In Blackjack, each player is dealt two cards. The goal is to get closer to 21 (without going over) than the dealer. All face cards count as 10, and aces can count as either 1 or 11 (the optimal value is automatically chosen for you). When you receive your cards, you have a number of options:

1. Hit: If you choose to hit, you will receive another card. You may hit as many times as you like, but if your card total exceeds 21, you will "Bust," and lose the hand.
2. Stand: If you choose to stand, you will not receive any more cards for that hand, and your total will be compared against the dealer's total.
3. Double: When the hand is first dealt, before a player chooses "Hit" or "Stand", they may choose to double their bet - but only one more card will be dealt to the player for that hand.
4. Split: If the player is dealt a pair, they are given the option to split their hand into two independent hands. A second bet is placed (equal to the first), and each hand is played separately. (Note: If Aces are split, only one additional card per hand is allowed.) Players may split up to three times, creating a total of four simultaneous hands.

Cards are dealt from a continuously shuffled four-deck shoe.

#### Scoring

Once all players have played their hands, the dealer plays their hand. The dealer cannot make any choices about how they play - they will "Hit" on anything including a "soft" 17 (a 17 which includes an Ace being counted as an 11), and "Stand" on anything above that.
If the dealer busts, they lose to anyone who did not bust. If the dealer does not bust, the player/dealer with the higher card total wins. If the dealer and player tie, the hand is "pushed," and the bet is returned to the player.

#### Blackjack

If a player is initially dealt an Ace and a 10-card, this is known as "Blackjack", and is the highest-possible hand. Blackjack pays out at 3:2, rather than the normal 1:1. If a dealer also has Blackjack, the hand is pushed (as in any tie). If a player gets an Ace & 10-card after splitting, it does not count as "Blackjack", and pays out at 1:1.

#### Insurance

If the dealer's face-up card is an Ace, players are given the option to buy Insurance. Insurance costs 50% of the player's bet, and if the dealer has Blackjack, will pay out 2:1. If the dealer does not have Blackjack, the Insurance bet is lost - however, the player's initial bet is still in play!