Blackjack is a game that is played between the player and dealer. The player’s objective is to get a hand total that is closer to 21 than the dealer’s without going over. The game begins when the dealer gives each player two cards. The player then has the option to Hit (which means they want another card) or Stand (which means they don’t want any more cards).

Once the players have decided what they are going to do with their hand, the dealer will deal them one additional card. Then the player must decide whether to Split (create two separate hands) or Double Down (increase their initial bet amount and receive only one additional card). If the player’s hand is a blackjack, they win and are paid immediately based on the posted table rules.

There are many variations of blackjack, but all have the same basic rules. In general, all face cards are worth ten points and the jacks, queens, and kings are worth ten plus the value of the card. The aces are worth 1 point, unless the player is counting them as 11 in which case they are counted as one. The game is played with anywhere from one to eight 52-card decks.

A Blackjack dealer must know rules for all sorts of contingencies, understand how to pay out all bets quickly and accurately, and be on the lookout for players who are trying to cheat or otherwise take advantage of the casino or other players. The dealer must also be able to shuffle the decks quickly and efficiently, as well as keeping the table clean. They must also be able to read tells from players and avoid giving away their own tells.

In the last 20 years or so, Blackjack has seen many changes and new types of side bets. These include insurance, which is offered by most casinos and pays out 2 to 1 on a winning hand, side bets on the strength of the dealer’s up-card, etc. These bets are placed at the same time as a player’s main wager and may change the strategy of the game.

The dealer will then check their hole card (usually by using a special viewing window in the table) to see if they have a ten underneath. If they do, the player who purchased insurance will win their original bets back and the game will continue as it would normally. If they don’t have a ten, then the player will collect their insurance chips and the dealer will pay out their original bets as normal. The dealer will then draw a card for their hand and whoever has a total closer to 21 wins. If both the player and dealer have a same total then it is a tie and all bets are collected. This is a very popular casino game and you can find it at almost all major casinos and some smaller ones as well.