Blackjack is a popular game of chance that is played with one or more 52-card decks. The goal of the game is to get a hand totaling 21 or as close to it as possible without going over. Players and the dealer each receive two cards and can choose to take more or stand with their current hand based on rules that apply to both parties.

Basic Strategy

The best strategy is to stick with the same basic strategy throughout the entire game. This is the simplest and least expensive way to play and will allow you to consistently win at blackjack.

Know the betting limits

When playing at a blackjack table, be sure to know the maximum and minimum amounts of money that you can put on the table at any given time. Doing this will help you avoid going over your limit and losing too much of your bankroll.

Make sure to use casino chips or “checks” instead of cash when placing bets. This will save you from getting charged extra fees or losing your money when the casino runs out of cash.

If you are a novice at blackjack, it’s best to practice on a small amount of money before moving up to larger amounts. This will allow you to learn the game quickly and prevent any overconfidence from ruining your chances of winning.

Know when to walk away

When you are winning, it is important to be able to know when to stop. This is especially true if you are running out of chips or if the dealers are not playing well.

A good rule of thumb is to keep your initial minimum bet the same and to up your bet in increments when you have a streak of wins. Increasing your bet too quickly will cause you to lose more than you’d like, and you don’t want to risk going over your limit.

Double Down

If you have a very strong hand and are confident that you will beat the dealer, you can increase your bet by doubling it up to 2 times the original amount. However, this is only recommended in very specific situations.

Insurance

The only side bet that is universally offered on all blackjack tables is insurance, which pays if the dealer’s face-up card is an ace. If the dealer does not have blackjack, your insurance bet is lost; if they do, you will win 2 to 1.

Always remember that the house edge in blackjack is very small and can be greatly reduced by using proper strategy. It is very common for people to become a casual player and then go on to win a lot of money over the long term, but it’s also important to remember that playing blackjack isn’t a sure thing!

Blackjack Tells

The most common form of blackjack tell is the dealer’s hole card. This is the card that the dealer shows when they are first dealt their cards. The dealer’s hole card can be a stiff or a face card and is very important to observe.