The main objective of blackjack is to beat the dealer either by holding a higher valued hand than the dealer or by letting the dealer bust with a hand of more than 21.  In both cases, you as the player cannot go over 21.  The value of your hand is simply the sum of the value of each card treating numbered cards as given, royal cards as tens, and aces as either ones or elevens (making a hard or soft hand, respectively).  Winning bets are paid off at even money.  When the first two cards include an ace and a 10–value card for blackjack, bets are paid off at 3 to 2:  a $10 bet would win $15.  Bets are left alone if you tie and collected by the dealer if you lose.