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Mr Ion Saliu, a professed "Doctor in Occult Science of Blackjackology", has quite a webpage. Here's just a small excerpt of what his page so make sure you visit it in it's entirety at ION Saliu's Blackjack Webpage!
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"They say roulette is the queen of casino games. Then, blackjack is the king of the casino. Many believe that Blackjack, or 21, or twenty-one is the most popular casino game in the world. Blackjack is also the most researched game ever. It is also the only casino game with fluctuating odds (or probability). The winning chance changes with the composition of the deck.
The cards two to 9 have a numerical value equal to the number printed on the card. Tens also have a numerical value equal to the number printed on the card (10, of course). All face cards (Jack, Queen and King) have the value of 10. Aces (A) may be counted as either 11 or 1.
The rules of blackjack are relatively simple to learn. This page is not meant, however, to be a blackjack tutorial A dealer plays against a number of players, from one to seven. Every player and the dealer receive initially two cards each, dealt by the dealer. Each player's hand is played against the dealer's hand only. If a player's hand has a value closer to 21 (without going over) than the dealer's hand, the player wins. The best possible hand is known as a blackjack (twenty-one in the first two cards). This hand consists of an A (ace) and a ten-valued card (10, J, Q, K). The payout for a blackjack is 3-to-2: the player is paid three chips for every two chips bet. When both the player and the dealer have blackjacks, it is a normal tie (push) situation; the player retains the initial bet.
The player has several choices after receiving the first two cards.
1) Hit or draw: take one or more cards to add-up to a better hand
2) Stand: stop taking more cards
3) Double down: double the initial amount (in cases considered more favorable)
4) Split pairs: if the two cards are equal in value they may be played in two separate hands
The dealer has limited choices. The dealer must draw until dealer's hand adds-up to 17 or more. The dealer is not allowed to stand on 16 or less. The dealer is not allowed to draw to a hand summing up to 17 or more.
It is also important to know how to hand signal player's actions.
- Hit: tapping the table next to your cards with your finger tips or by placing your hand near your cards and moving your finger tips toward you (somehow like a gesture of grabbing)
- Stand: moving your hand left to right, in a flat, palm down position about two inches over your cards (like waving off)
- Split: place another bet, equal to your initial bet, alongside your initial bet; do not touch your cards, the dealer will split your cards
- Double down: you ante up another bet equal to and alongside your first bet; the dealer will deal you one more card (only one), across the first two cards. 
Both the player and the dealer can go over 21. The situation is known as bust. The player loses the bet immediately. The dealer plays his/her hand last, after all the players at the table. This rule creates the so called house advantage or house edge or percentage advantage. John Scarne was the first to calculate the house advantage at blackjack: 5.9%. The only advantage the dealer (casino) has is provided by the simultaneous busts. The dealer busts 28% of the time (odds: 1 in 3.57). If the player mimics the dealer (draw to 16 or less, stand on 17 or higher), the player will bust 28% of the time. The odds (probability) for the dealer and the player to bust at the same time: .28 x .28 = 7.84%. But the player is paid 3 to 2 for a natural (blackjack), whereas the dealer is paid still 1 to 1 for a blackjack. Therefore, the house edge will go down to around 5.9%.
The player can learn and play the basic strategy. Thus, the player will reduce the number of busts. The bust probability for the basic strategy player is reduced to 17% (odds: 1 in 5.88). Therefore, the basic strategy player faces a disadvantage of .17 x .28 = 4.76%. But because the player gets paid 3 to 2 for a natural, and because the player can double down or split pairs, the house edge goes all the way down to 1%.
There are several bonehead plays, however. Such foolish plays can increase the house advantage at blackjack to 10%-15%. Example of such a play: hitting a hand of 19 or 20! Some look intrigued at me, but I split a pair of 10-cards. I only do that when there is a high probability I am in a clump of high cards and the dealer face card is 4, or 5, or 6."
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