Blackjack

The rules: Blackjack

Each player plays against the dealer, not against the others. Cards 2 to 10 count their face value, face cards count 10, an ace counts 1 or 11 as the player prefers. After betting, everyone receives two cards face up; the dealer gets one face up. The player may draw as many cards as they like, or stand. Going over 21 loses the bet, whatever the dealer does next. The dealer draws to 16 and stands on 17. A blackjack is an ace and a ten-value card in two cards: it beats a 21 made of three cards or more and is usually paid 3 to 2. An ordinary winning hand is paid even money; a tie returns the bet. Two common options: doubling down, which doubles the bet for exactly one more card; and splitting a pair into two hands, with a second bet. When the dealer shows an ace, insurance against a dealer blackjack is offered for half the bet. The number of decks in the shoe and the house rules are posted at the table.