In blackjack, a "bust" occurs when a player's hand exceeds a total of 21 points, resulting in an automatic loss. Each card in the game has a specific point value: cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value, face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10 points, and Aces can be worth either 1 or 11 points, depending on what benefits the hand. If the total value of a player's hand goes over 21, they "bust" and lose the round, regardless of the dealer's hand.