How to play blackjack
Blackjack is a card game where your goal is to beat the dealer by getting a hand value closer to 21 without going over. You play against the house, not against other players at the table.
The basics of a hand
Each player is dealt two cards face up. The dealer gets one card face up and one face down. Card values are straightforward: numbered cards are worth their face value, face cards are worth 10, and aces count as either 1 or 11. You then decide whether to hit (take another card), stand (keep your current hand), double down, or split if you have a pair. If your total exceeds 21 you bust and lose the bet regardless of what the dealer does.
How the dealer plays
After all players have acted, the dealer reveals the hidden card. The dealer must hit until reaching 17 or higher, then must stand. If the dealer busts, all remaining players win. If neither busts, the hand closest to 21 wins. A natural blackjack (an ace plus any 10-value card dealt on the first two cards) typically pays 3:2.