Blackjack is a card game played between a player and dealer. The objective of the game is to get a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. An ace and a face card count as 1 or 11, and all other cards are their index value. Suits are irrelevant in the game. Players may split their hands, if allowed, and play them independently. A player who has a blackjack is paid one-to-one on their wager.

The game of blackjack starts with the dealer shuffling and dealing the cards to each player, including himself or herself. Two cards are dealt to each player, with one face up and the other face down (hole card). The dealer will then move from player to player, left to right, asking if they want to hit (get another card) or stand (keep their current hand).

Once all players have made their decision, the dealer will reveal his hole card. If it is a ten, the dealer has a blackjack and wins all of the players’ original bets. The players who bought insurance will also be paid 2 to 1.

If the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack, the player can decide whether or not to take insurance. The cost of insurance is half the original bet and pays 2-1 if the dealer has a blackjack. The player can also opt to surrender if they think their hand is unlikely to beat the dealer’s.

After all of the players have acted, the dealer will collect their chips and put them in the “bank.” This is a plastic holder that sits next to the dealer’s rack on the right side. The dealer then uses a paddle to push the money through and into the bank. Once the dealer has collected all of the money, he or she will then shuffle and deal the cards again for a new round.

There are many different ways to play the game of blackjack, and each variation has its own set of rules. Some of these rules may vary from casino to casino, but most of them will follow the basic principles of the game. Some of the variations of the game include: