Blackjack is a casino table game played by a player against the dealer. The objective is to have a hand value that exceeds the dealer’s, without going over 21. Blackjack is a popular casino game because its rules are simple and have remained the same over time. Its popularity also lies in the fact that players can reduce the house edge to less than 1% (rules dependent) by following a basic playing strategy.

The game starts when the players place their bets and the dealer deals two cards to each player and two to himself – one card face up and the other face down. The player then decides whether to stand, hit, surrender, double down, or split. The dealer then acts last, either standing on a hand of 17 or more, or hitting on a hand of 16 or less.

A hand of blackjack is a combination of an Ace and either a 10 or a face card. This is an automatic 21 and can’t be beaten by the dealer, unless they have a pair of Aces themselves. A player’s untied blackjack hand is called a push and the player receives their original bet back.

Blackjack has a number of side bets that allow players to increase their winnings. A common one is insurance, where a player wagers half of their original bet that the dealer has a 10. If the dealer does have a 10, the player wins and is paid 2-to-1.

Another way to win at blackjack is by counting cards, which gives the player an idea of how many high-value cards are left in the deck. Using this information, the player can then adjust their bet size accordingly and increase their chances of winning. However, card counting is not easy to learn and requires a significant amount of practice.

A player can also choose to surrender if they feel that their hand is unlikely to beat the dealer’s. This is done by putting down their initial bet and forfeiting the rest of the hand. This is a useful option to have when the dealer has an ace and you believe that you will bust. Players can also increase their bets through the use of side bets, such as the double down. Side bets are a great way to boost your bankroll, but it is important to know the risks involved. Side bets should only be used when the player is confident that they will win. Otherwise, they can lead to a large loss.