Winning at Blackjack calls for you to build a hand that totals closer to 21 (but not exceeding 21) than the dealer will be able to put together.  Always keep in mind that players are playing against the dealer, you just must beat him or her, players are not trying to get as close to 21 as you can.  If you hold a high-quality set of cards and you have a better than average chance that the dealer is unable to beat it, stand; do not continue to take playing cards and risk busting (going over 21).

Cards displaying two to nine have the value that is shown on the card.  The playing cards ten, Jack, Queen and King have a worth of ten.  An Ace is the most advantageous playing card and can have a worth of either 1 or 11 depending on what the participant wants.  Blackjack is made when the player holds two cards totaling 21 (an Ace plus an additional playing card worth ten) it is an automatic unbeatable set of cards.

Playing Blackjack
To try and eradicate cheating casinos do not permit Blackjack players to handle the cards; in addition to make card counting greater tough the casinos use several decks of cards at once.  At the beginning of the game the dealer gives all at the table (plus her/himself) a single card placed face up.  After that the dealer gives another playing card to everyone playing, the players playing cards are dealt face up but the dealers other card is placed face down.

Keep in mind that Blackjack is not played as a group.  Even though the table will be populated by a few participants they are not playing with each other.  Every participant is playing by him/herself competing with the dealer; any failure or success on their part has no impact on your game.

Players always play before the dealer; they have two options, they may take one more playing card or not (stand). When a participants total goes over 21 the player busts (a loss) and the dealer wins by default.  Once all the players are played the dealer plays her/his hand.  The dealers play is narrowly governed through a set of rules (posted for anybody to check out).  Typically the rules stipulate that the dealer is required to take one more playing card if their cards total 16 or less but stands on hand totals of 17 or more.

After the dealer has finished they settle the wagering; set of cards better than the hand made by the dealer are paid out, set of cards inferior to the hand made by the dealer are collected and any player who ties the dealers hand neither pays or collects (a push).

Betting
A wager has to be placed after which the playing cards are dealt.  A participant with a winning hand gets even money.  A player who holds a Blackjack is paid 3 to 2 (he/she receives $3 for every $2 they wagered).

Options
Splitting Pairs – When your initial pair of playing cards are of identical worth players have the option to split them.  Each of the two playing cards is then played as a individual set of cards. When your first two playing cards are Aces and you elect to split the cards the customary custom is for the casino to allow players one additional playing card per Ace, if the playing card has a worth of ten players are credited with a set of cards worth 21 (not a Blackjack) and should the dealer make a Blackjack your set of cards will loose.

Doubling Down
When a player believes she/he will be able to beat the dealers set of cards with only a single card (and only a single card) they are permitted to double their bet before getting this last playing card.

Insurance
An insurance bet is a side bet made if an Ace is showing as the dealers face up playing card.  The insurance wager is that the face down dealer’s playing card has the value of 10.  When the face down playing card has a worth of 10 then together with the known Ace the dealer will have a Blackjack and the insurance bet will pay 2 to 1.  The players original wager is still in effect and the participant will be defeated unless they are lucky enough to tie by receiving a Blackjack.

Surrender
The surrender choice is found at a few casinos.  A surrender option is one that a participant can employ if after looking at their initial pair of cards the player decides that she/he will be unable to better the dealer’s set of cards.  Once the player announces the surrender their turn is finished and they suffer the loss of half of their wager.