Blackjack (Two-Player)
The classic casino game adapted for two players, with one player as dealer. Try to get closer to 21 than your opponent without going over.
What You'll Need
About This Game
The classic casino game adapted for two players, with one player as dealer. Try to get closer to 21 than your opponent without going over.
How to Play
- Dealer rotates each hand
- Deal two cards to each player (dealer has one face-up)
- Non-dealer acts first: hit (take card), stand, double down, or split pairs
- Bust (over 21) = automatic loss
- Dealer reveals hole card and must hit on 16 or less, stand on 17+
- Closer to 21 wins; tie goes to dealer (or push)
- Blackjack (21 with two cards) beats regular 21
- Payouts: regular win = 1:1, Blackjack = 3:2
- Use chips for betting or play for points
Where to Buy
History & Background
Blackjack evolved from European games of the 17th and 18th centuries. The earliest known ancestor is the Spanish game "Ventiuna" (Twenty-One), mentioned in a story by Miguel de Cervantes written between 1601-1602.
Similar games existed in France ("Vingt-et-Un") and Britain ("Pontoon"). French colonists brought Vingt-et-Un to North America in the 1800s.
The name "Blackjack" came from American gambling houses in the early 1900s. To attract players, casinos offered a 10-to-1 bonus payout for a hand containing the ace of spades and a black jack (either clubs or spades). Though this bonus was later discontinued, the name stuck.
In 1962, Edward O. Thorp published "Beat the Dealer," proving mathematically that card counting could give players an edge. This revolutionized the game and led casinos to change rules and introduce multiple decks. Blackjack remains the most popular casino table game worldwide.