Blackjack is a game of skill in which the player attempts to beat the dealer. The game is played on a semicircular table that can accommodate up to seven players (or “spots”). Players place their bets before the cards are dealt. Then, the dealer deals each player two cards face up and players decide whether to hit (ask for another card) or stand. If a player’s hand totals 21 or better, they win the game. If the dealer’s hand totals 20 or less, they win the game unless they bust.

Expert players exploit every opportunity to increase their wins, meaning they will double and split more often when the odds favor doing so. Novice players, on the other hand, tend to play too conservatively and will stand more often than they should. They will often hesitate to hit a 16 against a dealer’s 7 or to split a pair of 2s against a dealer’s 4. In the long run, these mistakes cost the player more money than they would have lost by hitting.

Fortunately, there are many guides to optimal blackjack strategy. The most common is the Basic Strategy chart, which shows what a player should do given the value of their hand and the dealer’s up card. This chart will tell you to hit, stand, or double depending on the situation.

Some players attempt to gain an advantage by keeping a running count of the cards as they are dealt. However, counting cards takes a lot of mental energy and can be quite difficult, especially when playing multiple hands. It is also important to understand that counting does not change how you should play; it only makes the decision-making process more complicated.

Aside from the basic strategy chart, some players may find it helpful to study up on a few specific rules in the game of blackjack. These strategies will not make you a perfect blackjack player, but they will greatly reduce the amount of money you lose. Besides, they are much easier to remember than perfect blackjack strategy, which is a large list of rules that you will likely forget. If you’re a beginner, I recommend starting with these simple charts and then moving on to more advanced ones. You’ll be surprised how much better your blackjack results will be after learning the rules. You can print out these charts so you can refer to them while you play.