Blackjack is a card game in which players try to build a hand value as close to 21 as possible without going bust. It is played on a semicircular table that can accommodate up to seven players. Each player is dealt two cards. Players can ask for more cards (hit) or stand on their current hand (stand). Players can also double down, split pairs, and make side bets. A good understanding of basic strategy can help reduce the house edge to less than 1%.

Before playing blackjack, learn about the rules and procedures of the game. Having a clear understanding of these will help you make the best decisions at the table. In addition, knowing the difference between hard and soft hands can help you optimize your play.

A hard hand is a hand that includes an ace and any other card valued at 10 or higher. A soft hand is a hand that does not include an ace and any other card with a value of 10. When it comes to the dealer’s cards, you can either hit (request another card) or stand (keep your current hand). Choosing to hit will increase your chances of improving your hand. However, you will need to be willing to accept the possibility of busting.

When you split your starting pair, you place a second bet equal to your original wager and then play each card as a separate hand. This is a great way to maximize the value of your initial bet and improve your odds of beating the dealer. In most cases, you should split aces and eights. You should also consider splitting nines, sevens, and sixes if the dealer shows a two or three.

While you are at the blackjack table, practice counting cards to increase your edge over the dealer. This involves keeping a running total of the values of the cards as they are dealt. You can practice this by taking a single deck of cards and counting them as you turn them over. Once you are comfortable with the running total, you can move on to the true count.

One of the most popular side bets in blackjack is insurance, which protects your first two cards against a dealer’s ace. This is a risky bet, as the dealer will often have blackjack and you will lose your entire stake if you do not.

There are many different strategies you can use to beat the dealer in blackjack, but they all boil down to one thing: making better decisions than the dealer. To be a successful blackjack player, you must understand when to hit and when to stand. You must also know when to double down, split, and take insurance.

To develop these skills, you can practice with free blackjack games online. These programs will present you with various scenarios and ask you to choose the best course of action. Most of these programs will also tell you if your decision was right or wrong.