Learning how to play blackjack or twenty-one is a relatively simple process and can provide the player hours of fun in person or online. It is one of the most popular casino games and certainly one of the best known. This game is also a very simple one to learn, and with some basic tips on strategy, can help the player win big.

It can be played with one deck or several. Dealers can hold the cards in their hands to deal or they can be dealt from a shoe, a plastic holder where the cards are kept before being dealt. The cards can either be dealt face up or face down. Online, the majority of the sites deal the cards face down and no one sees anyone else’s hand until it is over. The dealer must always deal his second card face up for all to see.

The objective is for each player to get twenty-one, or as close as possible with exceeding. To this goal, the cards are assigned numerical values based on their number. Face cards are all assigned a value of ten, and aces are allowed to be counted as eleven or one – player’s choice.

The goal is to beat your dealer. This can be accomplished by ending up with a number closer to twenty-one than the dealer, or if the dealer goes over twenty-one, called a bust. Each hand is summed up and the player then decides if he would like additional cards to increase his sum.

If your dealer’s card is an ace, each player is offered the opportunity to buy insurance. This typically costs the amount of your bet, and prevents you from losing your money if the dealer does indeed have twenty-one. If no dealer ace is shown, you must tally your cards and decide if you want to chance adding another card to your total. If so, you say “hit” or “stay” if not. In most games, dealers must take a hit if their total is less than seventeen, or stand if it equals or exceeds it.

Counting cards is a helpful way for players to keep track of the cards (especially the number of face cards and aces) that have been played. This can help them when deciding to take additional cards. Online, this is impossible because the deck is shuffled after every hand. This gives the site the advantage, and lessens the odds of winning for the players.

If casinos are not located anywhere near you, online gaming is a fun option. Online blackjack tables are abundant and they add your cards for you as you play. There are many opportunities to play once you learn how to play blackjack.