How to Win at Blackjack
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Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games. Its popularity lies in the fact that it is easy to learn and understand, as well as being a highly profitable game when a player follows the right strategies. While it may take years of practice to perfect the art of playing blackjack, even beginning players can improve their chances of winning by following a few simple rules.
The game begins when the dealer deals two cards to himself or herself and then to each player. If your first two cards add up to 21 or higher, you win. You can ask for another card (hit), double down, or stand once you are satisfied with your current hand. However, if you hit and the dealer has a face card, you will lose your bet.
In addition to hitting and standing, blackjack also allows players to split a pair of matching cards such as two eights or threes. If you split your starting cards, you place a second bet equal to the original wager and play them as separate hands. You can also double down on a hard 11, which means you request an additional card while adding to your original bet. However, you can only do this when your first two cards have a value of 11 or lower and the dealer’s showing card is an ace.
Lastly, players can surrender their hand to forfeit it without making any further decisions, but they will only receive half of their initial stake back. This is a good option if your hand looks dubious and you want to avoid risking any more money.
While some blackjack games are played with just a single deck of cards, the majority are played using multiple decks, which are shuffled and dealt out by a dealer. The table area where you sit to play blackjack is known as a pit and is overseen by an often stern-looking casino employee called a pit boss.
Many casinos offer side bets, which are bets that can increase your payouts and odds of winning at blackjack. Generally speaking, you should stay away from these side bets as they tend to have a house edge that is detrimental to your overall blackjack success.
A common side bet in blackjack is insurance, which involves placing an additional bet of half your original stake on the chance that the dealer has a face card with a value of 10. In the event that the dealer does have a blackjack, you will win your insurance bet. Buying insurance is a bad idea, though, as the odds are that you will lose more money paying for the insurance than you will win back by taking it.