In the game of Blackjack the player is competing directly with the dealer in order to see who can achieve the highest hand without exceeding twenty one. A hand that exceeds the number twenty one is considered to be a bust is referred to as such. In valuing the cards in the deck each card is given a numerical value. Cards with a numeral value on them are said to be valued at their face value. These are the cards with the number 2 through 10 on their face. The face cards; Jack, Queen, and King are valued at the number 10. The Ace is valued at 11 or 1 depending on the player’s hand. The Ace is valued at the number 11 unless this would cause the player to bust which the value then changes to 1. A hand with the Ace valued at 11 is considered to be a soft hand because the player can draw another card without the possibility of a bust. The goal of each player is to exceed the value of the dealers hand without busting.

Before the cards are dealt each player is asked to place a minimum bet. The minimum amount that has to be bet is marked on the table at which the player is seated. After the players place their initial bets the dealer deals two cards to the players from the deck. The size of the deck depends on the style of Blackjack. In a “pitch” game either one or two decks are used and all of the player’s cards are dealt face down. In a “shoe” game the dealer deals from 4 or more decks and the player’s cards are dealt face up. In both games one of the dealer’s cards is dealt face down with another being dealt face up. The face down card in known as the “hole card”. After the cards are dealt if the dealer has an Ace as the face up card the players are offered insurance before the dealer checks to see if they have Blackjack. Insurance allows the players to place a side bet up to half their original bet that the dealer does have Blackjack. This bet pays 2:1 if the dealer does have insurance but is an unwise bet unless the player is counting cards. Under normal circumstance the player is always betting against the odds.

After each player is dealt two cards and the dealer does not have Blackjack it becomes the player’s turn to act.

Each player has the options of Hit-Taking another card (A player can hit as many times as they like until they bust).
Stand-Taking no more cards (ends player’s turn).
Double Down-Doubling their bet and taking exactly one more card to be place face down and to be revealed at the end of the dealers turn. (ends player’s turn) .
Split-Double the original wager and each card becomes its own hand. A player can only split is both of the original cards have the same face value.
Surrender-Forfeit half of the original bet and be removed from the hand(ends player’s turn).

The players turn ends after deciding to Stand, Double Down, Surrender, or if the player busts. If the player busts they lose the original bet even if the dealer also busts. After all players are finished their turns the dealer reveals the “hole card”. House rules will dictate what actions the dealer must take. Common rules are dealer must hit until at least 17 and at some places the dealer must hit a soft 17, a hand with an Ace valued at 11. If the dealer busts all remaining players win. If the player push, has the same number as the house, then they receive their original bet back. All wining players are normally paid 1:1.