The object of the game of Blackjack is to get a card point total closer to 21 than the dealer does, without going over 21. Two things are worth pointing out:

• Blackjack is not a group game; each player at the table is playing one to one against the dealer.
• You only have to better the dealers hand, don’t bust trying to get as close to 21 as possible. If you feel that your hand will not be bettered by the dealer stand (stop).

Playing the Game

The dealer always plays from his/her left and sequentially moves to the right. First, each player and finally the dealer is dealt a single card. In a similar manner a second card is dealt, however the dealers card is hidden from view by being dealt face down.

When every player has two cards, the dealer starts to play individual games with each player starting with the player on the dealer’s left. The player has two options:

1. Take cards one at a time until he/she busts (Hit), or
2. Stand with the cards he/she already has.

After every player has finished with his/her hand, the dealer plays his/her hand. The dealer plays according to a set of rules that are on prominent display. These rules must be followed. The rules usually state that the dealer must take a card if his/her hand totals 16 or less and must stand if the hand totals 17 or more.

After the dealer is finished he/she pays out to players with a better hand and collects from players with worse hands. In the case of a tie hand (a push) neither collection nor paying out takes place.

The Rules

Casinos play a multi-deck game (using 6 to 8 decks of cards) all the cards are dealt face up and players are not permitted to touch the cards or the original bets on the table.

After the players have their two cards a few options are available:

Splitting pairs can be done if the player has received two cards of equal value. The player can split the pair and play each hand separately. If you split two aces a few rules change:

• You are often only allowed to play one card on each of the aces.
• If the next card has a value of ten it is not considered a blackjack. The pair has a value of 21 and will beat a dealer total of 21 but not a dealer blackjack.
• A winning hand only pays even money.
• Doubling down is done when the player feels he/she can make a winning hand with the next card. The player doubles his/her bet and receives the next (last) card. Some casinos only allow you to double down when your hand totals 9, 10 or 11.
• Surrendering is sometimes allowed. If allowed the player looks at his/her first two cards and if he/she decides they can’t make a winning hand they declare “surrender”. The dealer then stops playing with this player collect the cards and one half of the original wager and moves on to the next player. In some casinos you must surrender before the dealer deals the first hand.

Betting

All bets must be made before the first card is dealt. Winning hands pay even money, and blackjacks pay 3 to 2 ($2 bets pay $3).

Insurance bets are side bets made when the dealers face up card is an ace. You can make a side bet that the face down card has a value of ten. Insurance bets pay 2 to 1. The insurance bet doesn’t change the original bet and if the insurance bet wins (the dealer has a blackjack) the best any player can do is to tie with another blackjack.