Lesson 1: what blackjack is and how you win

Blackjack is the most popular card game in casinos. It’s the casino version of the classic game of 21, with one important difference: you don’t play against the other players, you play against the dealer. What anyone else at the table does has no effect on your result.

The real goal

Many people think the goal is to reach 21. It isn’t. The goal is to beat the dealer, and there are two ways to do it:

• Finish with a higher total than the dealer without going over 21.
• Stay at 21 or under while the dealer busts.

If you both finish on the same total, it’s a push: you get your bet back.

The rule that explains everything

If you go over 21, you lose on the spot — even if the dealer busts afterwards. Because you always act before the dealer, that rule is where the house edge comes from. Everything in this course is about clawing back as much of it as possible.

The dealer doesn’t think

The dealer makes no decisions: they follow a fixed rule. They hit on 16 or less and stand on 17 or more. You, on the other hand, can hit, stand, double, split or surrender. That freedom is your weapon, and basic strategy is the right way to use it.