Blackjack is a card game that requires players to be able to make the correct decision in every situation. It is also a game of luck, and winning streaks and losing streaks can both happen. Learning basic strategy can help players avoid making costly mistakes and maximize their chances of success. The first step is to understand the rules of the game, including when to hit, stand, double down, and split pairs. Players should also be familiar with the points value of each card.

To begin the game, players must place their bets in a circle or square on the blackjack table. The dealer will then give each player two cards. The player may ask for another card (hit) or stand if they are satisfied with their current hand. Unlike poker, the suits of the cards do not have any effect on the game. The cards are valued at their numerical value in blackjack. A king is worth 10 points, while an ace is worth either one or 11 points depending on the type of blackjack being played.

After the players have placed their bets, the dealer will look at her hole card. If she has a ten underneath, she will offer insurance, which is a side bet that pays out at 2 to 1 on the original wager. Buying insurance is a poor choice, as the odds of the dealer having a blackjack are much lower than those of the player.

The dealer will continue to hit until she has a total of 17 or higher. If her cards are closer to 21 than the player’s, the dealer wins the game. Players can also win by having a higher total than the dealer, which is known as “busting.” If the dealer’s hand is equal to or less than the player’s, the game is a tie and the player’s bet is returned to him.

A good blackjack player can use a card counting system to increase their chances of beating the dealer. The most popular system is called the hi-lo method, but there are many other methods to try. The idea is to keep track of the running count and the true count, which is calculated by dividing the running count by the number of decks in play. A higher true count means more high cards and a greater chance of making blackjacks.

Splitting pairs in blackjack is a great way to improve weak hands and make them more competitive. However, the player must be careful not to over-split. Generally, it is best to stick with splitting aces and eights, as well as pairs of sevens, sixes, threes, and twos. It is also a good idea to split any pair that contains a dealer’s upcard of two through nine. However, splitting pairs of tens is not recommended, as this will just create two weak hands that are unlikely to beat the dealer.