Blackjack is a popular casino-gambling card game that is played with decks of 52 cards
. The objective of the game is to reach a score of 21 without exceeding it, and players can win if their total is higher than the dealer's cards without busting (exceeding 21)
. The game has its roots in France, where it is called Vingt-et-Un (French for 21)
. In the casino version, the house is the dealer, and the dealer remains standing while the players are seated
. The rules of blackjack are as follows:
- Each player places their bets, and the dealer deals one card face up to each player in rotation clockwise, followed by one card face up to themselves
- If a player's first two cards are an ace and a "ten-card" (a picture card or 10), giving a count of 21 in two cards, this is a natural or "blackjack"
- If any player has a natural and the dealer does not, the dealer immediately pays that player one and a half times the amount of their bet
- Players can choose to "hit" (receive another card), "stand" (keep their current cards), "split" (separate their cards into two hands), or "double down" (double their bet and receive one more card)
- The dealer must follow specific rules, such as hitting on a soft 17 (a hand with an ace that can be counted as either 1 or 11) and standing on a hard 17 (a hand without an ace)
Blackjack is the most widely played casino banking game in the world, and it is known for its simplicity, thrilling play, and the opportunity for high strategy
. While the odds are generally in the casino's favor, expert players who mathematically play a perfect game and can count cards may have an advantage
