In Blackjack each individual player is only betting against the dealer and not the other players at the table. This means that several players can win every round, and if the dealer goes over 21 everyone at the table who did not bust wins.

To start a round of Blackjack each player will first place their bets. The dealer will then go around the table starting at the dealer's left and deal each player 2 cards. Depending on the rules at the table you are sitting at both cards will either be face up or face down. The dealer will then take one card face up and then another card facing down. This upside down card is called the hole card or just the hole.

Some European casinos allow the deal to deal himself one card face up and the dealer will not deal himself the last card until each player at the table have finished making their hands. This is called the No Hole Card rule.

After all the players have received both of their cards they have a chance to take more cards in an attempt to make a hand of 21 or as close as they can to 21 without busting (going over 21) going around the table players have a chance to Hit, which means take another card, or Stand, which means the hand they have is acceptable to them and that they do not want another card. As each player makes their hands anyone who busts is out of the hand.

Now that all of the players have finalized their hands it is the dealers turn. The dealer has a different set of rules then the players. If a dealer has a hand of 16 or under they must take a card, and once the dealer has a hand of 17 or over they have to stand. On most Blackjack tables it will say on the table that dealers must stand on all 17's.

The value of the cards in Blackjack is very easy to remember. All numbered cards are worth the value of the number on the card. Face cards, King, Queen and Jacks are all worth 10, and an Ace is worth either 1 or 11 and it is up to the player to decide.

When a player is dealt an ace and a card with a value of 10 this is called Blackjack, or natural 21, this hand will beat a hand of 3 cards or more that totals 21.

When a player is dealt an ace it can be the value of either 1 or 11 and the player gets to make the decision unless the player has what is called a "Hard" hand. This means that because of the other cards in your hand to value the card at 11 would make your hand bust. An example of this is if you have a 10 and a 2 then you are dealt an Ace. To count this Ace as an 11 would give the player a hand of 23, so in this instance the Ace has to be a 1.

A "soft" hand is when the player is dealt an Ace and it can be either an 11 or a 1. If you have a 5 and a 2 the ace can be either value without busting the hand.