Blackjack is a card game where you play against the dealer and try to get a hand closer to 21 without going over. This page explains the common versions, the basic rules, and how the computer (RNG) game differs from a live dealer table, so you know what to look for at King Casino.
Common blackjack variants
Blackjack comes in many versions, and they differ mainly in their rules. Some change whether the dealer stands or hits on a soft 17, whether you can double after a split, or what a natural pays. Other common formats include multi-hand tables, where you play several boxes at once, and side bets that are placed alongside the main hand. Side bets usually carry a higher edge for the house than the main game.
Check which blackjack variants King Casino offers before you play, and look at the table limits before you join. Each variant has its own paytable and rules, so read them before you place a stake.
How a hand works
The aim is to have a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer's without going over. Number cards count at face value, picture cards count as 10, and an ace counts as 1 or 11, whichever helps the hand more. An ace and a ten-value card as your first two cards is a natural blackjack.
On your turn you can stand, which keeps your hand as it is, or hit, which takes another card. You can double, which doubles your stake and gives you exactly one more card, or split a pair into two separate hands. Some versions also offer insurance when the dealer shows an ace. Going over 21 is a bust, and that hand loses at once.
Once you have acted, the dealer plays by the table's fixed rules, usually drawing until reaching 17 or more. If the dealer busts, the hands still in play win. A tie is a push, and your stake is returned. The payout for a natural and the minimum and maximum stake are set by each table, so check them before you play.
18+ · T&Cs apply
RNG blackjack and live dealer tables
In an RNG version, the cards are dealt by a random number generator, the game runs on screen, and each round is usually finished quickly with no person involved. In a live dealer version, a real dealer deals physical cards in a studio that is streamed to you, and you act through the game interface at your own pace. The basic rules of the hand are the same in principle; the differences are mainly pace, presentation and the feel of a table with a real person dealing.
For live dealer games, see the live casino guide, which covers how live tables and game shows differ.
Practical tips before you play
Read the rules of the exact version you are playing, including the payout for a natural, whether the dealer hits a soft 17, and whether you can double after a split. Check the table limits first, and choose a stake you can comfortably afford to lose. Set a budget and a time limit before you start, and stick to them.
Betting systems such as Martingale, where you double the stake after each loss, do not change the odds of any round. A losing run can be longer than your budget, and the table limit may stop the system before it recovers. If play stops being enjoyable, the safer gambling page explains the tools available.
