Blackjack , also known as "21,"
is the most popular casino table game, pitting players directly against the dealer rather than other players. The goal is to obtain a hand total closer to 21 than the dealer without exceeding 21.
Description & Objective
The Goal: Beat the dealer's hand total without going over 21. If your hand exceeds 21, you "bust" and automatically lose.
Card Values:
2–10: Face value.
Face Cards (J, Q, K): Worth 10.
Ace: Worth 1 or 11, whichever helps the hand more.
Blackjack (Natural): A two-card hand consisting of an Ace and a 10-value card (totaling 21). This beats any non-blackjack hand and is typically paid 3-to-2. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Core Rules of Play
Placing Bets: Players place their wagers in the designated betting area before cards are dealt.
The Deal: Players receive two cards face up. The dealer receives one card face up (the "upcard") and one card face down (the "hole card").
Player Options: Starting from the dealer's left, players decide how to play their hand:
Hit: Take another card to increase the total.
Stay:Keep the current total and end the turn.
Double Down: Double the initial bet in exchange for receiving exactly one more card.
Split: If the first two cards are a pair, split them into two separate hands by placing an additional bet equal to the original.
Fold: Forfeit the hand to get half the original bet back (only allowed in certain games).
Dealers Turn: After all players have finished, the dealer reveals
their face-down card.
The dealer must follow strict rules: generally hitting on a 16 or less and standing on 17 or more (or "soft 17," which is an Ace and a 6).
Winning and Losing:
If your hand is higher than the dealer's, you win.
If the dealer busts, all remaining players win.
If you tie (a "Push"), your bet is returned. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Common Rules & Dealer Behavior
Soft 17: Some tables require the dealer to "hit" on a Soft 17 (Ace + 6) while others require them to "stand".
Insurance: If the dealer's upcard is an Ace, you may bet half your original wager that the dealer has a 10-value hole card. If the dealer has a blackjack, this bet pays 2-to-1.
Split Aces: Generally, only one additional card is dealt to each split Ace.
10-value split: You usually cannot split two tens (e.g., K-Q) even though they have the same value. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Key Basic Strategy:
Always split Aces and 8s.
Never split 10s or 5s.
Hit a 12–16 if the dealer shows 7 or higher.
Stand on 17 or more.
Double down on 10 or 11 if the dealer shows a lower card.
