Blackjack is an extremely popular casino card game that involves a dealer and a table with one more player. The goal in this game is to get a total card value closer to "twenty-one" than the dealer. If you go over twenty-one, you are considered a bust, and will not win the hand. You as a player must decide to "stand" - stay at the given value - or "hit." If you hit, you will receive another card and will do so as long as you continue to order them, and the value of the cards do not exceed twenty-one. All face cards have a value of ten, and aces can be equal to one or eleven, player's choice.

One of the most important facts you will need to know if you are seeking to learn Blackjack rules, tips, and strategies, is that the dealer has a compulsory "hit" at a value of sixteen or below. The player does not have this rule - they can choose to stand or hit at any value. If the dealer has a value of sixteen and must hit, consequently turning a jack, they are the bust - no way around it. Therefore, if you know a dealer may bust, you may be more likely to stand at a low number than if the dealer's value is dangerously close to twenty-one.

Online gaming sites, due in part to their lower overhead, often have very low stakes available. In live casinos, some of the most popular tables are those with lower minimums, and you may have to wait for a seat. As a novice, you may choose to play the shoe game, in which several decks are used, and hands are dealt face up. The house has the advantage in this scenario, but it allows the player to receive help from the dealer or bystanders. Once comfortable calling your shots, it's beneficial to choose games that use fewer decks (although hands are dealt face-down) because you have a somewhat better chance of winning.

The "natural" card combination - an ace and a jack - is the highest hand in the game. Other combinations of twenty-one, involving at least three cards, are lesser hands although your chances of winning are still pretty good. If you and the dealer both have "blackjacks" it results in a tie. In this case, no money is won or lost. Some tables have a rule in which the tie goes to the dealer. As a beginner, this is one version of the game that you should avoid.

If you are looking for more Blackjack rules, tips, and strategies, much more are available on the Internet. There are simply too many variations to go into too much depth here, but there are plenty of resources available online for the novice, intermediate, or expert player. Many gaming and online casinos have live chat rooms and forums in which to share information. Others allow you access to "expert" panels, which can be extremely beneficial.