Blackjack Rules and Basic Strategy: Hit, Stand, Double and Split
Blackjack is you against the dealer: get as close to 21 as you can without going over, because going over 21 (busting) loses at once. This guide covers counting, hitting and standing, doubling, splitting and insurance, the exact table rules MacePlay uses, a basic strategy chart and two worked examples.
The basics
- Points: 2 to 10 are face value, J, Q and K are 10, and an ace is 11 or 1, switching to 1 automatically when 11 would bust you.
- Soft and hard: a hand with an ace counted as 11 is “soft” (A + 6 is soft 17); without an ace, or with the ace forced to 1, it is “hard”.
- The deal: you get two face-up cards; the dealer gets one face up and one face down.
- Blackjack: an ace plus a 10-value card (10, J, Q, K) as your first two cards. It is the best hand.
- Winning: if you have not busted, beat the dealer's total to win; equal totals push (your bet is returned); if the dealer busts, you win.
Your options
| Action | When | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Hit | Any time | Take another card. Reaching 21 or busting ends the hand. |
| Stand | Any time | Take no more cards and wait for the dealer. |
| Double | On two cards | Double your bet and take exactly one more card. Allowed on any two cards, including after a split. |
| Split | A pair | Split two cards of the same value into two hands, each with its own bet. |
| Insurance | Dealer shows A | Costs half your bet; pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has blackjack. |
MacePlay table rules
| Rule | Setting | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | 6 | Reshuffled every round. |
| Blackjack | 3 to 2 | A bet of 100 earns 150 extra. |
| Dealer soft 17 | Stands | The dealer hits 16 or less and stands on all 17s, soft 17 included. |
| Dealer peek | Yes | With an ace or 10-value card showing, the dealer checks for blackjack first; if it is there, the round ends and you lose only your original bet. |
| Splits | Once | Any two cards of the same value (a 10 and a K too); no re-splitting. |
| Split aces | 1 card each | Each ace gets one card only; A + 10 after a split is 21, not blackjack. |
| Surrender | No | You cannot give up half your bet. |
| Five-card Charlie | No | Five cards without busting is not special; totals decide. |
If you have blackjack and the dealer shows an ace, you are not offered insurance; the dealer simply checks: dealer blackjack is a push, otherwise you are paid 3 to 2.
Basic strategy chart
Basic strategy is the mathematically best way to play every hand over the long run under the rules above (6 decks, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split, no surrender). Look at your hand, then the dealer's up card:
Hard totals (no ace, or the ace counts as 1)
| Your total | Play | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 17–21 | Stand | Against anything. |
| 13–16 | Depends | Stand against 2–6; hit against 7–A. |
| 12 | Depends | Stand against 4–6; otherwise hit. |
| 11 | Double | Double against 2–10; hit against A. |
| 10 | Double | Double against 2–9; hit against 10 or A. |
| 9 | Depends | Double against 3–6; otherwise hit. |
| 5–8 | Hit | Against anything. |
Soft totals (an ace counting as 11)
| Your hand | Play | Details |
|---|---|---|
| A+8, A+9 | Stand | Against anything. |
| A+7 | Depends | Double against 3–6; stand against 2, 7, 8; hit against 9, 10, A. |
| A+6 | Depends | Double against 3–6; otherwise hit. |
| A+4, A+5 | Depends | Double against 4–6; otherwise hit. |
| A+2, A+3 | Depends | Double against 5–6; otherwise hit. |
Pairs (split or not)
| Your pair | Play | Details |
|---|---|---|
| A+A, 8+8 | Split | Always. |
| 10-value pair | Stand | 20 is strong; never split. |
| 9+9 | Depends | Split against 2–6, 8, 9; stand against 7, 10, A. |
| 7+7 | Depends | Split against 2–7; otherwise hit. |
| 6+6 | Depends | Split against 2–6; otherwise hit. |
| 5+5 | No split | Play it as a hard 10. |
| 4+4 | Depends | Split against 5–6; otherwise hit. |
| 2+2, 3+3 | Depends | Split against 2–7; otherwise hit. |
Basic strategy never takes insurance. MacePlay allows only one split, so if a split hand becomes another pair, play it from the hard totals chart.
Two worked examples
Example 1: hit a soft 17?
You have A♠ 6♥ (soft 17) and the dealer shows K♦.
- The dealer shows a 10-value card and peeks: no blackjack, so play continues.
- The chart says A+6 against a 10: hit. You draw 4♦: 11 + 6 + 4 = 21, and the hand stands automatically.
- The dealer turns over 7♣: K + 7 = 17, and stands.
21 beats 17: you win the hand, and a 100 bet returns 200.
Example 2: split eights, double after split
You have 8♠ 8♥ and the dealer shows 6♦.
- The chart says always split 8s. You now have two hands, with a second bet.
- Hand one: 8♠ draws 3♦ = 11. Against a 6 you double and draw 10♣ = 21.
- Hand two: 8♥ draws 9♠ = 17, and you stand.
- The dealer turns over A♣: 6 + A is soft 17, and the dealer stands on soft 17 with 17.
Hand one's 21 wins (200 bet after doubling, 400 returned); hand two's 17 against 17 is a push and its 100 is returned. Three units bet, 300 in total, 500 returned.
Common questions
Why can't the dealer choose to hit or stand?
The dealer follows a fixed rule: hit on 16 or less, stand on 17 or more. There is no choice.
Can I split a 10 and a K?
In MacePlay, yes (equal values can be split), but 20 is already a strong hand and basic strategy says not to.
Does counting cards help?
MacePlay reshuffles all six decks every round, so earlier rounds never affect the next one.
Play blackjack in MacePlay
In MacePlay's Blackjack the dealer deals from her hand and asks whether you want to hit or stand, with quick, clean card turns. In the live room everyone at the table gets the same starting hand and decides on their own during the countdown. For a change, try the variants Bolt 21, Mirror Swap 21 and Matador 21.
MacePlay is for adults 18+ and for entertainment only. Virtual coins have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for cash or goods.
Ready? Open a table in MacePlay
Blackjack with a friendly dealer, a live room, and the variants Bolt 21, Mirror Swap 21 and Matador 21.
