You play Blackjack with an ordinary deck of cards. Points are calculated by the face value of the card unless it is a face card. Face cards count ten points each. Aces can either be counted as a one or eleven. You win automatically if you draw an ace and any other card that has a value of ten points. This combination is called a Blackjack. You are paid at three to two odds if you hit a blackjack. The bet is considered a push if both the dealer and the player have a blackjack. If you win with a hand other than a blackjack you receive even money for your bet.
To win you must have more points in your hand than the dealer without going over twenty-one. Blackjack is sometimes referred to as “Twenty-One” because of this fact. It is called a bust or break when you or the dealer go over twenty-one points. They player that goes over twenty-one automatically loses.
The house advantage is in the feature of the game that bets are pushed when there is a tie.
To play you place your bet on the table in front of you. All players, including the dealer will receive two cards. The dealer places your cards face up. He places one of his cards is face up and the other face down. If the dealer receives an Ace or Ten card he will immediately check for a blackjack. But first he gives the players the opportunity to place an “insurance” bet. If the dealer doe not have a blackjack they the players are allowed to play their hands.
Options in play include standing pat. If you choose this option you place your cards under your bet face down. You can be hit, or receive additional cards until you stand or bust. If you wish to be hit you indicate by tapping the table with your finger or scrape your cards on the felt of the table. You can double when you believe you only need one more card. You can split if you are dealt cards of equal value but you must place an additional bet that is equal to or higher than your original bet. You are allowed to split up to two or three times. Depending upon the game you may not be able to double after you split. If you are unhappy with the cards dealt you can surrender and forfeit half your bet.