Blackjack is one of the few casino games that offers a strategy which can significantly reduce the house edge. However, it requires skill and training on the part of the player. A player who understands the rules of the game and follows a proper counting system can improve their chances of winning.

The objective of the game is to form a hand with a total higher than that of the dealer, without exceeding 21. The hand must consist of at least an ace and one or more face cards (Jack, Queen or King) or a combination thereof. A hand that has an ace and a 10 is called a blackjack and is valued at 21 points. The ace is worth 1 point, and the other cards are valued according to their numerical value.

Modern blackjack is usually played with a deck that has been cut and shuffled, but not completely emptied of cards. The cards are distributed to the players who then place their wagers in the betting boxes on the table. Each player may choose to “hit” and receive more cards or “stand” and keep their current hand. Once the player’s bets are placed, the dealer will reveal his or her card and play the hand accordingly.

After the player has finished playing their hand, the dealer checks to see if they have a blackjack by looking at the hole card or using a special viewing window on the table. The dealer then pays off any insurance bets and the game continues.

Many casinos offer side bets in addition to the traditional blackjack bets. These side bets can add excitement to the game, but they also increase the house’s advantage over the players. Some of these side bets include:

Before each hand, the player must place their initial wager in the betting box on the blackjack table. This bet is known as the initial or original bet. Some blackjack games require that a player place a wager on both the initial bet and a side bet in order to play. Others require that the player’s initial blackjack wager equal or exceed any side bet wager.

The game is governed by a set of rules that establishes the minimum and maximum bet amounts, as well as the rules for splitting, doubling down and surrendering. The game is also regulated by state and national gambling laws.

When a player has a blackjack, they win immediately unless the dealer has a blackjack as well, in which case the hand ties. If the dealer has an ace showing, some dealers will offer a side bet on the player’s blackjack, offering even money instead of the standard 3-2 payoff.

The house edge in blackjack is based on the fact that players must decide whether to hit or stand before the dealer plays their card. A player who hits a hand with a value of 17 or more is likely to bust, while a player who stands is likely to win. These probabilities are reflected in the mathematical formulas for the game, but they are not constant and change as each new card is dealt.