Drunk Blackjack Game Rules: Hit, Stay, and Sip Your Way to 21!

What's the Drunk Blackjack Game Rules? 🤔

Blackjack (or 21) is a casino favorite for a reason: it's easy to understand, involves a bit of strategy, and offers that thrill of trying to beat the dealer. Drunk Blackjack takes this classic and swaps out cash bets for sip wagers, making every hit, stay, and bust a little more... flavorful. The goal remains the same: get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over!

What You'll Need 🛠️

To set up your Drunk Blackjack table:

A Standard Deck of 52 Cards (or multiple decks, casino-style, if you prefer)
Drinks & Cups for each player
Players: 2-8 players is a good range (one person will act as the dealer).

The Basics: Blackjack Objective & Card Values 🃏

Before we get to the "drunk" part, here's a quick Blackjack refresher:

The Goal: Each player tries to get a hand total higher than the dealer's hand, without going over 21 (which is a "bust"). You're playing against the dealer, not directly against other players.
Card Values:
- Cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value.
- Jacks, Queens, and Kings (face cards) are each worth 10 points.
- Aces can be worth either 1 point or 11 points, whichever is more beneficial to your hand.
Blackjack! If your first two cards are an Ace and a 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen, or King), that's a "Blackjack" (or natural 21) and usually pays out extra or wins automatically against a non-Blackjack dealer hand.

How to Play Drunk Blackjack: Hit Me (with Sips!) 🍸

Designate a Dealer: One player acts as the dealer for the round (you can rotate this role).
Place Your Bets (with Sips): Before any cards are dealt, each player (except the dealer) places their "bet" for the round. This bet is a certain number of sips (e.g., 1 sip, 3 sips, 5 sips – agree on a betting range).
The Deal:
- The dealer gives one card face-up to each player, including themselves.
- Then, the dealer gives a second card face-up to each player. The dealer's second card is dealt face-down (this is their "hole card").
Player's Turn (Hit or Stay):
- Starting with the player to the dealer's left and moving clockwise, each player decides what to do with their hand:
  - Hit: Take another card to try and get closer to 21. Players can signal this by tapping the table. A player can hit as many times as they want, but if their hand total exceeds 21, they "bust" and lose their bet immediately (and must drink the sips they bet).
  - Stay (or Stand): Keep their current hand and not take any more cards. Players can signal this with a wave of their hand over their cards.
Dealer's Turn:
- Once all players have completed their turns (either by staying or busting), the dealer reveals their face-down hole card.
- Dealer's Rules: The dealer generally must hit if their hand total is 16 or less. The dealer must stay (stand) if their hand total is 17 or more (including "soft 17s," which involve an Ace counted as 11).
- If the dealer busts, all players who haven't already busted win their bets.
Showdown & Payouts:
- If the dealer doesn't bust, their hand is compared to each player's hand who didn't bust:
  - Player Wins: If a player's hand is higher than the dealer's hand (without busting), the player wins! They get to give out the number of sips they originally bet to any other player(s) of their choice (or to the dealer).
  - Dealer Wins (Player Loses): If the dealer's hand is higher than the player's hand, or if the player busted, the player loses. They must drink the number of sips they originally bet.
  - Push (Tie): If the player and the dealer have the same hand total, it's a "push" or a tie. Usually, no sips are exchanged for that player; their bet is returned (or just nullified for the round).
- Player Blackjack: If a player gets a Blackjack (Ace + 10-value card on the first two cards) and the dealer does not, the player usually wins a bonus. For Drunk Blackjack, this could mean they give out 1.5x or 2x their bet in sips. If both player and dealer get Blackjack, it's often a push.

Ending the Round/Game 👋

After all bets are settled and sips are taken/given, the dealer collects the cards, shuffles, and a new round can begin with new bets. You can play for a set number of rounds, a certain amount of time, or just until everyone's ready to move on to the next game!

If you like casino-style card games with a drinking twist, you might also want to check out our Drunk Poker Game Rules.

The Dojo's Take 🍻

Drunk Blackjack is a great way to bring the casino vibe to your party without any real money changing hands. The core game is engaging, and adding sip bets makes every decision to hit or stay a little more exciting. Rotating the dealer role ensures everyone gets a chance to be on both sides of the table. Just remember the dealer's specific hit/stay rules to keep it fair!

Looking for more card-based fun? We've got plenty in our party game collection!

Drink Responsibly 🙏

Blackjack rounds can be quick, so sips can add up. As always, encourage responsible drinking, make sure everyone is comfortable with the betting levels, and keep hydrated.

Your Questions Answered: FAQ ❓

What if the dealer gets a Blackjack with their first two cards? If the dealer's face-up card is an Ace or a 10-value card, they'll usually check their hole card for Blackjack before players take their turns. If they have Blackjack, the round is typically over. Players who don't also have Blackjack lose their bets (drink their sips). Players who also have Blackjack push.
Can players "Double Down" or "Split" in Drunk Blackjack? You can definitely add these rules for a more authentic Blackjack experience!
- Double Down: A player could double their sip bet and receive only one more card. If they win, they give out double; if they lose, they drink double.
- Split: If a player is dealt two cards of the same value, they could split them into two separate hands, placing an identical sip bet on the new hand. Play each hand out normally. This means more sips at stake!
How many decks should we use? One deck is fine for a casual game. Casinos use multiple decks (often 6 or 8 in a "shoe") to make card counting harder, but for a fun drinking game, one is usually enough unless you have a very large group.
Does the dealer place sip bets? Typically, no. The dealer plays against the players' bets. Their "risk" is having to potentially deal with multiple winning players giving them sips if they have a bad hand or bust.
What happens if a player runs out of their drink to "bet" with? Time for a refill! Or, you could switch to "imaginary" sips just to keep score, but that's less fun. Best to ensure everyone has something they can sip.