Blackjack is a game of strategy and chance that involves the player taking on the dealer. The goal is to get a higher total value than the dealer without going over 21. Players have a variety of playing options including surrender, splitting, doubling down, and hitting and standing. The dealer also has a number of different options depending on the cards that are dealt. The game has specific procedures, codes of conduct and playing strategies that must be adhered to in order to ensure the integrity of the game.
Before the game starts, a player must make a bet by placing chips in one of the betting spots on the table. Cash is not allowed to be used to place bets, so the player must ask the dealer for casino chips. The dealer will then convert the cash into chips and slide them towards the player. The player may place a wager in any betting spot that is open, but most prefer to keep their bets close together.
The game is played with a single deck of 52 cards. All cards count their face value except for the Ace, which can either be valued as 1 or 11. The objective is to get a total higher than the dealer’s without going over 21. If the player goes over 21, they lose their bet.
Players are paid at odds of 1 to 1 if their unbusted hand exceeds the dealer’s. If the player’s hand is equal to that of the dealer, it is a push and the player retains their original bet amount.
The dealer will deal two cards to each player. Once the players have decided on their playing options, they must compare their cards to the dealer’s. The dealer’s cards are turned over once all players have finished their decisions. The dealer will then take a stand or hit the cards based on their total value. If the dealer’s hand is 17 through 21, they will sweep the players’ bets and pay them one time their initial wager amount.
If the dealer’s hand is lower than 17, the players will receive their initial bet amount back and the player’s bet will remain on the table for the next round. If the dealer’s hand is higher than 21, the players will win their bets and the dealers’ bets will be swept.
The most common mistake made by players is to stand when they have a hand of 16 or higher. This is a big mistake because the dealer will nearly always bust with a 17. The best thing to do in this case is to hit because you will most likely win.
