Blackjack is a card game played by one or more players against a dealer. The goal of the game is to get a better hand (closer to 21 without going over) than the dealer, while also avoiding busting. A player’s hand is considered a “bust” if it goes over 21, or if the dealer has an Ace up, and in that case, the dealer wins the hand.
The game is played using 1 to 8 standard 52-card decks. Jokers are removed and the cards shuffled before each round begins. The dealer distributes two cards to each player, with the exception of a single-card face up for the dealer, called the aces up card. After each player has placed their wager, the dealer shuffles again and deals each player two more cards. The player may choose to stay with their initial two cards, or draw more cards if they wish. The dealer then acts according to the rules of the particular game.
Each card is given a value by the players, and in most games, aces count as one point, the numbers 2 through 10 are worth their pip values, and jacks, queens and kings are worth ten points each. A hand totaling 21 on the first two cards dealt is a blackjack, which pays out at odds of 3 to 2, depending on the rules of the game.
Players must bet on whether they will beat the dealer’s hand or not, but if their own total is 21 or closer to it than the dealer’s, they win the wager. If they lose, their bet is taken by the dealer. In the event of a tie, the players’ bets push and they do not receive any payout.
In some casinos, players can increase their starting bets if they feel the shoe has more aces and tens than normal, so they are less likely to go bust (lose). The dealer then collects all the bets, shuffles and starts another round.
The player can also place an insurance bet. This is an additional bet equal to half of their original bet. If the dealer has a blackjack, the insurance bet will pay out at odds of 2 to 1. Otherwise, the bet loses and the game continues as usual.
The dealer must stand on a total of 17 or higher, so it is a good idea to stay if your hand has a total of 17, 18 or 19. If the dealer has an ace up, however, it’s often safer to hit, as the chances of getting an Ace are much higher at this point. This is because the aces are easier to find when the dealer has more cards on hand.