Blackjack is a game of skill and chance that requires knowledge of strategy. It is also a very high variance game, meaning that it can have large swings in your bankroll. If you do manage to beat the dealer, it will require a huge bankroll and strong emotional control. The casinos know that this game can be beaten, and they spend an inordinate amount of time watching their tables and sweating the players.
The game of blackjack is played using one or more standard 52-card decks. Each player and the dealer get two cards each. The goal of the game is to accumulate a hand valued at closer to 21 than the dealer’s. The value of each card is determined by its number, with aces counting as either 1 or 11, and face cards as 10.
After all bets have been placed, the dealer will deal the cards to each player. Each player then has the option to “hit” to receive additional cards, or “stand” and keep their current hand. When a player’s hand is worth 21 or better, they win and are paid according to the posted limits. If the dealer’s up card is a 10 or an ace, they must check their hole card and follow a specific rule for drawing additional cards.
Some casinos offer an insurance bet, where the player can place a side bet that pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has a blackjack. This bet is not recommended, as it adds an extra house edge to the game. Effective bankroll management is vital to long-term success in blackjack, and it is best to wager no more than one or two percent of your total bankroll per hand.
Once the players have made their decisions, the dealer will reveal their own cards. If the dealer has a blackjack, they will immediately pay off all players who have a blackjack and remove their cards from the table. If the dealer does not have a blackjack, they will draw cards until their hand is worth at least 16 or they bust.
When to Hit
You should hit in blackjack when your current hand value is 17 or higher and the dealer’s face-up card is 7 or lower. You should also hit when your hand value is 12-16 and the dealer has a face-up card of 7 or higher.
Whenever possible, you should split aces and 8s. You should never split tens, as this will give the dealer an advantage. When splitting aces, you should always hit when the dealer has a low up card and stand if they have a high up card. If the dealer has a blackjack, all players lose the round unless they have a blackjack themselves (in which case the hand pushes). If no one has a blackjack, the dealer collects the cards, shuffles them and begins a new round.