Blackjack is essentially a one-on-one showdown between yourself and the dealer. The players are not trying to beat each other, only the dealer. Each player is playing a separate game. The only thing the players have in common is that their cards come from the same deck and are distributed by the same dealer.

The object of blackjack is to beat the dealer. The winner is whoever has closest to a total of 21. You reach 21 by adding up the values of the cards. Tens and face cards are worth ten points, the other cards count as their numerical values, and Aces are worth one or 11, at the discretion of the player. For example, an Eight of clubs and a Seven of hearts is 15. A King of spades and a Queen of diamonds counts as 20. An Ace of hearts and a Five of hearts can count as 16 or six.

You determine the valuation of the Ace, and can decide to change it in mid-hand. In the last example, for instance, say you draw an Eight to the Ace and Five. That would “bust” your hand if the Ace was counted as 11, so you drop it to a one. In that situation, you count it as one, and you’ve got 14.

After the dealer gives each player two cards, he’ll return to first-base and start acting on each hand individually. He will point to your cards when it is your turn. If you want another card—a “hit”—you indicate by scratching the table with your hand. The dealer will not accept a verbal command because the hand signal must be given so that the security cameras can see exactly what you want to do iith that hand.

If you want to “stand”—take no cards— you indicate by waving your hand, palm down. You use that motion when you’ve decided to stop taking additional cards, as well.

In the hand-held game, you scrape the table with the edge of your cards to indicate you want to hit. When you’re satisfied with your hand, you slide your cards under your chips in the betting circle.

If you take a hit and that card puts your total over 21, you lose automatically. The dealer removes your cards and your chips. In the hand-held game, turn your cards over immediately if you’ve exceeded 21, so the dealer can finish your hand.

At the end of the hand, if your cards total closer to 21, you win! If the dealer’s hand is closer to 21, you lose. And if you tie the dealer—called a “push”—no one wins or loses.

After the dealer acts on the hands of all the players—giving each the opportunity to hit or stand—he begins to settle the bets. If the dealer has busted, he pays all the hands that remain. If you busted during the course of the game, you’re out of luck. Only those hands that are “live” get paid.

If the dealer hasnt busted, he will pay the winners and take the losers’ chips. If you have pushed, the dealer will rap the table with his knuckles and leave the chips where they stand. You are then allowed to increase, decrease or remove the bet.

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