One of the most popular casino games today is blackjack. It is widely played for a variety of reasons, such as:

• The chances of winning are not stacked in favour of the house. As the game goes on, the cards in the deck(s) are depleted, and this changes the composition of the deck.
• Although blackjack simple, it is in large part a game of skill, not just luck.
• Blackjack is the only casino game that gives the players their best shot at winning.
• The minimum bets are usually quite low on certain tables, without decreasing the odds.
• Blackjack is not a complicated game, with only a few rules that are easy to understand.

Object Of The Game
The goal is to get a card point total closer to 21 than the dealer does without going over 21. Remember; you are not playing to get as close to 21 as possible, you are playing to beat the dealer. Also remember that although there may be other players at the table, blackjack is not a group game. The dealer only plays with one person at a time.

Playing The Game
The dealer begins by dealing the player to his/her left one card. He/she then deals every player at the table one card and finally one to himself (face up). He/she then repeats this order and deals everyone a second card, except the dealers second card is dealt face down.

When everyone has two cards the dealer starts again with the player to his/her left and asks if they want more cards. These cards are dealt one at a time, until the player busts or says he/she wants to stand. Once every player has finished with his/her hand the dealer must play his. The dealer has rules, printed on the table, that determine his/her play. These rule usually tell you the dealer will take a card when his/her total is 16, and stand when he/she reaches 17.

After the dealer is done with his/her hand, assuming the dealer doesn't bust, he/she will pay off bets with better hands, collect bets on worse hands, or in the case of a tie "pushes". Players then collect their winnings, if any, and can make a new bet as the entire process is repeated with a new game/hands.

In casinos playing a multi-deck game, which most do, all cards are dealt face up, and the players are not supposed to touch their cards or the original bet on the table. This can speeds up the game and reduce the chance of people cheating by changing either the card or the size of the bet.

The player goes first, and can choose from standing or hitting. If the players have certain cards, they may also double down or split. The player chooses what to do depending on what cards he/she has and what cards the dealer has showing. As a general rule if the dealer's face up card is greater than 7, the player has better odds if he/she hits on a total of 12 to 16. If the player is dealt cards totaling 17 or more, he/she should stand, as the odds of busting are too high.

Once all the players are done, the dealer plays his/her hand. The dealer has the same two choices as the player, but they are governed by a set of rules. The rules usually say that if the dealer has 16 or less he/she must take a card and if he/she has a count of 17 or more he/she has to stand.

Splitting pairs is a choice given to players when they are dealt two cards of equal value. You can choose to split them and play each card as a separate hand. When the cards are split, you create two separate hands, and play the one on your right first and then the one on your left. Usually if you split aces you are allowed to play only one card on each of the two aces, and if you do get a ten as the second card it is not considered a blackjack. These hands will beat a dealer's hand if it totals 21, but lose if the dealer gets a blackjack, and only if the player wins does it pays even money. The player indicates that he/she wants to split by placing a bet of equal value on the table next to the first bet (without touching the cards or the original bet).

Doubling down is done when you have two cards and think you can beat the dealer with one more card. You can then double your bet and receive your one card. To signal your intention to double down split by placing a bet of equal value on the table next to the first bet (touching neither the cards nor the original bet). While many casinos allow you to double down on any hand except for when the two cards total 21, some restrict you to hands totaling 9, 10 or 11.

Surrendering is only allowed in some casinos. If you think that your two cards won't beat the dealer's hand you announce "surrender." The dealer then picks up your cards and half of your bet, leaving the other half. In some gambling establishments you must announce your surrender decision before the dealer deals to the first hand.

Blackjack Betting Rules
All betting is done before the first card is dealt. The players win even money if they better the dealer, and win 3 to 2 for a blackjack ($15 paid on a $10 bet).

Insurance bets are offered if the dealer's face card is an ace. The dealer will ask if anyone wants insurance if he/she shows an ace. This is a side bet on the dealer having a card worth ten as his/her face down card. You can bet an amount up to the value of your original bet if you think the dealer has a ten. If you are right you will receive 2 to 1 on your insurance bet. This has nothing to do with your original bet. You still have to beat the dealer's hand, if he/she has the ten the best you can do is tie with a blackjack of your own.

After the dealer is finished he/she pays out to players with a better hand and collects from players with worse hands. In the case of a tie hand (a push) neither collection nor paying out takes place.

After the players have their two cards a few options are available:

Splitting pairs can be done if the player has received two cards of equal value. The player can split the pair and play each hand separately.

If you split two aces a few rules change:

1. You are often only allowed to play one card on each of the aces.
2. If the next card has a value of ten it is not considered a blackjack. The pair has a value of 21 and will beat a dealer total of 21 but not a dealer blackjack.
3. A winning hand only pays even money.

Doubling down is done when the player feels he/she can make a winning hand with the next card. The player doubles his/her bet and receives the next (last) card. Some casinos only allow you to double down when your hand totals 9, 10 or 11.

Surrendering is sometimes allowed. If allowed the player looks at his/her first two cards and if he/she decides they can't make a winning hand they declare "surrender". The dealer then stops playing with this player collect the cards and one half of the original wager and moves on to the next player. In some casinos you must surrender before the dealer deals the first hand.

All bets must be made before the first card is dealt. Winning hands pay even money, and blackjacks pay 3 to 2 ($2 bets pay $3).

Insurance bets are side bets made when the dealers face up card is an ace. You can make a side bet that the face down card has a value of ten. Insurance bets pay 2 to 1. The insurance bet doesn't change the original bet and if the insurance bet wins (the dealer has a blackjack) the best any player can do is to tie with another blackjack.

Ready to practice what you've learned? Why not try some free play Blackjack.