How to Play Blackjack
The goal of blackjack is simple: get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. SoloBlackjack lets you play blackjack online instantly with play money, no signup, and no distractions.
Card Values
- Cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value.
- Jack, Queen, and King are each worth 10.
- An Ace is worth 1 or 11, whichever value works better for the hand.
A hand's total is the value of all its cards. If using an Ace as 11 would take the hand over 21, the Ace automatically counts as 1 instead.
How a Hand Works
- Choose a chip and place your bet.
- You receive two cards face up.
- The dealer receives two cards, with one card face down.
- You choose how to play your hand using the available actions.
- When your turn ends, the dealer reveals the hidden card and completes the dealer hand.
- Your total is compared with the dealer's total and the wager is settled.
Your Options
Hit
Take another card. You can keep hitting until you choose to stand, reach 21, or go over 21.
Stand
Keep your current hand and end your turn. The dealer then plays, unless you have another split hand to complete.
Double Down
Double the original wager, receive exactly one additional card, and then stand automatically. Double Down is available on the first two cards when your remaining balance can cover the extra wager.
Split
When your first two cards have the same rank, you can separate them into two hands and place an equal wager on the second hand. Each hand then receives another card and is played separately. Split Aces receive one additional card each and then stand automatically in SoloBlackjack.
Blackjack
A natural blackjack is an Ace plus a ten-value card—10, Jack, Queen, or King—as your initial two cards. It is stronger than an ordinary 21 made with three or more cards. SoloBlackjack pays a natural blackjack 3:2, so a $10 wager wins $15 in profit and returns the original wager as part of the payout.
Dealer Rules
The dealer does not make choices. The dealer must hit with a total below 17 and stand on every 17 or higher. This includes soft 17, such as Ace + 6: the dealer stands.
Winning and Losing
- The higher hand at 21 or below wins.
- Going over 21 is a bust and loses immediately.
- If the dealer busts, every player hand that has not busted wins.
- Equal totals are a push, so the wager is returned.
- A normal winning hand pays 1:1.
- A natural blackjack pays 3:2.
Quick Example
You have 10 + 6 for a total of 16. The dealer is showing a 10.
You can Hit and take another card, knowing that a 6 or higher will make you bust. Or you can Stand at 16 and hope the dealer's completed hand goes over 21. That is the basic decision at the center of blackjack: improve your hand without crossing 21.