Blackjack foundation
Get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over.
Blackjack is simple at the surface, but the exact table rules determine what choices are available and how much winning hands pay.
Hand values
Number cards count at face value. Tens, jacks, queens and kings count as 10. An ace counts as 1 or 11, whichever produces the more useful legal total.
Player actions
| Action | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hit | Take another card. |
| Stand | Take no more cards. |
| Double | Increase the wager and receive one final card, subject to table rules. |
| Split | Separate an eligible pair into two hands with an additional wager. |
| Surrender | Where offered, forfeit part of the wager rather than play the hand out. |
Natural blackjack
An ace plus a ten-value card on the first two cards is a natural blackjack. Traditional tables commonly pay 3:2; some games pay 6:5. That payout difference is large enough to deserve its own check before sitting down.
Dealer procedure
The dealer does not choose strategically. The house follows a fixed rule, usually standing or hitting on soft 17 depending on the table. Because player decisions react to the dealer upcard, the exact dealer rule belongs in every strategy label.