Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games. Its objective is to beat the dealer’s hand by having a total that exceeds 21 or not going over when the dealer does. Players have several playing options, including surrender, pair splitting, and doubling down. In addition, they can hit or stand. Using proper playing strategies can reduce the house edge to less than 1% (rules dependent). The game has an interesting history and some of its rules have changed over time.
Counting cards is one of the best ways to improve your chances of winning at blackjack. The idea is to keep a running total of the value of the cards as you go through them, and as more face cards are dealt out your score will increase. Counting systems vary, but most use a simple Hi-Lo method that assigns different values to different cards. Some players even keep a true count, which takes the running total and divides it by the number of decks in play. Casinos are wise to card counters, so they usually deal multiple decks of cards at once. A high true count means more wins for the player, while a low one means the house has the advantage.
Another tip is to avoid side bets, which increase the house edge and lower your odds of winning. While some may offer big payouts, they are not worth the added risk. If you do decide to make them, only wager as much as you can afford to lose. This will help you control your bankroll and allow you to stop playing as soon as you lose a hand.
Some blackjack variants have the option of surrendering, which allows a player to fold their hand and recover half of their original bet. This can be a great blackjack strategy for those times when you know your hand is weak and the dealer is likely to have a better one. This way, you can cut your losses and end the round on a positive note.
Splitting pairs is a good strategy when your starting two cards are of the same value, such as two sevens or two threes. This splits your two cards into two separate hands and you can then play them independently. It’s important to remember that when you split a pair, you can only hit each hand once, and the total for each must be equal to or less than 21.
The dealer draws cards for their hand until they reach 17 or more, and whoever has a higher total than the dealer wins. If the dealer and player have an equal value, it’s a tie or push. If the dealer gets a blackjack, all the players lose unless they have a blackjack as well. The game then ends and the dealer collects the cards, shuffles them, and starts a new round.