Beginning

• Before the cards are dealt, you will place a bet in front of you. A dealer will deal both your cards face-up and his cards will have one showing and one face-down. Face cards are worth ten points, aces are either 11 points or one point, and all other cards are face-value. For example, an eight is worth eight points. If you are dealt a queen and a two, you have 12 points. If you are dealt an ace and a four, you have either five or 15.
  
  

Hitting and Standing

• Once you have your cards, you will decide if you want to be dealt another card, or "hit," or to not take any cards and "stand." If you choose to hit, then you can continue to hit until you want to stand or until you bust.
  
  

Other Bets

• You can also partake in two other kinds of bets: double-down and split. Double down doubles your bet--you have to match the bet you put on the table. You are allowed to draw one card. This is a good move to make when you have ten or 11.
  
  Splitting refers to when you have two of the same card. Again, you double your bet and the two cards become separate hands. The dealer then deals a card on each of the split cards and you play the two hands one at a time. There are different strategies for this, but aces are always good to split.
  
  

Insurance

• If the dealer has an ace showing, you can bet insurance that he has 21. You bet half your bet on this. Insurance offers poor odds, but if you are correct and the dealer has 21, you won't lose your bet. You'll break even.
  
  

The Dealer

• Once it is the dealer's turn, he turns over his second card. He must draw if he has less than 17, and he must stand on 17 or more. If he draws over 21, all players still in the hand win. If he has (or draws) 17 through 21, players win or lose depending on their hand. Sometimes, if he has soft 17, he will be required to hit, depending on the casino.