In blackjack, the player’s goal is to beat the dealer’s hand. If the dealer busts, the player loses, as well. The dealer has the advantage in blackjack, since it favors the dealer. However, it can happen that both the player and dealer have the same point value, which is called a “push.” In a push, neither the player nor the dealer wins.

Card-counting

The basic principle behind card-counting in blackjack is to assign a value to each card. For example, a two will have a count of one, while a seven will have a count of zero. Then, as each new card is dealt, you add one more value to the count.

Basic strategy

Basic blackjack strategy is an essential component of winning at blackjack. A proper basic blackjack strategy helps to decrease the house edge and manage risk. In choosing your bet size, you should take into account three factors. First, you should determine your bankroll. Your bankroll is the total amount of money you’re willing to spend on a session of blackjack. This can be a percentage of your total annual gambling bankroll or simply a fixed amount. It’s important to make sure that this amount is separate from any life expenses.

Insurance

Blackjack insurance is a side bet that you can place on the dealer’s hole card. It is a sucker bet and should be avoided by smart players. While it may seem like a good idea at first, statistics prove that the strategy is rarely beneficial.

Doubling after splitting

Doubling after splitting is a strategy that can help you win more often and minimize losses. It’s best to double when you have a pair or higher in your hand. However, if you have no pair, you should not double after splitting. This strategy will help you improve your chances of winning blackjack.

Rules

The rules of blackjack are very basic and are very easy to understand. However, there are some variations to this game that require more knowledge. For example, in three-card blackjack, the dealer keeps the same up-card in all three rounds, but draws a different second card. The player has the right to ask the dealer for one or more additional cards.

Variants of blackjack

There are a number of different blackjack variants. While many of these games are based on the original classic version, there are also some variants that are significantly different. For example, European blackjack uses two decks rather than one.