What does the dealer have to do in blackjack?

One of the strangest things about blackjack is that the person you are playing against - the dealer - has no free will. Every move the dealer makes is dictated by the house rules printed on the table, which is actually good news, because it means you always know what they will do.

Quick answer: The dealer follows fixed rules with no choices at all. They must keep hitting until the hand reaches at least 17, then must stand. Depending on the table, the dealer either stands on all 17s or hits a 'soft 17' (a 17 that includes an Ace counted as 11). The dealer cannot double, split, or surrender.

The fixed drawing rule

The dealer must hit any total of 16 or less and stand on any total of 17 or more. There is no skill, no bluffing, and no reacting to your hand - the dealer plays the exact same way every time. This predictability is the foundation of basic strategy.

Soft 17: hit or stand

The one variable is what happens on a soft 17, such as Ace-6. Some tables make the dealer stand (called S17), others make the dealer hit (H17). Hitting soft 17 is slightly worse for you, as covered in does the dealer hit soft 17.

What the dealer cannot do

The dealer never doubles down, never splits pairs, and never surrenders. They also do not get paid extra for a blackjack the way you do. Because the dealer is locked into one plan, you always have an information edge if you play correctly. Practice reading the dealer on Classic Blackjack.

Play against the dealer

Related questions

Does the dealer hit soft 17?

It depends on the table. Under 'stand on soft 17' (S17), the dealer stops on any 17. Under 'hit soft 17' (H17), the dealer draws again on a soft 17 like Ace-6. H17 is worse for the player, adding about 0.2% to the house edge, so S17 games are the better choice when you can find them.

What is basic strategy in blackjack?

Basic strategy is the mathematically proven best decision for every possible hand you can hold against every card the dealer can show. It was worked out with computer simulations and is usually shown as a color-coded chart. Following it perfectly reduces the house edge to about 0.5%, without any card counting required.

How do you play blackjack?

You place a bet and get two cards, then add up their values to get as close to 21 as you can without going over. Number cards count their face value, face cards count 10, and an Ace is 1 or 11. You choose to hit for more cards or stand, then the dealer plays a fixed way. The hand closest to 21, without busting, wins.