How Do You Play 21 at the Casino?

In the game of 21, or blackjack, players aim to beat the dealer by getting a score as close to 21 as possible. The game is played with one or more standard52-card decks, with each player starting with two cards.

The dealer also has two cards, but one of these is dealt face down.

Players can choose to either hit, which means taking another card from the deck, or stand, which means keeping their current hand. If a player goes over 21, they ‘bust’ and automatically lose the hand.

Once all players have either bust or chosen to stand, the dealer reveals their face down card. They then hit or stand according to a set set of rules.

If the dealer goes over 21, any player who has not already bust will win the hand.

The aim of the game is simply to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. The value of the cards is as follows: Ace=1 or 11 (player’s choice), 2-10=face value, Jack/Queen/King=10.

So, for example, if a player is dealt an Ace and a 5, their score can be either 6 or 16.

There are a few other things to bear in mind when playing 21. If both the player and dealer have blackjack (a score of 21 made up of an Ace and a 10-value card), it is a ‘push’ and nobody wins or loses that hand.

Also, if the dealer has blackjack but the player does not, the player automatically loses.

21 is a fun and easy game to pick up and most casinos will offer tables with low minimum bets so that players can get started without breaking the bank. With a little practice, you’ll be hitting 21 in no time!.