How Many Shoes Are in Blackjack?

In blackjack, each player receives two cards face down. The dealer also receives two cards, but one remains face down until all players have made their decisions.

Players may then take one of several actions.

The most common action is to “hit” or take another card from the deck in an effort to improve the hand. If the new card causes the player’s total to exceed 21 (“busts”), the player loses his bet.

Otherwise, the player is given the option to “stand” or keep his current hand.

If the player stands, the dealer then reveals his face-down card and takes additional cards if he has a total of 16 or less. If the dealer busts, all players who have not already busted are considered winners and are paid accordingly.

If the dealer does not bust, then all players with higher point totals than the dealer are considered winners and are paid accordingly.

Players with matching point totals are considered “push” or tied hands and neither win nor lose money on that particular hand. Blackjack is usually played with six or eight decks of cards, which are reshuffled after each hand.