The goal of Blackjack is to have a hand that
totals higher than the dealer’s, but doesn’t total to higher than 21. If your hand totals higher than 21, it is
called a “bust”, which means you are out of the game. The game starts with everyone besides the
dealer placing a bet. Then, the dealer deals 1 card face up to each
player and 1 card face up to themselves. Everyone is dealt one more face-up card besides
the dealer, whose second card is dealt face down. Cards 2 through 10 are scored using their
face value, and Jacks, Queens, and Kings are all equal to 10. Aces can be either 1 or 10, and you can choose
their value throughout the round if you have one. If your two face-up cards total 21, you automatically
win one and a half times your bet from the dealer, and you’re done for that round. Otherwise, the dealer asks whether you want
another card from the top of the deck. If you do, say “hit” or motion toward
yourself with your hand. There’s no limit to how many cards you can
ask for, but once your hand totals higher than 21, you bust and the dealer gets your
bet. If you don’t want any more cards, say “stay”
or wave your hand over the table. Once the dealer has gone around the table,
they flip up their face-down card. If it’s 16 or under, they have to take another
card. If it’s 17 or higher, they have to stay
with their hand. If the dealer busts, every player that’s
still in that round wins twice their bet. However, if the dealer doesn’t bust, only
the players whose hands are higher than the dealer’s win twice their bet. Everyone else loses their initial bet. Once the round is over, all of the players
place a new bet, and another round begins.