colored pair: Two cards of the rank and color, but different suits, like the Queen of Clubs and the Queen of Spades. The payout for this is usually 12:1.
• Perfect pair: Two cards of the same rank and suit, such as 4 of diamonds. Generally this pays out 25:1.

The payouts mentioned here are indicative of what we find to be most common in major providers' games, but they are by no means fixed in stone. Make sure you check the pay table for each table you join!

21+3

21+3 are side bets which have to do with the player's first two cards combined with the dealer's face-up card, aiming to form specific poker-style hands:

• Flush: Three cards of the same suit, such as the four, nine, and Queen of diamonds. This generally pays 5:1.
• Straight: Three sequential cards, regardless of suit, like the five of spades, six of clubs, and seven of hearts. This typically pays 10:1.
• Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank, regardless of suit, such as three Kings. This usually pays 30:1.
• Straight Flush: Three sequential cards of the same suit, like the six, seven, and eight of spades. This generally pays 40:1.
• Suited Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank and suit, such as three nine of hearts. This typically pays 100:1.

Other side bets

🔶 Easy Match

This side bet predicts that the first two cards in your hand will be of the same suit. In a single-deck game it typically pays 3:1, and in a multi-deck game, it usually pays 5:2.

🔶 Royal Match

This side bet predicts that the first two cards in your hand will be the King and Queen of the same suit. In a single-deck game, it generally pays 10:1, while in a multi-deck game, it pays 25:1.

🔶 Over/Under 13

This simple bet predicts that the first two cards in your hand will total over or under 13, with Aces counting as one. A total of 13 typically results in a lost bet and the payout is usually 10:1.

🔶 Super Sevens

This bet is based on how many sevens appear in your hand.

• First card is a seven: 3:1.
• Two first cards are sevens: 50:1 for different suits and 100:1 for the same suit.
• Third seven: 500:1 for different suits and 5,000:1 for the same suit.

🔶 Lucky Ladies

This bet predicts that the first two cards in your hand will total 20. The payouts will vary as follows:

• Different suits: 4:1
• Same suit:10:1
• Same suit and rank: 25:1.
• Two Queens of Hearts: 200:1
• Dealer gets Blackjack: 1000:1

🔶 Pair Square

This side bet predicts that the first two cards in your hand will form a pair. A pair of different suits, like a seven of hearts and a seven of spades, usually pays 10:1, while a pair of the same suit, such as two tens of clubs, typically pays 15:1.

🔶 Lucky Lucky

This wager predicts whether the combined value or specific combination of your first two cards and the dealer’s upcard will meet certain criteria. Different combinations mean different payouts, so make sure you read each game’s payout table closely.

🔶 Match the dealer

This bet predicts whether the rank of either of your first two cards will match the dealer’s upcard.

• Different suit match: 4:1
• Same suit match: 11:1

Unlike many other card games you will find at casinos, for example baccarat, blackjack involves a level of skill - it is not based entirely on chance.

A solid strategy can make the difference between a long and enjoyable game, or a short and dissatisfying one, so make sure you do your research and play according to your bankroll. The Blackjack basic strategy can help with this, so keep reading.

The most important thing to keep in mind is the dealer’s upcard.

• If the dealer shows a strong card (7, 8, 9, 10, or Ace), players should keep hitting until their hand totals 17 or more.
• If the dealer's upcard is weak (4, 5, or 6), players should stop hitting once they reach 12 or higher, so as to minimize the risk of busting. This throws the risk of busting on the dealer instead.
• When the dealer has a moderate upcard (2 or 3), players should stop drawing at 13 or higher.

For soft hands, players should continue drawing until they reach at least 18. For example, with an Ace and a 6 (soft 17), players should draw another card.

As for doubling down, the basic strategy includes:

• always doubling down on a total of 11,
• doubling down on 10 unless the dealer shows a 10 or Ace, and
• doubling down on 9 only if the dealer shows a 2 through 6.

Regarding splitting pairs, players should consider the following:

• always split Aces and 8s.
• pairs of 10s and 5s should not be split, as a pair of 5s totaling 10 is better used for doubling down.
• a pair of 4s should also not be split, as an 8 is a good number to draw to.
• players can generally split 2s, 3s, or 7s unless the dealer has an 8, 9, 10, or Ace.
• lastly, 6s should only be split if the dealer's upcard is between 2 and 6.

Blackjack is perhaps the most widely-played lucky card game and it comes with a very long history. This means that you can play blackjack practically everywhere and anywhere, and many distinct versions of it too. There are countless variants of blackjack available out there, both as live dealer tables or RNG variants.

If you want to explore different blackjack games, take a look at our list of crypto gambling games that allows you to filter and compare options so you can find what’s best for you. Our game reviews are also a great source of information, as you can find information on how to play each game, information about RTP, payouts and more.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a new blackjack casino, our website can help you find the best crypto casino sites through advanced filtering options and more.