Rules

Casino literature often mistakenly states, “The object of the game is to get to a total of 21, or as close as possible, without exceeding 21.” But this is misleading. The true object of the game (like almost all games) is to win and you do so in blackjack by beating the dealer’s hand.

It’s true that having a hand whose value is close to, but does not exceed, a total of 21 means your chances of winning the hand are good. But often, the best strategy is to stand, despite the fact that your total is far from 21, especially when the dealer has a weak upcard. In such cases you are hoping the dealer will bust, whereby you win regardless of your total.

So, the object is to beat the dealer without going over the magic total of 21. Numbered cards are worth their face value — a six is worth six, a seven seven, and so on. Tens and face cards count as 10. Aces count as either 1 (known as a “soft” hand) or 11 (a “hard” hand).

For example, if you have 18 (say, a queen and an 8 or a 7 and ace) and the dealer has 17, you win. If the dealer has 17 and you have 13, you lose. If you’re holding a 20 and the dealer draws to 21, you lose.

In the casino version of blackjack, unlike the many home versions, ties do not go to the dealer. A tie is a tie — or a “push,” as it’s known — and no money changes hands.

If you go over 21 or “bust,” you lose immediately, even if the dealer busts later in the same hand.

If your first two cards add up to 21, known as blackjack or a “natural,” you’re paid 3-to-2 or in worse games, 6-to-5. However, if the dealer also has a natural, it’s a push. A natural beats a total of 21 achieved with more than two cards.