Now that you know the aim of a blackjack game - which is to beat the dealer at making a total hand of 21, or as close to 21 as possible – you're ready to learn about the stages of play in an online blackjack game.

The first thing you will need to do when you start a game of online blackjack is to make an initial bet. This must be in accordance with the minimum bet specified at the table you are playing at. Then the dealer will deal each player two cards face down on the table, giving himself two cards, one face up and one down.

Remember that your objective is to make up an online blackjack hand of 21. If you're lucky enough to already have 21 based on your first two cards, you have a "blackjack" or a "natural" and you automatically win.

However, if you don't have a natural, you need to make a choice. Your options are to "hit" where you will be dealt another card, to "stand" or take no more cards, or to "double down" which is when you will double your bet, take one more card and stand afterwards. Some online blackjack players also "split" which is when you double your bet and use each of your existing cards to make a new hand. You can only do this if you have two cards of the same value and if multiple hands of blackjack are permitted.

After all players have made their choices, the dealer turns over his hidden card. Common online blackjack rules at most casinos dictate that the dealer must hit if he has a total of 17. If he busts, all players win and are paid out on their bets.

If you're passionate about casino blackjack, chances are you've tried your hand at several different gaming establishments. Here we take a look at two aspects of casino blackjack that differ depending on which casino you're playing at.

The first relates to the dealer's hand. Most casinos are very strict about the way a dealer will play and the rules governing this are usually displayed at the table. The most common casino blackjack rule is that the dealer should stand on all 17's. This means that the dealer must continue to hit (take an extra card) until he has a total of 17 or more. If he holds an Ace, it will always be counted as 11.

The less common version is that the dealer hits when he makes soft 17. This is when the Ace is valued at 11 in hands such as Ace and 6, Ace and 2 and 4, and finally two Aces and a five. The casino has a higher advantage against the player in casino blackjack using this rule.

The surrender rule is a commonly misunderstood aspect of the game and rarely used in casino blackjack. Surrendering enables a player to forfeit half of his bet and fold early. The surrender rule is longer played at most casinos today. Therefore if you enjoy playing blackjack in a live casino, you are not likely to ever surrender.