Blackjack is a game that involves both skill and luck. However, a high level of skill will help you to maximise your winnings and minimise the amount that you lose. This is why you should try to follow a basic strategy when playing the game, which will give you an edge over the dealer.

The game of blackjack is played between the player and the dealer. Each player is dealt two cards and the dealer also receives two cards, one face up and one face down. The player’s hand is compared with the dealer’s, and they then have to decide whether to hit, stand, or double down. The aim is to have a higher score than the dealer without going bust.

To do this, the player must know how much a card is worth and what other cards are already in their hand. They must understand that all cards in a player’s hand count as zero points, except for the Ace, which can be either 1 or 11. In addition, they must remember that the value of other cards is based on their rank. For example, a Jack is worth 10 points, while a King is worth 11 points.

A Blackjack game begins after all players have exchanged their money for chips and placed them on the table as bets. The dealer then deals the cards – two for each player, plus one for themselves – and checks to see if they have Blackjack by looking at their faces. If they do, the dealer will pay out the individuals who won their hands. If not, the dealers will take their own cards and act according to predefined rules depending on what their hands add up to.

Some players can tell if the dealer has a good or bad hand by watching how long and at what angle they bend to look at their cards. This can tell them how strong the dealer’s hand is and how likely it is to go bust. However, it is important to remember that a dealer’s bending only gives them an idea of how strong their hand is and cannot tell them how many decks are in play.

Another way that a dealer may unwittingly give players information is by exposing their hole card for an instant before they put it down on the table. This is known as “peeking” and it is against casino rules.

While buying insurance is a tempting option for some blackjack players, it is generally considered a dumb move because a dealer natural 21 only occurs about 5% of the time, so the player will lose an average of 6% on the bet. Therefore, it is a better idea to focus on learning how to count cards and the basics of blackjack strategy. This will give you the best chance of becoming a skilled blackjack player. You should also be aware of the different betting options in blackjack, and how to make the right choice for your situation.