Blackjack, one of the world&#8217;s <a title="article" href="http"//www.articlezap.com">most popular<a/> gambling games played with cards, is a version of the French game Vingt-et-un, or Twenty-one, and is similar to Baccarat. Its aim, to acquire a total card value as near as possible to a given figure without exceeding it, is a principle of gambling games known long before playing cards were invented.
In Blackjack a player tries to acquire cards that count exactly 21, or to stop closer below it than does the dealer (banker), against whom all betting is done.
Any number may play, using the standard 52-card deck. If there are a large number of players, two decks may be shuffled together and used as one. An ace counts one or 11 at the option of the holder, face cards count 10 each, and all others take their pip or number value.
Play. A dealer is chosen against whom all bets are made. After the deck is shuffled and cut, the dealer exposes the top card and &#8220;burns&#8221; it by placing it face up at the bottom of the pack. If the top card is an ace, the deck must be reshuffled and another card burned. Dealer then gives each player, including himself, one card face down. Each player looks at his card and places a bet. The maximum bet may be established by agreement before the game begins or by each dealer for his deal.
Dealer may, if he wishes, double all bets. He then deals to each other player and to himself a second card face up. Cards are always dealt clockwise, beginning at the dealer&#8217;s left.
If a player&#8217;s first two cards total exactly 21 he has a &#8220;natural,&#8221; or &#8220;blackjack,&#8221; and wins double his bet. If dealer has a natural he shows it at once and collects double from all players except one with another natural, who pays only what he bet.
After all bets on naturals have been settled, dealer offers additional cards to each player in turn. A player may &#8220;stand&#8221; on his two cards or ask for more by saying &#8220;hit me.&#8221; Addition- at cards are then dealt to him face up one at a time, until he stands or goes over 21 (busts). If he busts, he pays the dealer immediately.
At dealer&#8217;s turn, which is last, he may also stand or draw. If he busts, he pays any player with whom he has not already settled; if he hits 21 or stays under, he collects for a tie and from any player having a lower count but pays to any hand nearer 21.
After each hand, dealer puts all the dealt cards face up at the bottom of the pack. When the &#8220;burned&#8221; card is reached, the deck is reshuffled and play continues. The deal, which carries a decided betting advantage, passes in rotation to the left after each deal, or it may go to the first player to receive a natural.
Twenty-one. As played in gambling houses the game is often known as Twenty-one and has somewhat different rules. A permanent dealer represents the house or bank. Usually each player must bet before any card is dealt. The dealer pays a natural one and one half times the bet, but if his own natural is tied, such ties are standoff. The dealer has no option on whether to stand or draw another card; he must stand on a count of 17 or more, but must continue to draw on 16 or less. Bonus payments are not made.