Object of Blackjack
The object of the game is to obtain card points that total closer to 21 than what the dealers hand totals without your total going over 21. You are trying to get a hand that beats the dealer, not to get as close to 21 as you can.

Playing the Game
Often there are many players at the table, but the dealer only plays with one person at a time.

The dealer starts by dealing to the player to his/her left dealing them one card then continues dealing each player at the table one card and finally one to himself, face up. The dealer then continues this order and deals every player a second card, the dealer's second card is dealt face down.

Once everyone has two cards, the dealer starts again with the player to his/her left. The player can draw more cards one at a time, until the player busts or he/she can indicate that they want to stand. After every player has finished playing the dealer must play his hand. The dealer plays using rules, printed on the table, that determine how he/she will play. The rules usually indicate that the dealer has to draw a card when his/her hand totals 16 or less, and must stand when he/she has a hand totaling 17 or more.

After the dealer has finished playing his/her hand he/she will pay off players with better hands (if the dealer busts all remaining players win), collect bets from players with worse hands, or in the case of a tie "pushes" (neither pays out or collects).

Blackjack Betting Rules
All bets are placed before the dealing starts. Winning hands pay even money. A blackjack pays 3 to 2 ($15 paid on a $10 bet).

Insurance bets are available if the dealer's face up card is an ace. The insurance bet is a side bet on the dealer having a card worth ten as his/her face down card. Players who think the dealer has a ten can bet up to the value of their original bet. Winning insurance bets pay 2 to 1. The insurance bet has no impact on your original bet you still have to beat the dealer's hand. If the insurance bet wins then the dealer has blackjack and the best a player can do is tie with a blackjack.

Blackjack Rules
To reduce the chance of players cheating and to speed up the game Casinos use multiple decks, all cards are dealt face up, and the players are not supposed to touch their cards or the original bet on the table.

Doubling down is done when players have two cards and feel that they can beat the dealers hand with just one more card. You can then double your original bet and receive one more card. You signal your intention to double down by placing a second bet of equal value on the table beside the first bet (touching neither the cards nor the original bet). Many casinos will allow doubling down on any hand but some restrict you to hands totaling 9, 10 or 11.

Splitting pairs is an option players get when the first two cards dealt are of equal value. Players can then split them and play each card as a separate hand if they wish. Splitting the cards creates two separate hands and you play the one on your right first. If you split aces you are usually allowed to play only one additional card on each of the two aces. Further if you do get a ten as your second card the hand will total 21 but is not considered a blackjack. Split hands totaling 21 will beat a dealer's hand of 21, but lose to a dealer's blackjack, and only pay even money if the players hand wins. To indicate that he/she wishes to split a pair you place a bet of equal value on the table beside the first bet (without touching the cards or the original bet).

Surrendering is allowed in some casinos. Surrendering is done if you feel that after looking at your first two cards you will not be able to make a hand that will beat the dealer's hand. If you announce "surrender" the dealer will pick up your cards and half of your bet. In some casinos you have to announce your decision to surrender before the dealer starts to deal the first hand.