Blackjack is a game of skill, strategy and math. It may feel like pure luck to some, but the truth is that there is always a right answer and a wrong one to every decision you make at the blackjack table. The right choice will increase your chances of winning big, while the wrong one will give you a huge disadvantage. The goal of the game is to get as close to 21 as possible without going bust. If you can do this better than the dealer, you will win the round. Several factors can affect the outcome of the game, including the dealer’s upcard and your hand total.
The first step is to find a blackjack table and select a seat. Usually, a blackjack table will have empty seats, unless chips or a coat are holding the spot for a player who just stepped away. You can also join a table that is already in progress, provided the dealers haven’t shuffled yet. However, some casinos have a no-midshoe entry policy that requires you to wait until the shuffle has taken place before joining a blackjack table.
Once you have selected a seat, the dealer will deal each player two cards face up. The player can then decide whether to ask for another card (‘hit’), or stand their hand (‘stand’). Once all players have acted, the dealer will reveal his own hole card and either stand or draw additional cards until he has a total of 17 or more. The dealer will pay any stakes won by players who have a higher count than his, and he will collect any losing wagers from those who have a lower count.
Many experienced blackjack dealers are adept at not giving away any tells. However, newer dealers may be more likely to display obvious tells because they haven’t spent as much time working at a blackjack table. This is especially true of dealers who work at high-roller tables. A seasoned dealer knows how to mask his expressions, and the way he holds his arms when speaking, in order to keep his tells secret.
Novice blackjack players often miss golden opportunities to maximize their wins. They tend to play conservatively, standing too frequently when they should hit, and failing to double down and split pairs as often as they should. They also hesitate to hit 16 against a dealer’s 7, or split a pair of 2s against a dealer’s 4. In doing so, they give up a lot of money to the house. Expert players, on the other hand, are more aggressive and exploit every opportunity to maximize their wins.
When a dealer has an Ace up, some players will try to trick him into taking insurance. By placing a side bet of 1 chip, the player can convince the dealer that they have a blackjack, and win a 2-1 payout instead of the standard 3-2 on their initial bet. However, this is generally considered a cheating move and will probably result in the player getting ejected from the casino for violating gambling rules.