Blackjack is a casino card game in which players compete against the dealer to make the best hand. The goal is to accumulate cards with a total higher than the dealer’s without going over 21. Each player is dealt two cards. They can choose to hit (request more cards) or stand (stop playing) based on predetermined rules. The dealer also receives two cards and must hit if his or her hand is lower than 17 or bust.

The best way to win at blackjack is to understand the odds and the basic strategy. This will help you beat the house edge, which is about one-third of the total bet. In addition, it’s essential to manage your bankroll effectively. Generally speaking, you should never wager more than one to two percent of your total bankroll per hand. This will help you avoid making impulsive decisions and prevent financial strain.

Some casinos offer side bets that increase your payouts and the odds of winning. The most common of these bets is splitting pairs, which allows a player to create two hands from a single pair of cards with the same value. This requires a second bet equal to the initial wager, and you must play each hand independently. Other side bets, such as doubling down, allow players to double their initial bet and receive one additional card in the hopes of improving their hand.

In addition to the basics of blackjack, players should familiarize themselves with terms related to the game and its etiquette. For example, a player should not leave currency in the betting box, as this could confuse the dealer. It is also important to know when to hit or stand based on the dealer’s face-up card. Generally, you should hit when your hand value is 11 or below and when the dealer’s face-up card is 9 or higher.

Another term you should understand is the concept of a true count. This is a number that reflects the relative values of high and low cards in the remaining decks. In blackjack, the true count is calculated by adding the running count to the total number of cards in the shoe and dividing by the number of decks left. Ideally, you want to bet more money when the true count is high and less when it’s low.

Lastly, players should always double down when the dealer shows a 10. This plays against the house edge and increases your chances of winning. In addition, players should look for games that allow double downs after splitting pairs, as this reduces the house advantage by 0.13 percent. Furthermore, players should avoid taking insurance, which is a bad percentage bet because the dealer will make a blackjack one-third of the time.