Blackjack is a game of cards that is played between the dealer and the player. The goal of the game is to get a higher hand total than the dealer. The game is played with a 52-card deck that has been removed of the Jokers before it is dealt. Players place their bets in the betting spots on the table and then the dealer deals each player two cards and one card to himself face up. After the players have looked at their cards, they decide whether to hit, stand, surrender or double down. Players win when their hand totals higher than the dealer’s or when their hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s. They lose when their hand is less than 21 or bust.
To play blackjack, a player must first buy chips. This is done by putting cash on the table and asking the dealer to change it for casino chips. The chips are then placed neatly in front of the player on the betting spot where they want to make their bets.
The dealer will ask the player if they want “even money” when they have blackjack and the dealer has an ace showing. This side-bet pays 2 to 1. Many players take it, thinking it is a good deal since they will always receive a payout even if the dealer has blackjack. However, the fact is that it is a bad bet in the long run because it allows the dealer to keep most of the money from the blackjack players.
When a player has a blackjack and the dealer shows an ace, they can choose to take insurance. This side-bet costs the player money and is not worth it in the long run. The dealer only has a blackjack less than one-third of the time, and they are very unlikely to have an ace in the hole when their up card is a 10.
Once the players have acted, the dealer will either stand or hit his own hand depending on what he has. If the dealer has a blackjack, all the players who did not have a blackjack push-in other words, they return their original bets and the dealer gets the dealer’s original bet. A push also occurs when the dealer and player both have a blackjack or exactly the same hand.
After the players have made their decisions, the dealer will deal the remaining cards to himself and then play the last card to his hand. If the dealer has a blackjack, everyone else wins immediately. If the dealer does not have a blackjack, the players can then compare their hands and determine who won. In some games, the dealer will look at his own cards before deciding, but most do not.