Blackjack is a very popular card game which is also sometimes called "twenty one". It is played in both traditional casinos and online gaming casinos. The game is scored by a total point count. The player who comes closed to "twenty one" without going over it wins. In the event you do go over twenty one this is referred to as a "bust".
All number cards count as their face value and picture cards such as kings, queens, and jacks, are worth 10 points. An ace can be worth either 1 or 11 which ever is most beneficial to the hand.
The object of the game is to beat the dealer without going over twenty one. The player that comes the closest or actually hits the twenty one point count without going over wins. The dealer has a small advantage to the average player. If both hands go over twenty one, the dealer wins. In the event of an even hand both players lose (player(s) and Dealer) and is also known as a "push".
A two-card "twenty one" count (picture card and a number card) is called "blackjack" and is an immediate win. If the player and dealer are both dealt a blackjack, it's a "push" and there is no winner.
To begin play, the dealer will deal out two cards to each player including him or herself. One of the dealers cards will be face up so everyone can see half of the dealers hand. Each player will than have the choice of requesting an additional card or remaining with only their dealt hand.
Player options at this point are:
Hit (take another card)
Stand (take no more cards)
Double down (double the wager, take exactly one more card, and then stand)
Split (when the player has identical value cards, such as two fours [4,4], place an additional bet and have each card be the first in a new hand)
Forfeit (forfeit half his bet and give up his hand.)
Blackjack - "The Mother of Card Counting"