Blackjack

Blackjack, also known as twenty-one, is a captivating card game with the objective of achieving a card total higher than the dealer’s but not exceeding 21. Played with one or more standard decks of 52 cards, blackjack blends skill with chance, offering players strategic depth and excitement. Each card in the deck holds a specific point value: numerical cards are valued at their face numbers, face cards (King, Queen, and Jack) are each worth 10 points, and the Ace is unique, valued at either 1 or 11, depending on the player’s choice, adding a layer of strategy to the game.

The game starts with each player receiving two cards, typically with the player’s cards face up and one of the dealer’s cards hidden until the players complete their actions. Players then decide how to play their hands through actions such as “Hit” (taking another card), “Stand” (keeping their current hand), “Double Down” (doubling the bet for one additional card), or “Split” (dividing a pair into two separate hands).

Blackjack has a variety of rules and actions that can impact the outcome, including the options to “split” pairs, “double down” on a promising hand, or even “surrender” in certain situations to mitigate potential losses. The dealer plays under fixed rules, usually required to hit until reaching a soft 17 (a hand containing an Ace valued as 11). Payouts in blackjack may vary, but typically, winning hands receive a 1:1 payout, while achieving a “blackjack” from the initial deal typically offers a higher payout, such as 3:2.

Games from the category Blackjack