Blackjack is a classic casino game with simple rules and strategic gameplay. The objective is to beat the dealer by having a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer's hand without going over 21.
Card Values
Number Cards (2–10) — Face value
Face Cards (J, Q, K) — 10 points
Aces — 1 or 11 points (whichever is more favorable for the player)
Gameplay Overview
Initial Deal
Each player and the dealer receive two cards.
Players' cards are face up; the dealer has one card face up (the "upcard") and one card face down (the "hole card").
Player Options
Hit — Take another card.
Stand — Keep the current hand.
Double Down — Double the initial bet, receive one more card, and automatically stand.
Split — If the first two cards have the same value, split them into two separate hands with separate bets.
Surrender — In some versions, you can forfeit half your bet and end the round immediately (early or late surrender, depending on the rules).
Dealer's Turn
The dealer reveals their hole card after all players finish.
The dealer must hit until reaching at least 17 points.
In some game variations, the dealer hits on a soft 17 (a hand including an Ace counted as 11); in others, the dealer stands.
Game Outcomes
Bust — If a hand exceeds 21, the player or dealer busts, and the hand loses automatically.
Win — The closest hand to 21 without busting wins.
Push (Tie) — If both the player and dealer have the same hand value, the bet is returned.
Blackjack
A hand with an Ace and a 10-point card (10, J, Q, K) is called a Blackjack.
Blackjack pays 1.5 times the original bet, unless the dealer also has Blackjack (in which case it's a tie).
Additional Betting Options
Insurance
When the dealer's upcard is an Ace, players can place an insurance bet (up to half the original bet).
This side bet pays 2:1 if the dealer has Blackjack.
Side Bets
Some game variations offer side bets like "Perfect Pairs" or "21+3", based on the player's first two cards and the dealer's upcard.
