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Lesson 1.3 Blackjack basics
Your Moves: Hit, Stand, Double, Split and Surrender
In this lesson you learn what hit, stand, double, split and surrender do to your cards and your bet. You will also know when the table lets you use each move.
Hit and stand: the two basic moves
Hit means you take one more card. You can hit again and again until you stand or your total goes over 21 – a bust, which loses your bet.
Stand means you keep your cards. Your turn ends, and the dealer plays.
Here you have hard 16 – a hand with no ace counted as 11. The dealer shows a 10.
Hit and stand never change your bet.
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | S | S | S | S | H | H | H | H | H |
The chart row for hard 16: stand against 2–6, hit against 7–A.
Double down: double bet, one card
Double down means you add a second bet equal to your first. You get exactly one more card, and your turn ends.
You can double only on your first two cards. At many online tables you can also double after a split.
You have 11 against a dealer 6. If you double, a 10 bet becomes 20, and you get one card.
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
The chart row for hard 11 at a table where the dealer hits soft 17: double against every dealer card, 2–A. "Otherwise hit" means you hit if the table does not let you double.
If the dealer stands on soft 17, the cell against an ace can change, so check the chart for that table. More on this move: double down.
Double only when you are fine with getting just one card. After a double, you cannot hit again.
Split: one pair, two hands
Split works when your first two cards are a pair – two cards of the same value. You add a second bet equal to your first, and each card starts its own hand.
Each new hand gets a second card. You play the hands one at a time with hit, stand or double.
A pair of 8s makes 16. If you split, you play two hands that each start with an 8.
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
The chart row for a pair of 8s: split against every dealer card, 2–A.
- Some tables let you split again, up to 4 hands.
- Rules for split aces depend on the table.
- More on this move: when to split.
Surrender, and when each move is allowed
Surrender means you give up your hand before you take any card. You get half your bet back, and the hand ends.
Only some tables offer it. With late surrender, you can give up only after the dealer checks for blackjack.
| Move | Your cards | Your bet | When allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hit | One more card | No change | Until you stand or bust |
| Stand | No more cards | No change | Any time on your turn |
| Double | Exactly one more card | Doubles | First two cards only |
| Split | Pair becomes two hands | Second equal bet | First two cards, same value |
| Surrender | Hand ends | Half comes back | First two cards, only where offered |
The standard strategy chart on this site has no surrender. Details: blackjack surrender.
Use the trainer below to pick a move on each hand. Check each answer against the chart row it shows.
Practice: 25 hands
Only hands from this lesson. Your first answer counts.
The lesson on one card
- Hit: take one more card. Repeat until you stand or go over 21.
- Stand: keep your cards. Your turn ends and the dealer plays.
- Double: add an equal bet, take exactly one card, and your turn ends.
- Split: a pair – two cards of the same value – becomes two hands, each with an equal bet.
- Surrender: give up the hand and get half your bet back, only where offered.
- Double, split and surrender work only on your first two cards.
Check yourself
1. You bet 10 and double down. What happens?
Your bet becomes 20 and you get exactly one more card.
Right. Doubling adds a second bet equal to the first. You then get one card, and your turn ends.
Your bet becomes 20 and you get two more cards.
Not quite. A double gives you exactly one card, not two. Two cards would mean two separate hits.
Your bet stays 10 and you can keep hitting.
Not quite. That describes hitting, not doubling. A double always raises your bet and ends your turn after one card.
2. Which move gives you half your bet back?
Stand
Not quite. Standing keeps your cards and your full bet in play. The hand is decided against the dealer's total.
Surrender
Right. Surrender ends your hand right away and returns half your bet. Only some tables offer it.
Split
Not quite. Splitting adds a second equal bet and makes two hands. Nothing comes back to you.
3. You start with a 5 and a 6 and hit. You get a 2, so you now have three cards for 13. Can you double now?
Yes, you can double at any point in your turn.
Not quite. Doubling is allowed only on your first two cards. Once you hit, that option is gone.
No, doubling is allowed only on your first two cards.
Right. Your hand now has three cards, so you can only hit or stand. The time to double was with the 5 and the 6.
Yes, but only if the dealer shows a 6.
Not quite. The dealer's up card does not change what the table allows. With three cards, you cannot double against any up card.