Blackjack is the card game in which players compete against a dealer to win money. The goal is to get a higher hand total than the dealer without going over 21. The dealer’s hand is a total of his up card and the hole card. The player can hit (ask for an additional card) until she either busts or reaches 21 in which case she wins the hand. A blackjack, or “natural” 21, requires an ace and one of the cards numbered 2 through 10, with aces counting as 1 or 11.
Before the game begins, the dealer flashes the table’s sign and wishes the players good luck. She then shuffles the decks of cards and cuts them. Some games use a single deck while others utilize multiple. The dealer then deals two cards to each player. She will also place a card face up on the table to be the dealer’s up card. If she has a Blackjack, she wins the hand and the players who placed insurance bets will receive their original wager back.
The dealer will then check her hole card using a viewing window in the table. If the card is a 10 then she has a Blackjack and everyone who placed an insurance bet will lose their original bet. If she doesn’t have a Blackjack then the round continues as normal and anyone who has a hand closer to 21 than the dealer will win.
If the dealer’s up card is a 2, 3, or 4, then players should split pairs of these cards. Otherwise, a player should stick to playing one hand. A player can also split aces, but they should never split 10’s, 5’s or 4’s as doing so will make their hands weaker.
A player may also choose to take a side bet of up to $5 called a Bonus Spin. When they have a blackjack, they will press a button that spins a virtual wheel and allows them to win various payouts or even the top jackpot award!
The odds of winning blackjack can fluctuate wildly and are dependent on the game variant, player and dealer rules applied, and your own strategy. Regardless of the game you are playing, though, it is essential that you understand the rules and follow a steadfast strategy. Otherwise, your chances of beating the dealer will dwindle rapidly.