♥ Know the game before you play
How blackjack is played, action by action
Blackjack has a small set of rules that rarely change in spirit but differ in the details from table to table. This guide runs through the objective, the card values, every action you and the dealer can take, and the payouts — so you can read any table’s rules with confidence.
The objective
Your goal is a hand total closer to 21 than the dealer’s, without going over 21. You are playing only against the dealer — other players at the table do not affect your result. If your total beats the dealer’s you win; if you go over 21 you lose immediately; and if you tie, the stake is returned.
Card values
Values are straightforward, with the ace being the one flexible card.
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| 2 – 10 | Face value |
| Jack, Queen, King | 10 each |
| Ace | 1 or 11, whichever helps the hand |
♠ Your turn
Player actions
♠ Hit
Ask for another card to raise your total. You can keep hitting as long as you have not busted, but each card risks pushing you over 21.
♥ Stand
Keep your current total and end your turn. You stand when you are happy with your hand or when drawing would risk a bust.
♦ Double down
Double your original stake in exchange for exactly one more card, after which your turn ends. It is used on strong two-card totals where one more card is likely to win.
♣ Split
If your first two cards are a matching pair, you can separate them into two hands, each taking a second card and its own equal stake. Split aces are often limited to one card each.
♣ Key terms
Blackjack, bust and push
Blackjack (natural)
An ace and any ten-value card on your first two cards — an unbeatable two-card 21 that normally pays a premium and wins unless the dealer also has one.
Bust
A total above 21. A bust loses at once, no matter what the dealer holds, which is why hitting stiff totals is a real risk.
Push
A tie with the dealer on the same total. Your original stake is returned and no one wins the hand.
Dealer drawing rules and soft 17
The dealer does not make choices — they follow a fixed rule. After every player has acted, the dealer reveals their hidden card and must draw to a set total, then stop. In almost every game the dealer draws until reaching at least 17 and then stands.
The one common variation is the soft 17. A soft 17 is a 17 that includes an ace counted as 11, such as an ace and a six. Some tables make the dealer stand on soft 17; others make them hit it. When the dealer hits soft 17, the house edge is a little higher, so a “stands on soft 17” table is slightly better for you. It is one of the first rules worth checking.
Know the Rules Before You Play
Check the available table conditions and payouts before starting a game, and use code BOOST20 for a 20% Rakeback Boost on a new account.
Visit Rainbet♦ Optional and side rules
Insurance and surrender
Insurance
Offered when the dealer’s upcard is an ace. Insurance is a side bet, up to half your stake, that the dealer has a ten-value card underneath for a blackjack. It pays 2:1 if they do, but over time it costs the player money, so it is generally declined.
Surrender (where available)
Some tables let you surrender a poor hand after the deal, giving up half your stake to end the hand rather than playing it out. It is not offered everywhere, and when it is, it applies only in specific situations.
Not every table offers insurance the same way or surrender at all. Availability of these options is one of the ways table rules differ.
♠ Getting paid
Payouts: 3:2 versus 6:5
A standard winning hand pays even money (1:1). A natural blackjack normally pays a premium, and this is where tables differ most in value.
| Payout | Winnings on CA$10 | Value to player |
|---|---|---|
| 3:2 | CA$15 | Better |
| 6:5 | CA$12 | Worse |
| 1:1 (regular win) | CA$10 | Standard win |
The gap looks small on one hand, but across a session a 6:5 table quietly costs you more. When you have a choice, a 3:2 blackjack payout is the better table. The strategy guide explains how payouts and other rules feed into the decisions you make.
Why table-specific rules matter
Two tables can both be “blackjack” and still play differently. The number of decks, whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17, whether you can double after splitting, whether surrender is offered, and the blackjack payout all shift the odds and, in some cases, the correct decision. None of these are hidden — each table publishes its rules — but they are easy to overlook.
Before you commit real money, open the table’s information panel and check those points. A minute of reading can be the difference between a fair game and one that quietly costs more than it should.
♥ Putting it together
An example round, step by step
- The deal
You are dealt a 9 and a 7 for a hard 16. The dealer shows a 6 as their upcard.
- Reading the situation
Sixteen is a weak total, but the dealer’s 6 is a weak upcard — they are likely to be forced into a draw that could bust.
- Your decision
Rather than risk busting your 16, you stand and let the dealer take the risk. Against a strong upcard like a 10 you would instead hit.
- The dealer draws
The dealer reveals a 10 for 16, then must draw. They pull an 8 and bust with 24.
- The result
Because the dealer busted, your standing 16 wins the round. Had they drawn to 17–21, your 16 would have lost — the same starting hand, a different outcome.
This example is for illustration. Every real round is decided by the cards actually dealt, and results vary.
Review the Table and Start Playing
Exact blackjack rules and payouts may vary between available tables. Check the conditions, then use code BOOST20 when you open Rainbet.
Rules are fixed; outcomes are not
Knowing the rules helps you play well, but it does not change the fact that blackjack is a game of chance with real financial risk. The house keeps an edge on every table, and no amount of rule knowledge guarantees a win. Set a budget before you play and stick to it.
Gambling is for adults of legal age in your province or territory (18 or 19+). If it stops being fun, free and confidential help is available through provincial services such as ConnexOntario. This page is educational and is not legal or financial advice, and exact rules, payouts and available actions vary by table or provider.
♣ Questions
Blackjack rules FAQ
To finish with a hand total closer to 21 than the dealer’s, without going over 21. You play against the dealer alone, not against other players.
A soft 17 is a 17 made with an ace counted as 11, such as ace plus six. On some tables the dealer must stand on it; on others they must draw. When the dealer hits soft 17, the house edge is slightly higher for you.
3:2 is better for the player. On a CA$10 bet a natural blackjack returns CA$15 at 3:2 but only CA$12 at 6:5. When you can choose, look for a 3:2 payout.
No. Surrender is available only on some tables, and even then in specific situations. Check the table’s rules to see whether it is offered and how it works.
Turn the rules into good decisions
Now that you know how each action works, the strategy guide shows when to use them. When you are ready, the referral code BOOST20 adds a 20% Rakeback Boost on a new account.