The Blackjack Table
The blackjack table is a semi-circle, and most often it would be able to accommodate up to seven players. The dealer stands opposite the players. There are two basic types of blackjack - hand-held and shoe-games.
Hand-held games are played with one or two decks of 52 cards and are dealt out of the dealer's hands. The cards are dealt face-down in front of the players, who are then allowed to touch them.
The shoe-games use four, six or eight decks of cards. The cards are dealt from a holder, not the dealer's hands. The cards are dealt face-up, and the players are not allow to touch them.
One more thing you should look for, before sitting at the table is the table minimum. It range from $5 all the way up to $5,000 per bet. Make sure you know your blackjack table's limits before sitting at it.

The Blackjack Game
The goal of the blackjack game is to beat the dealer. You can do this in one of two ways:
 () By getting a higher total than the dealer, without exceeding a total of 21; or
 () By having the dealer go over 21 when you don't.

Card Value
The first thing you need to know is the value of the cards:
 - cards 2 through 10 have their face value;
 - jacks, queens, and kings are valued as 10.
 - aces can be counted as either 1 or 11, depending on the player's preference
 - suites have no meaning

Hand Value
The hand value is determined by simply adding the card values.
Blackjack - the name of the game refers to the best hand - a total of 21 in your first 2 cards. It could be only ace and a 10-value card, and the payoff is 3 to 2. A dealer with blackjack beats everyone at the table, except those players with blackjack as well.
Soft hand - because the ace can be counted as 1 or 11, a hand with an ace gives you some flexibility (unless it's a bust, or a natural blackjack). For example, a hand of 5 and ace could be counted as either a total of six or soft sixteen. If your next card is 4 - the hand could be counted as either 10 or 20.
Push - push is the blackjack word for tie. Any hand of equal value to the dealer's hand is a push, and no money is exchanged.
Bust - When the hand value exceeds 21, it's a bust, and it looses. If the dealer busts, all players who have not busted are automatically winners, no matter of the value of their hands.

The Action
Below are descriptions of the choices you have - hit, stand, double, split, surrender, and insurance.
Hit and Stand - Once you get your first two cards, most often you will be declaring whether to hit (be dealt another card) or stand (stay with your current total). If you want to hit - tap the table with your finger. You can take as many cards as you like, until you bust or indicate that you stand.
Double - doubling gives you the chance to double your bet in a potentially advantageous situation. You are given one final card, and any looses or wins are based on your new wager.
Splitting - if your first two cards are a pair, you have the opportunity to play two independent hands. Each hand is played as it would be, except when you are splitting aces, when most casinos would allow you only one more card on each ace.
Insurance - After the first two cards are dealt, if the dealer's face card is an ace, you would be offered an insurance before anything else happens at the table. It's a side bet that would protect you against the dealer's potential blackjack, and the value is half of the original bet; it pays 2 to 1 in a case where the dealer gets blackjack. If the dealer does not get a blackjack - you loose the insurance.
Surrender - not many casinos offer this option, however, it's worth to know. If it's available, it gives you the option to "surrender" half of your bet, instead of playing out the hand.

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