The game of blackjack is played with one, two, four, six or eight decks of cards. In single and double deck blackjack games the dealer holds the cards and deals them out. In multi-deck blackjack games the cards are dealt out of a tray like box that is called a shoe. The casinos are starting to look at continuous shufflers that are a shoe that shuffle as well as hold the cards.

In hand held games the cards are dealt face down and the blackjack player is allowed to pick up his cards. In a shoe game the cards are dealt face up to the player and you are not allowed to touch your cards. The basic play for either version of blackjack is the same.

The objective of the game is to beat the blackjack dealer. If your cards total higher than the blackjack dealer's cards without going over 21 you win. You are not trying to get close to 21. If your hand or the blackjack dealer's hand goes over 21 you "Bust." If you bust you automatically lose. The player must act first. If the player busts he loses regardless if the dealer busts or not. The suits of the cards have no affect on the game of blackjack. Cards 2 - 10 are counted at face value without regards to their suit. All face cards have a value of ten. An ace can count as either one or eleven. A queen and a five would equal 15. An ace and a five would total either 6 or 16. A hand that does not have an ace is referred to as a "Hard Hand" in blackjack because it has only one value. A hand that contains an ace is referred to as a "Soft Hand" in blackjack because the value can change. If you draw to a soft hand and the three cards total a number where counting an ace as eleven puts you over 21 then the hand becomes a hard hand. Example: You are dealt an ace and a three. You have 4 or 14. If you then draw a ten you now have a hard 14 because if you count the ace as 11 you would have 25, which would bust you.

Common blackjack terms:

• Action - The amount of money risked by a player during an entire blackjack session.
  
  
• Betting Limits - Establishes the minimum and maximum amounts that can be wagered on one bet in blackjack.
  
  
• Blackjack - A hand whose first two cards total 21.
  
  
• Burn Card - The card placed on the bottom of the deck or in the discard tray after a shuffle and cut.
  
  
• Bust/Break - To exceed a total of twenty-one.
  
  
• Chip/Check - A casino term for tokens used instead of money.
  
  
• Cut - To divide a deck into two parts.
  
  
• Cut Card - A different colored card used to cut the decks.
  
  
• Early Surrender - To surrender or give up after a player receives their first two cards but before the dealer checks for a blackjack. Player loses half of their bet.
  
  
• Even Money - In blackjack, to get paid the same as you wagered plus your original wager when the player has a blackjack and the dealer has an ace showing.
  
  
• Expected Win Rate - The percentage of the total amount wagered that the player can be expected to win or lose over time while playing blackjack.
  
  
• Face Cards - The King, Queen or Jack of each suite.
  
  
• First Base - The first seat nearest the blackjack dealer's left hand.
  
  
• Hard Hand - Any blackjack hand that does not contain an ace valued at eleven.
  
  
• Hit - To take another card.
  
  
• Hole Card - The blackjack dealer's face down card.
  
  
• Insurance - A side bet that the dealer has a natural 21 that is offered when the dealer's upcard is an ace. If the dealer has a natural, the player is paid double. If the dealer does not have a natural (a blackjack), the insurance bet is lost.
  
  
• Natural - A hand whose first two cards total 21. Also known as blackjack.
  
  
• Push/Tie - When the player and the dealer have unbusted hands with the same point total. No money changes hands.
  
  
• Shoe - A plastic or wooden device that holds multiple decks of cards to be dealt.
  
  
• Soft Hand - Any blackjack hand that contains an ace valued at eleven.
  
  
• Stand - To refrain from taking any more cards.
  
  
• Surrender - To give up half your wager to not have to complete the hand.
  
  
• Upcard - The dealers card that is face up.