Casino & Table Games
Blackjack 21
Blackjack 21 is a casino card game in which each player competes against the dealer, trying to build a hand total that beats the dealer's without exceeding 21.
Key points
- A hand over 21 busts and loses automatically.13
- A starting two-card total of 21 with an ace and a ten-value card is called a blackjack or natural and is the highest hand.13
- Players receive cards and aim to make a hand total closer to 21 than the dealer’s without exceeding 21.14
Blackjack payout odds
| Payout | Example bet | Winnings |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 2 | £10 | £15 |
| 6 to 5 | £10 | £12 |
Common questions
What is blackjack 21 3?
Blackjack 21 3 is not a standard term. It may refer to a side bet or variant involving the number 3, such as 21+3, which combines blackjack with three-card poker hands.
How do you play blackjack 21?
You are dealt two cards, and the dealer gets two cards (one face up). You can hit (take another card), stand (keep your hand), double down, split, or surrender. The goal is to beat the dealer's hand without busting.
How to deal blackjack 21?
The dealer shuffles one or more 52-card decks, then deals two cards to each player and two to themselves (one face up, one face down). Play proceeds clockwise from the dealer's left.
Where this term is used
Related terms
Sources
- Blackjack en.wikipedia.org Provides the definition, target total, deck size, bust rule, and natural hand description.
- Chinese Blackjack - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Documents the 6 to 5 payout variant.
- Blackjack wizardofodds.com Confirms the natural hand composition and bust rule.
- Blackjack rules, part 2 - Wizard of Odds wizardofodds.com Supports the target total and the aim of the game.
- Blackjack - O Mágico das Probabilidades - Wizard of Odds br.wizardofodds.com Provides the 6 to 5 payout information.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.