Blackjack Rules
Blackjack is a comparing card game where you try to finish closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. Understanding the card values and dealer rules is the foundation of every decision.
Card Values
Number cards are worth their face value. Face cards — jacks, queens, and kings — are each worth 10.
Aces are flexible: they count as 11 unless that would cause a bust, in which case they count as 1.
Dealer Rules
The dealer follows fixed rules and does not make strategic decisions. Most tables require the dealer to hit on 16 or below and stand on 17 or above.
Some tables use a soft-17 rule, where the dealer also hits a soft 17 (an ace counted as 11 plus a six).
Winning and Losing
You win if your final total is higher than the dealer's without exceeding 21, or if the dealer busts.
A tie, where both totals match, is called a push and the original bet is returned.
A blackjack — an ace plus a 10-value card on the initial deal — typically pays 3 to 2.
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