In blackjack, the objective is to beat the dealer. If either the dealer or the player busts, both lose. When both players and the dealer have the same point value, the game is called a push. In a push, neither the player nor the dealer wins. Because each player has a separate game from the dealer, a dealer can lose to one player while a player can win a bet. But a push can also happen when the dealer busts the player.

Hit versus stand

When to Hit or Stand in Blackjack? If you’re a beginner, you’re probably wondering when to hit or stand. Knowing what you’re doing is essential to avoid costly mistakes. The most important decision to make is when you have an ace in your hand. You should be aiming for a hand total of 17 or more. The dealer will usually have a stronger hand than you, so you’ll want to avoid this situation.

Insurance

While blackjack insurance sounds like an excellent strategy, it isn’t for every player. Although it may seem like a good idea at first, it can cause you to lose money before you even get started. Insurance is a bet that the dealer must have at least a ten, or a picture card, in order to pay you back. Blackjack insurance is not a win-win proposition, and the odds of winning the insurance bet are 2.18-to-1.

Double down

One of the most common mistakes made by new blackjack players is doubling down on an unattractive hand. While this is not a good move in general, there are some cases when doubling down can make you money. Double down on a blackjack card is a simple, yet powerful move that can increase your return on investment. In most cases, paying double down means getting exactly one card instead of two. However, the strategy can increase your overall loss as well.

Surrender

The law of probability and most blackjack strategies only recommend surrender in certain scenarios. For example, surrender in blackjack is best suited for players with an opening hand between 15 and 17 points. This hand is considered to be the weakest of all possible starts, and if the dealer gets a face-up card, they will most likely have a strong hand. This strategy can reduce the house edge by 0.10%. The disadvantage is, however, that this strategy is not available in many blackjack games.

Non-insurable dealer blackjack

Dealer blackjack has two variants: insurance and non-insurable. In non-insurable dealer blackjack, the dealer checks their hole card automatically and takes all of the bets. A player blackjack, if it is a higher value than the dealer’s card, is a push and will not receive payouts. Insurance is only offered when the dealer has an ace. Non-insurable dealer blackjack is the most common variation of the game.