Blackjack is a game of skill and strategy that is easy to learn but difficult to master. Using proper strategy, a player can minimize the house edge and win more money than they lose. One way to do this is by counting cards, a practice known as card-counting. However, this requires a high level of mental ability and knowledge of probability theory. Another way is to use a blackjack chart. This is a chart that tells you what decision to make for each hand based on the dealer’s up-card and your own cards. These charts are available online and in many blackjack books.
There are several different blackjack betting charts, each with different rules and odds for hard, soft, split, and double hands. Having a good understanding of these charts will help you understand the probabilities for each situation. The best chart to start with is the basic strategy chart. This will tell you when to hit, stand, and double based on your initial two cards and the dealer’s up-card.
In addition to the basic strategy chart, there are a few other important charts you should know about. These include the dealer’s up-card, which determines whether you should hit or stand; your total, which will let you know if you need to hit or stand; and the rules for splitting pairs. The dealer’s up-card will also tell you whether to take insurance, a side bet that pays 2 to 1 if the dealer has an Ace.
It is important to always follow basic strategy, regardless of how the other players at your table are playing their hands or how much you have won or lost in previous sessions. The other players’ decisions won’t change your chances of winning, but they can affect the amount you earn if you are successful. It is also a good idea to avoid the temptation of increasing your bets when you’re on a streak. This can lead to over-betting, and you could end up losing more money than you originally intended to win.
Whenever possible, split pairs of cards, such as two nines or two threes. This will increase your odds of hitting a 10 or a face card and will give you more chances to beat the dealer. Also, never split eights because they have a very low chance of improving.
If you’re an experienced player, try keeping a running count. To do this, hold a deck of cards in your lap and turn them over one at a time. Add up the value of each card as you do so. After ten or so cards, your count should be equal to zero. You can then switch to a true count, which takes your running count and divides it by the number of cards in play. The higher the true count, the lower the house edge and the more likely you are to win.