In the game of blackjack, the hand with the highest total but which does not exceed 21 wins the hand. When a hand has a total that exceeds 21, is said to bust. Cards 2 through 10 are counted at face value, and face or picture cards (jack, queen, king) are worth 10. An ace's value is 11 unless this causes the player to bust, in which case it is counted as 1. A hand in which an ace's value is counted as 11 is called a soft hand, because it cannot be busted if the player draws another card.

The goal of the player is to beat the dealer by having the higher, un-busted hand. Of course when a player busts he loses, even if the dealer also busts. If both the player and the dealer have the same point value, it is called a "push", which is a tie, and neither player nor dealer wins the hand. Each player plays an independent game with the dealer, so it is possible for the dealer to lose to one player and still beat other players in the same round.

The minimum bet will be displayed on the blackjack table and will vary from one casino to another, and perhaps even from one table to another. The most common minimum in the U.S. is $5. After initial bets have been placed, the dealer deals the cards, either from one or two hand-held decks of cards in what is known as a "pitch" game, or more commonly from a shoe containing four or more decks. The dealer gives two cards to each player and to himself. One of the dealer's two cards is face-up so the players can see it, and the other card is face down. The face-down card is known as the "hole card". In European blackjack, the hole card is not actually dealt until the players have all played their hands. The players' cards are dealt face up from a shoe, or face down in a pitch game.

A two-card hand of 21 - an ace plus a ten-value card - is called a "blackjack" or a "natural", and is an automatic winner. A player with a natural is usually paid 3:2 on his bet, although in 2003 some casinos started paying 6:5 on blackjacks, a move which is being decried by veteran blackjack players.

• If the dealer has a blackjack and the player doesn't - the player automatically loses.
• If the player has blackjack and the dealer doesn't - the player automatically wins.
• If both the player and dealer have blackjack - it's a push.
• If neither side has blackjack, then each player plays out his hand, one at a time.
• When all the players have finished playing out their hands, the dealer plays his hand.

• Hit: Take another card.
• Stand: Take no more cards.
• Doubledown: Double the wager, take exactly one more card, and then stand.
• Split: (This option is available only when both cards have the same value.) Double the wager and have each card be the first card in a new hand.
• Surrender: Forfeit half the bet and give up the hand. Surrender was common during the early- and mid-20th century, but is an option no longer offered at most casinos.

The player's turn is over after deciding to stand, doubling down to take a single card, or busting. If the player busts, he or she loses the bet even if the dealer goes on to bust as well.

After all the players have finished making their decisions, the dealer then reveals his or her hidden hole card and plays the hand.

House rules say that the dealer must hit until he or she has at least 17, regardless of what the players have. In most casinos a dealer must also hit a soft 17, such as an ace and a 6. The lettering on the felt of the table will indicate whether or not the house hits or stands on a soft 17.

If the dealer busts then all remaining players win. Bets are normally paid out at the odds of 1:1.

• One card split aces: one card is dealt on each ace, player's turn is over.
• Early surrender: player has the option to surrender before dealer checks for Blackjack.
• Late surrender: player has the option to surrender after dealer checks for Blackjack.
• Double-down restrictions: double-down allowed only on certain combinations.
• Dealer hits a soft seventeen (ace-six, which can play as seven or seventeen)
• European No-Hole-Card Rule: the dealer receives only one card, dealt face-up, and does not receive a second card, and thus does not check for blackjack, until the players have acted. This means players lose not only their original bet, but also any additional money invested from splitting and doubling down.