Blackjack (XE88): the rules printed on the table, explained

Blackjack is one of the most popular table games in any casino, and the XE88 version sticks to the familiar rules. The goal is to finish closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. Go over and you bust, losing the bet no matter what the dealer does. The old guide covered Hit and Stand. The table itself tells you a good deal more.

What is printed on the felt

Three lines of text on the table set the rules:

• Blackjack pays 3 to 2. An ace plus a ten-value card as your first two cards pays 1.5 times your bet.
• Dealer must draw to 16 and stand on all 17s. The dealer has no choices. At 16 or less they take a card, and at any 17, soft or hard, they stop.
• Insurance pays 2 to 1. When the dealer shows an ace you can insure against a dealer blackjack.

The top-left box sets the limits: minimum 0.5, maximum 1000 per bet.

The buttons, one by one

1. Choose a chip (0.5, 1, 5, 10 or 50) and tap one or more betting circles, then press Deal.
2. You and the dealer receive two cards each; one dealer card stays face down.
3. On your turn you choose:
   • Hit for another card
   • Stand to keep your total
   • Double to double your bet and take exactly one more card
   • Surrender to give up the hand (in standard rules you get half your bet back)
4. The dealer then plays out their hand by the fixed rule, and each of your hands is paid or collected.

A few decisions worth learning

Card values are standard: 2 to 10 at face value, picture cards 10, aces 1 or 11. A few habits cut down on costly mistakes:

• Always stand on hard 17 or more. There are few cards that help and many that bust you.
• Against a dealer 2 to 6, the dealer busts more often, so standing on 12 to 16 is often right.
• Against a dealer 7 or higher, hitting 12 to 16 is usually the lesser evil.
• Doubling on 10 or 11 against a weaker dealer card is a classic good spot.
• Insurance is a side bet on the dealer's hidden card and usually costs you over time.

None of this beats the house edge. It only keeps it small.

Is it worth playing?

For players who like making decisions, blackjack has more to it than the other XE88 table games. Keep the stake modest and learn the basic decisions first. Once the basics feel familiar, play blackjack on XE88. 18+ only.