Blackjack is both an easy to play casual card game and a common card game played for sport (or money) in casinos.  Blackjack can be played with a large number of players (especially when played in casinos), but there need only be two people (the dealer and the player) to start a game of Blackjack.  Depending on the number of players in the game, Blackjack is played with one, two, four, six or eight decks of cards.

The objective of Blackjack is to beat the dealer.  The dealer in this game is not actually playing the game, he or she acts almost like a referee does in a sports game, directing the activity of the game.  The dealer is in charge; giving out the cards and having the hand that other players have to beat in order to win.  Blackjack really is a very simple game to play, a player wins the game if the total points in his or her hand is higher than the points in the dealer’s hand, without going over 21 points.  That is all it takes to win!  This is mostly a game of chance and a little strategy.

As a player in this game all you are trying to do is get the points in your hand as close as you can to 21 without going over.  If your hand or the dealer’s hand goes over 21 the game is over and no one wins.  This is called a “bust.”  If, as a player, the card points in your hand go over 21, but the dealer’s cards do not then you “bust” and you automatically lose.  If you are playing Blackjack with a number of people the person (including the dealer) with the hand that is closest to 21 without going over wins.  Also, a person automatically wins the game if he or she is dealt an Ace card and a  Jack.  If the points you receive in two cards equals 21 this is called Blackjack and you automatically win.  The game does not continue any further once someone gets Blackjack.

So, how exactly do you get points?  Here is how a game of Blackjack is played and how you count your points:

The game begins when the dealer hands out one card face down to each player, and to him or herself.  Everyone looks at their face down card, but doesn’t show the card to other players.  Then the dealer gives out another card to everyone; this second card is dealt face up so everyone can see it.  At this point in the game everyone has two cards; one card has an unknown value (to everyone but the player) and one card is visible to everyone and has a known value.  Now, the game really begins!  As a player you have to decide if you want more cards or not.  Remember you are trying to get your cards to total 21 points without going over.    (So, if you have been dealt a 5 + 6 = 11, you will probably want more card.)  If you want another cards from the dealer you say “hit me.” Don’t worry the dealer won’t actually hit you, he or she will just give you another card.  All the subsequent cards you receive are dealt face up for everyone to see.  The dealer will go in order (from the dealer’s left to the right) giving out more cards to people who want them until some says “I call.”  This means the person thinks he or she has the right number of points in their hand to win. After a person “calls” everyone else has one more chance to get another card if they want.  Then everyone must show all their cards and everyone looks to see who has the winning hand.  (When playing Blackjack for money you have to put money in each round that new cards are dealt out by the dealer in order to stay in the game.)

The last thing you need to know about Blackjack is how to count up points.  This is very important since the whole game is about having the right number of points in your hand!  The suits of the cards do not matter in this game. Cards numbered 2-10 are counted for their number value (i.e. 2of Hearts = 2-points, 4 of Spades = 4-points) and all face cards (Jack, Queen, King) have a value of ten points. The Ace is the only exception, it is a semi-wild card.  A player can count the Ace card as either 1-point or 11-points.  It is the player’s choice how to count the Ace card depending on what he or she needs the value to be to best help his or her hand.  So, for example if you are dealt a Queen and a five, you have 15 points.  But if you are dealt an Ace and a five you have either 6 or 16 points, depending on what you want the Ace to be worth.