When you take a seat at a blackjack table, you need to convert your cash into casino chips. The dealer will exchange your cash for an equivalent amount of casino chips. Place the chips in front of you. You are now ready to make your first bet but first let's make sure you understand the playing rules. The casino's edge comes from the fact that players must go first and when they bust their hand they automatically lose even if the dealer subsequently busts.
All cards count their face value in blackjack.
Picture cards count as 10 and the ace can count as either a 1 or 11. Card suits have no meaning in blackjack. The total of any hand is the sum of the card values in the hand. Another containing a queen and 5 totals 15. It is always assumed that the ace counts 11 unless your total exceeds 21 in which case the ace reverts to a value of 1.