Blackjack
Blackjack is probably the most popular casino card game in the world. A blend of strategy and simplicity combine to make blackjack a surefire winner. Whether you know it as blackjack, pontoon, or vingt-et-un, the game's the same - get as close as you can to 21 and collect your winnings.
Popularised by card counting antics in movies like "21", blackjack's fame has skyrocketed over the past few years. True, the game involves strategy, and knowing what cards might be left in the deck certainly swings the odds in the player's favour. However, if card counting was that easy, we'd all be doing it, and the casinos would go out of business.
The game involves single rounds of player vs. dealer, with each receiving two cards. Dealer gets one face up, one face down; player gets both face up. Player adds his total point count and draws cards to accumulate a total as close as possible to 21. He stops, or "sticks" when he gets as close as he wants, or "busts" if he draws too many cards. The dealer then draws in an effort to beat the player. Drawing a total equal or in excess of the player's total gives the hand to the dealer, while going bust gives the hand to the player.
Game play summary:
- Round comprises dealer-player duels
- Dealer gets two cards - one face up, one face down; player - two cards face up
- Player draws cards to reach point total of 21
- Dealer draws cards to beat player
- Either player or dealer exceeding 21 is a "bust"
- If dealer's points equal or surpass point count of player, dealer wins
- If dealer busts, player wins
