Blackjack is a game where you compete against the dealer. Each player starts with two cards and tries to make a hand that totals closer to 21 than the dealer’s. If you have a hand value of 21 from the first two cards, it’s called a natural blackjack and you win. If your hand is lower than the dealer’s, you lose. However, if your hand is equal to the dealer’s, it’s a push and you neither win nor lose.

During your turn, you may wish to double down if you feel confident that one more card will help your hand. Doubling down requires that you increase your initial wager by as much as twice. This is a risky move and it is not for the faint of heart, but if you do well at this bet, your winnings can be substantial.

The dealer’s turn is after yours, and he or she will draw cards to his or her hand until it is a total of 17 or higher. If your hand is better than the dealer’s, you win and are paid 1/1 for your bet. If your hand is worse than the dealer’s, you lose your bet and you are paid 2/21 if you win.

When to hit

It is best to hit when your hand has a total value of 11 or less. This is because you have a good chance of beating the dealer’s hand, and the odds are in your favor. However, if your hand has a total of 18 or more, it’s usually better to stand.

When to split

If you have a pair of 8s or Aces, it’s always better to split them. This is because, in the case of Aces, splitting results in a higher value hand and allows you to cut your losses or win more money based on the dealer’s up card. In addition, splitting a pair of 8s will improve your chances of getting a blackjack by increasing the likelihood of obtaining an ace.

A blackjack strategy chart will tell you what to do in each situation based on the total value of your hand and the dealer’s up card. While this isn’t a perfect strategy, it will give you a better chance of winning than if you simply follow your instincts. Moreover, it’s easy to remember and more practical than trying to memorize the perfect strategy for every possible hand and dealer up card combination. Moreover, the more you practice, the more you’ll learn about the game. Therefore, you’ll become a more confident and skilled blackjack player with time.