Special Rules in Blackjack

When you play blackjack there are a few irregularities every player should be aware of. These irregularities are not always obvious because they are not listed on the table. In most cases you will have to ask the dealer about the following rules. Learn all the right questions to ask the dealer so you can play smarter blackjack.

Surrender rule

The first 'special' rule is the surrender rule. If you find yourself in a bad situation after you receive your first two cards, you can surrender your hand for half the amount that you bet. For example, a player 16 vs a dealer 10 is a good time to surrender. The probability of the house winning on a dealer 10 vs your 16 is very high. Not all casinos offer this move, so it's important to ask if it’s available in case you need it.

Double down rule

Doubling down means you double the amount of your original bet for one more card. You cannot get a second card after the first. You double, you get one — that's it. If you have a hand that is likely to beat the dealer, then it's a good way to increase your payouts, but that also means not all casinos offer this move at their blackjack tables.

Split rule

When you double your bet to split you create two new hands from your initial hand. Since it is a new hand you can take as many cards as you want on the new hand. The double down rules apply to each new hand if you decide to double down or split again. Casinos apply the most rules to this move. Some refuse to let players split at all, others only allow you to split certain hands. Some will even cap the number of times you can split your hands.

Aces rule

Similarly, casinos can be equally prickly about the Aces rule. When you are dealt two Aces, it's advantageous to double your bet and split the Aces. However when you split Aces you usually only receive one card for each. Some casinos allow you to hit after the Aces are split. This rule is particularly advantageous to players so check with the dealer and see if the casino offers it.

Payouts rule

Another special rule is that blackjack 3:2 payouts is only applied to your first two cards. For instance, let's say you're dealt two 10s. You split them and get dealt two Aces, giving you 21. It’s not called blackjack, just a value of 21. You will most likely win your hand but you will do it with a 1:1 payout and not 3:2. This rule will give your winnings a heavy hit so make sure you're aware of this rule before playing.

The splitting of Aces and blackjack payout rule is true for all casinos, online or live.

Look for blackjack tables that have the most liberal rules for players — ones that let you surrender and double down, have unlimited splits, let you split Aces and receive 3:2 payouts on all split hands. Most casinos will have a mixture of these rules, but there will be some that reject all rules that are advantageous to players. They're looking to land whales and players that don't know how to play the game, so avoid these casinos altogether.