Blackjack is a card game played by two or more people in which each player has the chance to win money if their hand value is higher than the dealer’s. In the beginning, players get dealt two cards and must decide whether to hit (ask for more cards) or stand (keep their current cards) based on predetermined rules. The goal is to assemble a card value as close to 21 as possible without going over.
The game relies on mathematics and can be won by learning basic strategy. Computer analysis reveals that for every situation involving the value of the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s card there is exactly one play that gives the highest probability of winning. Following these rules is called basic strategy and will save the average blackjack player a significant amount of money in the long run.
In order to play blackjack correctly, you must learn the game’s rules and keep track of how many decks of cards are in use. This is important because if the decks are not shuffled correctly the count can change. The best way to do this is with a card counting system such as the hi-lo method. Once you have the count, it is easy to make the appropriate decisions.
Another way to increase your payouts in blackjack is to take advantage of the game’s secondary bets. These bets offer better odds of winning than standard bets, but you must understand the risk involved before making them. The most common secondary bets are splitting, doubling down and taking insurance. Depending on the game and your bankroll, these bets can increase your odds of winning by more than 50%.
Splitting is a good choice whenever your starting two cards are of a pair, such as two nines or two threes. By splitting, you place a second bet equal in value to your original and create two new hands. These hands are then played separately, and you can hit as many times as you want until your either bust or you have a blackjack.
When to hit in blackjack is a bit more complicated than when to stand. The basic strategy chart below will tell you when to hit based on the value of your cards and the dealer’s face-up card. For example, if your hand is valued at 10 or 11 and the dealer’s face-up card is a 9, you should always hit. However, if your hand is valued at 12-16 and the dealer’s face-up card if an ace, you should stand.
When playing blackjack, it is also a good idea to never buy the dealer’s insurance. The dealer’s insurance bet pays 2 to 1 if they have blackjack, but statistically speaking you will lose more money by paying for it than you will win from it. This is because the dealer has a much higher percentage of having a blackjack than you do.