Blackjack, also known as twenty-one, is a popular casino card game played between one or more players and a dealer. The goal of the game is to beat the dealer by getting a hand closer to 21 than the dealer's hand without exceeding 21.
Gameplay:
- Betting: Players place their bets before the cards are dealt.
- Deal: Each player is dealt two cards face up, while the dealer typically receives one card face up and one card face down.
- Player Turn: Players decide whether to hit (take another card), stand (not take any more cards), double down (double their bet and receive one more card), or split (if the player has two cards of the same value, they can split them into two separate hands).
- Dealer Turn: The dealer must continue to draw cards until their hand is worth 17 or more or until they bust (go over 21).
- Payouts: If the player's hand is closer to 21 than the dealer's without busting, they win and are paid 1:1 on their bet. If the player and the dealer have the same hand value (a “push”), the bet is returned to the player. If the player busts, they lose their bet.
- Blackjack: If the player has a hand of Ace and 10-value card (like a Jack, Queen, or King), it's known as a “blackjack” and automatically wins, paying out 3:2.
Variations:
There are numerous variations of blackjack played in casinos, including:
- European Blackjack: The dealer's second card is not revealed until after all players have completed their actions.
- Single Deck Blackjack: The game is played with a single deck of cards.
- Double Exposure Blackjack: Both of the dealer's cards are dealt face up.
- Spanish 21: Played with a modified deck that removes the 10-value cards (10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings).
Basic Strategy:
To improve their chances of winning, players can follow a basic strategy chart that indicates the optimal actions to take based on the player's hand and the dealer's upcard.