Blackjack is one of the world's most widely played gambling card games. This casino favorite is commonly referred to as twenty-one or vingt-et-un. Despite disputing claims between the French and Italians, the actual origins of the game are unknown. What is known is that the game of blackjack can offer you your best chance at leaving the casino a winner.

Individual casinos may have distinct rules and gaming practices, so the following should be considered as general guidelines. The blackjack table is staffed by a dealer who deals cards to each of the players, anywhere between 1-7, and themselves. Most casinos utilize a card-shuffler or card-dealing shoe, which will hold six-eight 52-card decks. While playing blackjack you may also notice another casino employee known as the pit boss, who will monitor play and help settle game disputes.

The Game

The primary objective is to obtain a hand totaling 21 points - when this is achieved within the first 2 cards dealt it is called a blackjack. If you do not get a 21 on the first two cards you need to come as close to 21 as you can with out going over (busting) and have a higher hand than the dealer (the house).

Each player receives one card face down and bets that this card plus additional cards dealt face up will beat the dealer's hand without exceeding 21. Players can either hold their initial two cards or take additional cards (hit). Any player who does not bust waits for the dealer's turn. The dealer turns up the down card. By rule, on counts of 17 or higher the dealer must stay; a count of 16 or less means that the dealer must draw another card.

An ace counts one or eleven, a face card ten, and all others cards according to their face value. A "soft hand" is a hand that contains an Ace which is counted as 11. A "hard hand" is a one that does not contain an Ace or a hand where the Ace can only be counted as one point.

If after your first two cards you want another card (a hit) you will need to indicate by scratching the table with your hand or by using another similar gesture. Dealers will not accept a verbal request because the security cameras used by the casino would not be able to be used in game disputes. Game gestures are seen by the cameras and will be used to determine any gaming disagreements players or the casino may have. If you are happy with your cards at any time you can choose to stand by indicating with a wave of your hand palm down.

After all players have either chosen to stand or have busted - winning hands will be determined by having a higher count than the dealers hand. Winners will win an amount equal to their initial bet if they successfully obtain a hand larger than the dealers. Players with a natural 21 (for example a king and an ace) are may be paid off at 3 to 2. All players with a lower count than the dealer, and those that have busted will forfeit their wagers.

Seating arrangements

For veteran players, the best seat is "third base" the seat to the immediate right of the dealer. The player in this seat will play just before the dealer, who plays last. This can be an advantage to the experienced player as they will be able to observe the cards dealt to previous players. Rookie blackjack players should avoid this seat as it can have a substantial impact on the dealer's hand.

Side Bets

You should always avoid making any side bets. Side bets are the casinos way of swaying the odds in their favor for making a greater profit. Do not take insurance bets when they are offered unless you are an experienced card counter.

Imagine you were playing at a table by yourself with just the dealer - your dealt a natural 21 at a single deck table, and the dealer's up card was an ace, there would be 49 cards left after removing your ace and ten as well as the dealers ace. That would leave fifteen tens to potentially give the dealer a blackjack and a push. Not insuring your blackjack means you would be paid 3 to 2 thirty four times and push just fifteen times (49 total - 15 tens = 34) WOW! That means your winning percentage will be 104% by not insuring and only 100% if you did. This example doesn't take into account any other players cards which would most certainly decrease the dealers odds of obtaining a push - and clearly show why you should avoid taking insurance.

Surrendering

Some casinos may offer players the ability to surrender or forfeit their hand after the initial two cards are dealt for half of your wager. This can be very useful tool - as you would only lose half of your bet as opposed to the full bet if you were to play the hand out and lose.

There are generally two types of surrender, early and late. An early surrender means you surrender before the dealer checks their second card. The late surrender means that you surrender after the dealer checks their second card. Early surrender can increase a players expected win rate by almost a full percentage point, while a later surrender may only increase the win rate by five hundredths of a percentage point. You should always try to find a table that offers early surrenders.

Splitting your pairs

Knowing when to split your hand into two hands and when not to, is very important. It is also a very easily learned knowledge. You should always split a pair of aces or a pair of eights. A pair of aces will total either two or twelve but if you split them each card will now be worth eleven. Splitting a pair of eights means you are breaking up a hand of sixteen, which is the worst hand you can have.

You should split pairs of twos and threes only when the dealer card is between a four and seven. Split sixes when the dealer has a three through six. Split a pair of sevens when the dealer has a three through seven. Split a pair of nines when the dealer has two through six, or has an eight or nine showing. Your should never split a pair fours, fives, or tens!

Hit or Stand

For hard hands, if the player's cards amount to 12 or higher, there are three rules:

• Hit if the player hand totals 12 through 16 and the dealer has a seven or higher.
• Stand on any hand totaling 17 or higher.
• Stand if the player cards total 12 through 16 and the dealer has two through six.

For soft hands there are only two:

• Always draw to soft 17 or less.
• Only draw on soft 18 if the dealer has an eight, nine or ten.

Double Down

For hard hands, there are three rules:

• Double down when the player's cards total 11 and the dealer has a ten or less.
• Double down when the player's cards total 10 and the dealer has a nine or less.
• Double down when the player's cards total nine and the dealer has a four, five or six.

For soft hands, there are also three rules:

• Double down with a soft 13 and soft 14 when the dealer has a five or six.
• Double down with a soft 15 and soft 16 when the dealer has a four, five or six.
• Double down with a soft 17 and soft 18 when the dealer has three through six.