In Blackjack, you make decisions about how to play your hand—but the dealer doesn't. They follow a fixed set of rules that determine every action they take, which stay the same each round when you play the casino classic. These rules never change and apply to each game round. Understanding when the dealer must hit or stand is important for knowing how the game works and how outcomes are decided.
Dealer behaviour is dictated by the game's rules, which you'll usually find printed on the table layout or in the game info panel for online versions. These rules apply no matter how many players are at the table or what cards are in play. The dealer doesn't make choices like you do—their hand plays out according to strict conditions that stay the same every time.
When the dealer must hit or stand
The key rule relates to the dealer's hand total. In most Blackjack formats, the dealer must:
This means the dealer keeps drawing cards until they reach 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21—or go over 21 and bust.
There's one variation that changes how soft hands are treated. A soft 17 is a hand that totals 17 and includes an ace counted as 11 (like Ace + six). In some versions of Blackjack, the dealer must hit on soft 17. In others, they stand on all 17s, including soft totals.
This difference matters because it slightly increases the house edge when the dealer hits on soft 17. It also affects how the rest of the round plays out—the dealer's more likely to improve their hand, but also more likely to bust.
How the dealer's cards are dealt
At the start of a Blackjack round, the dealer gets two cards. In most games:
You can see the upcard, and it's often used as a reference when deciding how to play your hand. The hole card stays hidden until all players have finished their actions. In some variants—European Blackjack, for instance—the dealer doesn't get the hole card until players have completed their turns. This is called the no hole card rule.
If the dealer's upcard is an ace, you might be offered insurance. This is a separate bet that pays out if the dealer has Blackjack, which only happens if their face-down card is a ten-value card, making a two-card total of 21.
Dealer outcomes and game resolution
Once all players have acted, the dealer reveals their hole card. They then draw cards until they reach at least 17 (or soft 17, depending on house rules). Once the dealer stands or busts, your hand is compared to theirs to determine the outcome.
The dealer can't split, double, or surrender—actions you can take depending on your hand and the table rules. Their role is purely mechanical, following a set pattern that doesn't change. Understanding this gives you a clearer picture of what to expect each round and how your decisions interact with the dealer's fixed approach.
