Beat the dealer's hand without going past 21.
You are not playing the other players. Everyone at the table plays the dealer separately, and more than one person can win the same round.
Number cards count their face value. Jack, queen and king count 10. An ace counts 11 unless that would take you over 21, in which case it counts 1. A hand holding such an ace is called soft, because it cannot bust on the next card.
You place a bet, then receive two cards face up. The dealer takes two, one of them face down. An ace and a ten-value card is blackjack and is paid immediately, normally at three to two.
Hit to take another card, or stand to keep what you have. Go over 21 and you bust, losing the bet at once — this is the house edge, because you bust before the dealer ever plays.
Double down: double your bet and take exactly one more card. Split: with two cards of the same rank, separate them into two hands with a second bet of the same size.
The dealer has no choices. They draw until reaching 17 or more, then stop. Whether they draw on a soft 17 is printed on the table.
Beat the dealer and you are paid even money. Lose and the bet is taken. The same total is a push and your bet comes back.
When the dealer shows an ace you may bet half your stake that they have blackjack. It pays two to one but loses more often than it wins, and experienced players decline it.