Blackjack is one of the most popular games in casinos worldwide. The game is simple to understand – you try to beat the dealer’s hand by having a higher point total than them, without going over 21.
While blackjack can be played with multiple players at once, this guide will focus on how to play blackjack with just two people.
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The basic rules of blackjack still apply when there are only two players. The player who goes first is chosen randomly, and play then alternates between the two players.
Both players are dealt two cards face up, and the dealer is dealt one card face up and one card face down. Based on the values of the cards, each player decides whether to hit (take another card), stand (keep their current hand), double down (double their bet and take one more card) or split (if they have two cards of the same value, they can split their hand into two separate hands).
Once both players have either busted or chosen to stand, the dealer reveals their face down card. The dealer then hits or stands based on a set of predetermined rules. If the dealer’s hand beats both player’s hands, both players lose their bet.
If either player’s hand beats the dealer’s, that player wins and is paid 1:1 on their bet. If both player’s hands tie the dealer’s, it is a push and no money changes hands.
Playing blackjack with only two people speeds up the game significantly, as there are fewer decisions to be made. This also means that there is less time for strategy and counting cards, so luck plays a larger role in who wins or loses.
For these reasons, many serious blackjack players prefer to play with more than just two people.
