Blackjack is a popular card game in which players compete against the dealer to win money. The dealer’s hand is compared to the player’s hand, and if the player’s hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, the player wins and is paid an amount equal to their original wager. If the player’s hand is equal to the dealer’s, the hand is a tie and the bet remains on the table. If the dealer’s hand busts, the player loses.

The house edge in blackjack is a fraction of one percent, but the game’s rules are simple and the strategies for winning can be learned quickly. There are many ways to improve your chances of beating the dealer, including counting cards and using shuffle tracking. However, these methods are not legal in most casinos and if the casino knows that you’re counting cards they may ask you to leave.

Basic strategy is the recommended method for playing blackjack, and it helps reduce the house edge. It recommends that players stand on 17 or higher and hit on 16 or lower, depending on the dealer’s up card. It also recommends the correct play for splitting pairs and doubling down, based on the specific cards in the player’s hand.

There are times when the dealer’s upcard is weak, such as a 5, 6, or 7. In these situations, it is advisable to hit rather than standing. This is because the dealer has a high probability of busting, and hitting can make your hand better.

On the other hand, if the dealer is showing a 10, it is generally better to split your pair of nines. This is because there are four times as many ten-value cards in the deck as other ranks. In addition, if the dealer hits on a 10 it is likely to bust, and you will be able to win the hand more often by splitting than by staying.

The best way to win a blackjack tournament is by having the highest number of chips at the end of each round. This can be achieved by betting more than your opponents, and by doubling down when necessary. Although this is a risky move, it can be the only way to overtake the chip leader and win the tournament.

A blackjack tournament is a series of rounds where each player plays against the dealer in a fixed number of hands. At the end of each round, the player with the most chips is declared the winner and awarded a prize. Each player must also be careful not to exceed the maximum number of bets allowed. If a player goes over 21, they are eliminated from the competition. The remaining finalists then play a final round to determine the tournament champion. Each finalist receives a share of the prize pool, with the winning player receiving the biggest share. The rest of the finalists receive smaller fractions of the prize. The total value of the prize pool is typically thousands of dollars.