Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games. It’s a little more involved than a slot machine but not as complex as poker. In fact, it’s a great game for novice players. The game is easy to learn and there are many different strategies for winning.

The basic objective of blackjack is to beat the dealer by drawing a hand value that goes over 21. However, there’s a lot more to it than that. There are rules of etiquette and strategy that must be followed to play the game well. In addition, there are a number of side bets that can be made. Some of these bets pay better than others. To make the best bets, players need to understand how each of these bets work and when they are appropriate.

When playing blackjack, the dealer deals each player two cards face up. Each player then decides whether to hit and receive additional cards or to stand and keep their current hand. Players are allowed to hit as often as they want, but should always be careful not to go over 21.

Some casinos will allow players to take insurance bets. This is a side bet that pays 2 to 1 when the dealer has an ace up. To place an insurance bet, a player places their chips in the “insurance bar” above their cards. The dealer then looks at their down card and pays off the bet if it’s a blackjack or collects the bet if it is not.

Another common side bet in blackjack is called the surrender. This bet allows players to give up their hand and get half of their original wager back. The dealer will then continue dealing the cards to the remaining players at the table. Generally, the surrender bet is not taken very often.

In some variants of the game, the dealer may allow players to split their cards if they have two cards of the same value. To do this, a player places an additional wager equal to their original bet. Then, they play the two hands separately until either a stand or bust occurs.

While the basic rules of blackjack are fairly simple, there are a few exceptions to the rules that you should be aware of. For example, some casinos will reduce the 3 to 2 payout on blackjacks to 6 to 5. This increases the house edge and makes counting cards more difficult.

Once all the players have placed their bets, you can begin dealing. Begin with the player on your left and deal a card to them, placing it in front of them. Then, move to the next player and repeat. When you’re done, you should collect all the used cards and put them in a discard pile. If you’re dealing in a casino, they will have a specific tray for this. Otherwise, you can use a regular trash bin. Then, shuffle the decks and start the round again.