Blackjack is a casino card game with simple rules and high odds of winning. But it requires analytical thinking, composure and tenacity to master it. It is a great game for players of all levels.

The basic objective of the game is to beat the dealer by obtaining a hand value higher than theirs without going over 21. Number cards count as their values, the jack, queen and king (known as “face cards” or “pictures”) count as 10, and an ace can count as either 1 or 11 depending on whether counting it would cause the player to bust. A player can also double down or split a pair of cards. If the player has a blackjack, they win immediately, while other winning hands are paid out at even money, except for a dealer blackjack, which is traditionally paid at 3:2.

Players may also place side bets against the dealer, known as insurance bets, which pay out if the dealer has a blackjack. The house edge of these bets is higher than that of the main bet, and it is therefore advisable to avoid them.

There is a way to reduce the house advantage to about 0.5%, one of the lowest profit margins for any casino game, but it takes skill and practice. To do this, a player should choose a table with favorable rules, such as allowing double down after splitting and letting the player stand on soft 17s. In addition, the player should use a card-counting strategy to determine when it is appropriate to hit, stand, or double down.

Many casino players make mistakes that give the house a huge edge over time. Novices play their hands too conservatively, often failing to double down or split pairs as often as they should. They also tend to hesitate to hit 16 against a dealer’s 7, or they may hold back from hitting a pair of 2s against a dealer’s 4. These mistakes add up.

When dealing a blackjack hand, begin with the player to your left. Gently slide the first card across the table, turning it face up as you do so. Then place the card in the box in front of the player. Repeat the process with each subsequent player until all have a card in their box. When a player has a blackjack, they should call out “Even money!” to tell the dealer. The dealer will then take their bet and return the player’s wager with no additional money exchanged between them (a push). Then reshuffle the deck of cards. Deal the cards again to the players, starting with the leftmost player.