Blackjack is a casino game in which you compete against the dealer to have a hand value closer to 21 than theirs. The game has different rules and variations depending on where you play. Regardless of the game, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with basic strategy and betting systems before playing. These will help you win more hands and increase your winnings.

You can find many blackjack resources online and in print. The most common are blackjack strategy charts, which display the best way to play a hand given your cards and the dealer’s up card. These are available in most casinos and some even allow players to use them at the table.

A key element of blackjack strategy is knowing when to hit and stand. This will depend on the total value of your cards and the dealer’s up card. Generally, it’s best to hit when your cards add up to 11 or less. This is because you cannot bust when you have a hand of this value, but you’ll likely lose when the dealer has a better one.

Another option is to double down when you’re dealt two of the same card and are confident that you’ll beat the dealer. This requires an extra bet equal to your original stake, and it increases your chances of winning the hand by a factor of 2x. However, it’s important to remember that the odds of hitting a double on an initial pair of cards are only 28.1%, so this is not a guaranteed win.

Some players will also double down on a hard 11, which is the strongest starting hand in blackjack. This is an excellent strategy because it increases your chance of beating the dealer, but you should only do this if you have confidence that you’ll beat the dealer’s up card. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting your money.

Lastly, it’s crucial to set losing and winning limits before the first hand is dealt. This will help you stay in control of your bankroll and ensure that you don’t get too cocky about your wins. If you hit your losing limit, remember responsible gambling and take a break or end your gaming session. Similarly, if you reach your winning limit, make sure to collect your profits and leave the table.

Some players will keep a running count of the cards as they’re dealt, adding up the values to create a total. This is difficult to do in a live game, as the dealer will usually deal each card quickly and quietly, but you can practice by using a single deck and keeping track of your total. You can also practice keeping a true count, which takes your running total and divides it by the number of decks in play. This will give you a more accurate picture of how the game’s odds change with the number of decks in play. This method is used by many professional blackjack players and can reduce the house edge to under 1% (rules dependent). A true count requires some math skill but doesn’t necessarily require any prior training or experience.