Blackjack is a card game in which players try to get cards with a total value close to 21 without going over. The player and dealer each get two cards. The player may ask for additional cards (hit) or stick with the cards he or she already has (stand). The goal of the game is to beat the dealer’s hand.

The game is played with one or more standard 52-card decks. The cards are numbered and have a face value of 1 for all number cards, 10 for face cards, and 11 for the Ace. The suit of the card has no bearing on its value. The cards are dealt so that each player has two cards face up and the dealer has one card faced down.

If a player’s first two cards are an ace and a ten-card, the hand is called a “blackjack” and wins immediately. The dealer will pay the player one and a half times his bet if he has a blackjack, but will not collect any extra money from other players who have not yet made their bets.

A Blackjack is considered a winning hand if it has a point total higher than the dealer’s, but not 21. A player with a blackjack is paid out at 3:2 in most casinos. This is a great way to increase your bankroll in the casino without risking too much of your own money.

Another important tip is to learn the basic blackjack strategy. This is a set of rules that tells you the best play for each hand dealt, based on your own cards and the dealer’s up card. This strategy will maximize the amount you win and minimize the amount you lose.

The basic strategy chart can be found in most casinos, and is generally printed on a small piece of paper that can be placed next to the table. This is useful because it can be quickly consulted to help you make the right decision when you are not sure what to do. Some people also like to use index cards and create flashcards with different hands to better memorize the basic strategy.

Another helpful tip is to avoid betting too much money on each round. This will not only keep you from blowing your monthly mortgage, but it will also help you concentrate on playing the correct strategy. The other players at the table won’t impact your decisions, so you should only bet money that you can afford to lose. Frank Scoblete, author of Beat Blackjack Now, suggests setting a limit for how much you’re willing to lose, and only playing within this amount. This will prevent you from getting sucked into the casino’s money-making schemes such as high-roller tables and comps.