Blackjack (aka Twenty-one) is the most widely played casino game in the world. The standard game is played with one or more decks containing 52 cards each. The basic rules of the game involve adding the value of an initial two card hand in hopes of being dealt a value of twenty-one. If a value of less than twenty-one is dealt, the player may choose to be dealt single cards until they either reach a value of twenty one, reach a value they feel comfortable to play, or reach a value that exceeds twenty-one. The winner holds a hand with a value of, or nearest to, twenty-one without exceeding it. The game is played in many variations at casinos with different table rules. This game uses the most common set of rules.

Rule variations and the "house advantage"
The blackjack player will encounter many rule variations which effect the house advantage and therefore effect his chances of winning. Some rules are determined by law or regulation, others by the casino itself. Not all rules are posted, so the player may have to ask either beforehand or when the situation occurs. Over 100 variations exist. The casino has a "house advantage" at blackjack, just as it does at any other casino game. The primary house advantage in blackjack comes from the fact that if the player busts he loses, irrespective of whether the dealer subsequently busts. If a particular casino game has a house advantage of 5%, it means that - over the long run - the casino will win about 5% of any initial bet. As long as the blackjack player uses the best possible strategy (a strategy known as "basic strategy"), the house advantage in blackjack is usually less than 1%. This is very favorable to the player compared to other casino games. Of course, many blackjack players do not know basic strategy or do not follow it, so the true house advantage in those cases may be much higher.

Basic strategy
Because blackjack has an element of player choice, players can reduce casino advantage by playing optimally. The complete set of optimal plays is known as basic strategy. Basic strategy is based on a player's point total and the dealer's visible card. A player's ideal decision may depend on the composition of his hand. There are slight variations depending on the house rules and number of decks.

About Real Blackjack
Not only is Real Blackjack a fun game that can help you pass the time, but it is also the best way to learn basic strategy. This game uses about 50 different combinations of basic strategy depending on the selected set of game rules.