Blackjack is a card game that is played at a table of 2-7 players using one or more 52-card decks. The goal is to accumulate cards that total as close to 21 without going over (known as busting).

Rules for blackjack vary from casino to casino. If you’re not sure, ask at the cashier or at a live dealer table.

The highest possible hand is a “blackjack” or “natural,” which has an initial two-card total of 21. This hand wins automatically unless the dealer also has a blackjack, in which case the player is awarded 3:2.

Some casinos allow a side bet on the dealer’s hand; this is called “insurance.” If the dealer has a blackjack, the insurance bet pays 2-to-1.

Blackjack tournaments are a popular form of blackjack. In these, players start with an equal amount of chips and compete for the top chips at the end of a set number of deals. Some tournament formats, such as Elimination Blackjack, require the lowest-stacked player to be eliminated from the tournament at certain points during play.

A good strategy for playing blackjack can help you win a larger percentage of the time. There are many books and websites that purport to teach you how to beat the odds in casino games. However, most of these are misguided and usually inaccurate.

Basic strategy is the most effective way to play blackjack. It teaches you to read the dealer’s face up card and count the cards to determine the best move. This can make a significant difference in your blackjack payouts and reduce the house advantage.

The house advantage is typically less than 1%, but it can be much higher if you don’t follow basic strategy. The house advantage for a blackjack game can be calculated by adding the average dealer’s edge to the player’s expected loss.

Tie losses: A tie is a very common occurrence in blackjack, and it’s a great way for the house to win. Ties are usually paid out at a lower payout than a winning blackjack, so they can quickly rack up large amounts of money for the house.

Some casinos offer a “no tie” rule. This means that if the dealer’s hand is a tie, the player’s bet is returned without any payout. This is a terrible rule for the player, and it’s especially bad in single-deck blackjack games where the house edge can be over eightfold.

Payouts for Blackjack:

The most common payout for a winning blackjack is 3:2, but this can be increased to as high as 6:5. Some casinos offer a side bet that pays out 1:1 if the player’s total is a natural, and this has become more prevalent in Las Vegas since 2003.

Double down restrictions: A player can only double down if the first two cards he’s dealt are an Ace and a 10-value card. This limits the possibilities of getting a good total, but it does keep you from losing more than you’d expect.