Blackjack is a game of chance where the players try to beat the dealer’s hand by getting cards totaling as close to 21 as possible without going over. This is called “busting” and a hand that goes over 21 automatically loses the player’s bet.
The rules of blackjack are very simple and the best way to win is by implementing a strategy. The goal of any good strategy is to avoid busting and to take advantage of the dealer’s weak hands to maximize your winnings.
Basic blackjack strategies can be learned by reading charts that show the strength of various hands based on the number of decks in play and the amount of betting per hand. These can be found at casinos or online and they’re an excellent resource for a novice to learn the game.
When playing face up, you’ll need to follow hand signals to indicate what move you want the dealer to make. You can tap the table or point with your finger. You can also double down by placing an additional wager in a separate stack on the table and holding up a finger.
In some games, you can make an insurance bet which pays 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack. It’s a great way to increase your winnings and is very popular at casinos.
The house edge in blackjack is usually less than 1% for a player with a sound strategy. It can be higher for a poor player or if the dealer’s up card is bad, but it’s still lower than most other casino games.
How to Deal the Cards
The dealer will deal two cards to each player and one card to himself. The dealer then has the option to stand (stop drawing cards) or double down. He can also choose to hit if he would like to receive another card.
If a player’s first two cards are an ace and a “ten-card” or picture card, they have a natural or “blackjack” which is the best hand in blackjack. This is paid 3 to 2 or up to 50% more than any other hand.
When the dealer is showing a ten up, they will check their hole card before anyone can play their hand. If they have an ace underneath, they have a natural and all bets on the table are taken except for player blackjacks, which just pushes.
Counting the Cards
Each card is worth a certain value depending on how many other cards are in the deck. The card values range from 2 to 10 for face cards and from one to 11 for aces. You can also count the ace as either 1 or 11, depending on which helps your hand the most.
There are different counting systems available to use, but most beginners just stick with the Hi-Lo method. The reason is that it’s the easiest system to use and gives you a better chance of winning.
The best blackjack apps for Android and iOS are developed by Intellifactor, which has near 5-star ratings on both platforms. Their Coach app is a popular choice for beginner blackjack players and provides extensive statistics on each hand you play. Its interface is easy to understand and it offers a high level of security. It’s also free and has no in-game ads.