Blackjack is one of the few casino games that requires not only a knowledge of its rules, but also the finer points of playing the game well. While many amateur players believe that this is a game of chance, the truth is that blackjack can be beaten through intelligent and strategic play. It is important to understand the game’s etiquette and rules to avoid offending the dealer or other players. In addition, you should know which plays are most effective in different situations. For example, you should hit rather than stand if you have a hand of 12 against a dealer’s 10. This is a mathematically correct decision, and it will lead to the best chances of winning.
Once the players have placed their bets, the dealer will deal each player two cards face up. After each player has decided whether to hit and receive additional cards or to stand, the dealer will reveal their own face-down card and determine whether to continue hitting or standing based on predetermined rules. The player with the highest hand value wins.
There are several variants of blackjack, but the rules are always similar. The objective of the game is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. Each card has a value, either 1 for a number card, 10 for a face card or ace, and 11 for an ace. A player may choose to split or double the value of his/her initial two cards, but he/she cannot split aces.
If a player has an ace and a ten-card, creating a total of 21, it is known as a natural or blackjack. This will win the player immediately unless the dealer has a natural as well. In that case, the dealer will pay out one and a half times the player’s bet amount. In the event of a tie (a push), bets are returned unadjusted.
Some blackjack games offer side bets, which are wagers on specific aspects of the game, such as the dealer’s up-card. Generally, these bets must be placed alongside the blackjack wager. The rules for these bets can vary, but they usually include the requirement that a blackjack wager should equal or exceed any side bet wager.
A blackjack player can attempt to read tells from the dealer’s body language or expressions. These can be subtle clues that indicate how the dealer is feeling about his/her own hand, or how he/she believes the other players’ hands are likely to turn out. However, it takes a great deal of practice to learn the dealer’s tells. Moreover, the dealer’s training in this area can make them less predictable.