In general, playing blackjack with a dealer gives you three chances to earn money. If you get a 21, you get two additional cards and can either keep the original card or add the new card to your hand.
If you get a 16 or 17, you lose your original card and receive two new cards. If you get a 12 or 13, you lose your original card and receive one new card.
One of the common misconceptions about blackjack is that it always “doubles your money.” In fact, while the odds of winning are slightly better when playing with doubles (3 out of 4 times), the house still retains all of your initial bet. So if you bet $10 and play with a dealer who doubles your bet after each hand, in the long run you’ll actually lose money – unless you happen to win more than $40 in a single session!.
