How to play Blackjack

Blackjack in a nutshell

Blackjack is a relatively simple card game played between one or more players and a dealer. Players and the dealer are dealt two cards each, and each player may choose to receive additional cards. The goal of each player is to beat the dealer by having a higher scoring hand without exceeding 21; a hand with a higher total than 21 is said to bust.

Blackjack hands are scored by their point total. Cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value, while face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10. An Ace is worth 11 unless this would cause the player to bust, in which case it is worth 1. A hand in which an Ace is counted as 11 is called a soft hand, because it cannot be busted if the player draws another card. A two-card hand of 21 (i.e. an Ace plus a ten-value card) is called a Blackjack or a Natural, and is an automatic winner.

If the player busts he loses, even if the dealer also busts. If both the player’s and dealer’s hands have the same point value, neither the player nor the dealer wins the hand. This is referred to as a push.

In Blackjack, players play only against the dealer, and not each other. Each player has an independent game with the dealer, so it’s possible for the dealer to lose to one player, but still beat other players in the same round. Until the dealer's turn, only one of the dealer’s cards visible to the players. This is called the hole card.

Gameplay goes as follows:

1. The players and the dealer are dealt two cards each.
2. If the dealer has Blackjack and the player does not, the player automatically loses.
3. If the player has Blackjack and the dealer does not, the player automatically wins.
4. If both the player and the dealer have Blackjack, it's a push.
5. If neither the player or the dealer has Blackjack, then each player plays out his hand, one at a time.
6. After all of the players have finished, the dealer plays his hand.

To play a hand, the player has the following options:

• Hit: Take another card. The player may continue to hit until the hand is busted.
• Stand: Take no more cards.
• Double down: Double the bet and take only one more card.
• Split a pair: When both cards have the same value, the player may split the hand into two hands, each to be played separately. This requires placing an additional bet equal to the original bet on the new hand.

The players turn is over after deciding to stand, doubling down to take a single card, or busting. If the player busts, he or she loses the bet even if the dealer goes on to bust.

After all the players have finished playing their hands, the dealer reveals the hole card and plays his or her hand. The dealer's play is dictated by a strict set of rules; the dealer has no discretion in the decision-making process. In most casinos, the house rules say that the dealer must hit until he or she has at least 17 and then stand, regardless of what the players have. In most casinos a dealer must also hit a soft 17 (e.g. an Ace and a 6). After the dealer has completed playing his or her hand, the point total is compared against the hands of the players who have not busted to determine which players have won, and which players have lost.