Blackjack is a card game where players compete against the dealer to accumulate cards that total as close to 21 as possible. Players are dealt two cards and can choose to stand (keep their current hand) or request additional cards (hit). The dealer is given one or more cards and must follow specific rules for deciding whether to hit or not. Knowing basic strategy will help you beat the house in most games.
Blackjack strategy is based on probability and can be learned from books or online. A computer analysis of blackjack reveals that for every player action there is a single best play, if followed correctly. These optimal strategies will not guarantee that you win every hand, but they will significantly reduce the house edge over time.
The first step to playing blackjack is making your bets. Once all bets are placed, the dealer will deal each player 2 cards face up. The player can then decide to hit (request more cards) or stick with their current hand (stand). The dealer will then take his turn. The dealer’s turn ends when all players have completed their decisions.
When a player has a combination of an ace and a card with a value of 10 (Blackjack), the player wins the hand. This is known as a “natural” and pays out at a rate of 3:2. A player may also choose to take even money, which means that the dealer will pay out 1 to 1 on their blackjack bet before checking his hole card for a potential blackjack. Taking even money is risky and should be avoided in most situations.
In most casinos, the dealer will ask players if they want insurance if his up card is an ace. The player will place a side bet of half their original bet amount, and if the dealer has a blackjack, they win the bet and the dealer will push their hand. This is a very risky bet and should not be taken unless the player has a strong feeling that they will win.
The dealer will then reveal his down card and the hand with the highest value wins. If the dealer has a blackjack, they will collect all bets that don’t have a blackjack and will return the player’s original bet.
Many blackjack tables offer hundreds of different kinds of side bets, including betting on a pair as the first two cards, wagering on the dealer’s up-card matching your own, or wagering on the dealer not having a blackjack. These side bets are not part of the game’s objective, but can increase your enjoyment and winning chances. Many of these side bets are not worth the extra work involved in keeping track of them.