Blackjack is a card game where players play against the dealer. The goal is to get a hand of cards with a value of 21 or as close to that number as possible without going over. Players win when their hand is higher than the dealer’s or when the dealer busts (exceeds 21). The rules of blackjack are slightly different than other card games. Players do not play against each other and must only beat the dealer to win.
The game begins with players placing their bets. The dealer then deals two cards to each player and one card to himself (1 card face up, the other face down). Players may then choose to stand, hit, surrender or double down. The dealer acts last and must hit on hands of 16 or less and stand on 17 through 21.
Jacks, Queens and Kings have a value of 10. Aces can be valued at 1 or 11, depending on the situation. If a player gets an ace and a ten-count card, this is called a blackjack and the player is paid 3:2 on their bet. Some casinos have started paying only 6:5 on blackjacks. This change has been decried by longtime blackjack players.
A player can reduce the house edge in blackjack by betting more after losing several hands in a row. This strategy is known as “card counting.” It is based on simple addition and helps the player determine which cards are more likely to be dealt next. It can also help players to make decisions that will maximize their chances of winning.
The minimum and maximum bet per hand is posted on a placard or digital display at the blackjack table. These bet limits vary from casino to casino and table to table. The bet limit is usually listed in dollars, although some tables will have a currency conversion chart.
Before a player takes another card, they should consider the value of the dealer’s upcard. This will help them decide if they should hit or stand, knowing that the dealer must draw on soft 17 hands until they reach a point total of at least 17. The more observant players will note that there are more jacks than any other card in a standard 52-card deck. This fact, combined with the fact that it’s harder to bust a hand of 20 than a hand of 21, makes jacks very good cards to have in a blackjack hand.