Blackjack, also known as 21, is a casino banking game played with one or more decks of 52 cards where players aim to get a hand with a value of 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over, and higher than the dealer’s hand.
In Blackjack, the primary objective is for a player to achieve a hand value higher than the dealer’s without exceeding a total of 21. Numerical cards hold their face value, while face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are each worth 10 points. An Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11 points, providing flexibility in hand totals. At the start of the game, players are dealt two cards face up, whereas the dealer receives one card face up and another face down.
Blackjack is typically played at a semicircular table, with the dealer positioned across from five to nine player spots. The game utilizes between one and eight decks of cards. While some casinos allow players to bet on multiple spots, many UK. casinos restrict players to one to three positions. In some Blackjack variations, players’ cards are dealt face down.
A hand totalling 17 or higher is generally considered a good hand, and players should consider hitting when their hand is 11 or lower or between 12-16 if the dealer’s face-up card is 7 or higher. Doubling down is usually advisable when a player has a hand of 10 or 11, and the dealer’s face-up card is 9 or lower.
