Object of the Game
The object of the game is to obtain a card hand that totals closer to 21 (without going over 21) than the total of the card hand that the dealer obtains. Keep in mind that you are only trying to get a hand that beats the dealer, not to get as close to 21 as you can.
Playing the Game
Blackjack is not a group game. Although there may be several players at the table the dealer only plays with one person at a time.
The game starts with the dealer dealing one card to every player at the table starting with the player to his/her left and finally one to himself, face up. The dealer then deals a second card to all the players in the same manner but hides his/her second card by dealing it face down.
Now that all the players have two cards, the dealer plays with each player in turn starting again with the player to his/her left. The players have two options available to them; 1) they can draw cards one at a time until the player busts or 2) he/she can decide the hand is as good as they are likely to make and stand. After all the players have had their turns the dealer plays his hand. Dealer play must follow rules, printed on the table, that determine the play. The usual rules are; the dealer draws a card when his/her hand totals 16 or less, and stands when his/her hand totals 17 or more.
With the dealer having finished playing all bets are settled. Players with better hands than the dealer are paid (if the dealer busts all remaining players, those who didn't bust during their turn, win), players with worse hands lose their bets, or in the case of a tie neither pays out or collects ("pushes").
Betting Rules
Bets must be placed before the dealing starts. Winning hands pay even money. A blackjack pays 3 to 2 (a $10 bet pays $15).
If the dealer's face up card is an ace an Insurance bet is made available. The insurance bet is a side bet and has no impact on your original bet. You are betting that the dealer has a face down card worth ten. Your bet can be up to the value of your original bet. A winning insurance bets pay 2 to 1. For the insurance bet to win the dealer has to have a blackjack and the very best a player can do is tie with a blackjack of his/her own.
Blackjack Rules
Casinos use multiple decks, all cards are dealt face up, and the players are not supposed to touch their cards or the original bet on the table. These rules are for the casino to reduce the chance of players cheating and to speed up the game.
Splitting pairs is an option available to players when the first two cards dealt to them are of equal value. The player can split the pair and play each card as a separate hand if they wish (you play the one on your right first). Splitting aces brings in some additional rules; 1) you are usually allowed to play only one additional card on each of the two aces. 2) If you do get a ten as your second card the hand will not be considered a blackjack but will total 21. 3) Split hands totaling 21 will beat a dealer's hand totaling 21, but lose if the dealer deals a blackjack. 4) If the players hand wins it only pays even money. The player indicates that he/she wishes to split a pair by placing a second bet of equal value on the table beside the first bet (being careful not to touch either the cards or the original bet).
Doubling down is done when a player has two cards and feels that with one more card they can beat the dealers hand. By doubling down you double your original bet and receive one more card. The player indicates his/her intention to double down by placing a second bet of equal value on the table beside the first bet (being careful not to touch either the cards or the original bet). Most casinos will allow the player to double down with any hand but some restrict doubling down to hands that total 9, 10 or 11.
Surrendering is another option allowed in some casinos. You surrender if you feel that upon looking at your first two cards you can't make a hand that can beat the dealer's hand. By announcing "surrender" your turn ends, the dealer picks up your cards and half of your bet and play moves on to the next player. Some casinos insist that you announce your decision to surrender before the dealer starts dealing the first hand.
