Blackjack rules are very simple, which is one of the reasons behind its popularity. Each player at the table is competing against the dealer (instead of one another, as in poker) and is dealt two cards to start. The dealer also gets two cards, with one card dealt face up and the other dealt face down.

Players then have the option of taking additional cards, trying to beat the dealer, but without going over 21; a hand with a higher total than 21 is said to "bust" and is declared an immediate loser. Once the player has either busted or decided to stand pat with their hand, it is the dealer’s turn to act.

Cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value, and face cards (jack, queen, king) are worth 10. Aces are worth either 1 or 11, depending on the nature of the other cards that the dealer or player holds.

The goal of each player is to beat the dealer by having a higher hand, but one that doesn’t exceed 21 and bust. If the player and the dealer have the same point value, it is called a "push", and neither player nor dealer wins the hand.

In most games, dealers must continue to draw cards until they have a hand of 17 or better or they bust. Players, though, aren't required to draw until they have 17, so they can stop drawing anytime they like, regardless of what their current point total is.

Because the dealer must draw to 17 or higher, much of blackjack strategy involves knowing when to stand pat as a player, even with a fairly low total such as 12, if the odds are in favor of the dealer drawing another card and busting.