Blackjack is a card game for players who want a better chance at winning than the house. It involves forming a hand of cards with a total higher than the dealer’s, but not exceeding 21. Going over 21 is called busting and is an automatic loss. The game is played on a semicircular table that can accommodate up to 7 players (or “spots”), with the dealer standing behind the table and chips.

Before the cards are dealt, each player places a bet. The minimum and maximum bets are usually posted on the table. The dealer then deals each player two cards, face up. Players then decide whether to hit, stand, split or double down. The dealer must hit on hands of 16 or less, and stand on 17 through 21, unless the player has a blackjack, which pays out 3 to 2. A dealer’s card facing up is known as an “upcard” and the dealer may offer insurance to players.

If the dealer has a blackjack, all other players automatically lose their bets. If no one has a blackjack, the player with the highest hand value wins.

Novice blackjack players tend to play their hands too conservatively. They’ll often hesitate to hit when they should, or fail to split pairs and double down as frequently as they should. This gives the house a big advantage, but expert players know how to take advantage of every opportunity.

The most important thing to remember about blackjack is that all probabilities are conditional. They depend on what other cards are dealt and will change with each new deal. Therefore, it’s important to make accurate estimates and not rely on past results.

A common myth is that the house edge in blackjack is under 0.5 percent. This is false, because there are many factors that affect the house edge, including the number of decks used, the method of shuffling and dealing, doubling down allowing, splitting of pairs, late surrender, resplitting aces, and other rules. These effects are compounded over time because blackjack is a game of repetition.

The best way to minimize the house edge in blackjack is to play only when the odds are favorable. This means not only playing at reputable casinos, but also avoiding side bets and other games that add to the house’s edge. Also, getting rated and asking for comps is another great way to reduce the house edge. However, even with optimal strategy, the house edge in blackjack is still significant. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of how the odds change with different rules and strategies. By knowing this, you can avoid making expensive mistakes.