Blackjack, also known as Twenty-One or Pontoon, is probably the most popular traditional casino game. At least some of this popularity is due to the practice of “card counting” by skilled players in land-based casinos, that allows them to put the odds more in their favour than the casinos, allowing practitioners to make substantial amounts of money, until the casino operators spot them!
Blackjack begins with both the player and the dealer receiving two cards. Thereafter, the player can continue to take further cards, trying to achieve the highest possible score, without going above 21. Aces are considered to be worth 11, unless that would take the player over 21, in which case they case they count as 1. The player wins if he beats the dealers hand and does not go bust. After the players turn is over, the dealer will take more cards until they go bust or have a hand with a value of 17 or greater. If the dealer goes bust then all remaining players win.
