### Basic Rules of Blackjack

Blackjack is played between one or more players and a dealer, with the goal of having a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer's hand without going over 21. Here’s a breakdown of the essential rules:

#### 1. **Card Values**
- **Number Cards (2-10)**: Face value (e.g., a 7 is worth 7 points).
- **Face Cards (Jack, Queen, King)**: Worth 10 points each.
- **Ace**: Can be worth 1 or 11 points, depending on which value benefits the hand more.

#### 2. **The Objective**
- Players aim to have a hand total higher than the dealer’s without exceeding 21. If a player's total exceeds 21, they “bust” and lose the hand.

#### 3. **Game Setup**
- Players place their bets before the cards are dealt.
- Each player receives two cards, and the dealer receives one face-up card (known as the "upcard") and one face-down card (the "hole card").

#### 4. **Player Actions**
After the initial deal, players take turns making decisions:
- **Hit**: Request an additional card to increase hand value.
- **Stand**: Keep the current hand and end their turn.
- **Double Down**: Double the original bet, receive one additional card, and then stand.
- **Split**: If the initial two cards are of the same value, they can split them into two separate hands, placing an additional bet equal to the original. Each hand is then played separately.
- **Surrender**: In some games, players can forfeit their hand and lose only half their bet.

#### 5. **Dealer's Play**
- After all players have completed their turns, the dealer reveals their hole card.
- The dealer must hit until their hand totals 17 or higher (some casinos require a "soft" 17, which includes an Ace counted as 11).
- If the dealer busts, all remaining players win.

#### 6. **Winning and Payouts**
- If a player’s hand is higher than the dealer’s without busting, they win and typically receive a payout of 1:1 on their bet.
- If a player has a blackjack (an Ace and a 10-value card) and the dealer does not, the payout is usually 3:2.
- If the dealer has a blackjack, players lose unless they also have one, resulting in a push (tie), where no one wins or loses.

#### 7. **Push**
- If a player and dealer have the same total (21 or less), the round is a push, and the player retains their bet.

These basic rules form the foundation of blackjack, making it an engaging mix of skill and chance that players can enjoy in various settings, from casual games at home to high-stakes tables in casinos.