Blackjack is a card game where the objective is to beat the dealer. The game is played by placing a bet and then drawing cards until your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s. Each card has a value; the number cards are worth their face value, and the Jack, Queen, and King are worth 10 points. An ace counts as 1 unless this brings your hand over 21, in which case it counts as 10.

You can increase your chances of winning by playing the game smartly. There are a few basic rules to remember when playing blackjack, which can help you minimize the house edge (HE). These rules include:

One of the most important things that casinos look for in a blackjack dealer is the ability to manage personal bias. This is because dealers are on the front line of ensuring that all players’ games are conducted fairly. Hiring managers will want to know that you can handle difficult situations with tact and professionalism, especially when dealing with regular players.

The house edge is a measure of how much the casino expects to lose on every bet that it accepts. It is calculated using a mathematical formula that incorporates probability. The house edge is affected by many different factors, including the number of decks used, shuffling and dealing procedures, doubling down allowing, splitting hands, late surrender, resplitting aces, and more. Some of these factors may seem minor, but their effects can add up to significant losses over the long run.

There are some misconceptions about the math of blackjack. For example, some players believe that you should always take insurance (a bet that the dealer has a ten-value card) even though it pays out at a rate of one and a half times your bet if the dealer has a blackjack. This is a mistake because the probability of the dealer having a ten-value card depends on what other cards will be dealt, and it is not known in advance.

Other misconceptions include that the suits of cards matter, and that doubling down is a surefire way to win. In truth, the suit of a card only matters in some rare variations of the game. Doubling down is a good strategy when the dealer has a weak upcard, and it can also be a good way to make money in crappy situations. However, it is a risky strategy that can result in big losses if you don’t understand the rules of the game well. It is therefore best to stick with basic strategy.