Blackjack is a game of chance that requires a combination of analytical thinking, composure, and tenacity. Unlike slot machines, it is not a pure game of luck and can be won by the player with strategic thinking and a little bit of knowledge of probability theory. The basic rules of the game are easy to learn, but mastering it requires hard work.

The goal of blackjack is to win money by creating a hand totaling higher than the dealer’s without going over 21 points. Number cards count as their value, the jack, queen, and king (“face cards” or “pictures”) count as 10, and aces can count as either 1 or 11, depending on whether adding it to your total would cause you to bust. If you have a hand that beats the dealer’s, you win and are paid an amount equal to your original wager. If your hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s, you tie and receive no payoff.

A common mistake that novice players make is to stick to a general rule such as “Hit below 16 and stand above 17.” This strategy is flawed because it ignores the fact that each situation has its own peculiarities, and a specific chart can help you decide what option is best for every single hand.

Novice players also tend to overplay their hands, attempting to force the dealer to bust and winning large sums of money by making garbage hand values such as pair of 3s. This approach is counterproductive because it leads to over-aggressive play and results in a higher risk of busting. Expert players, on the other hand, are able to balance their risks and rewards more effectively.

Another mistake that novice players make is to place too much emphasis on card counting, which can be very effective in certain situations but is not a good strategy for the majority of blackjack hands. Card counting is not as easy to do as it appears and requires a lot of practice, and it should only be used in conjunction with other strategies such as doubling down, splitting, and taking insurance.

The last mistake that novice players make is to assume that the dealer will always have a blackjack. This is false and can cost you a lot of money. Most dealers will only get a blackjack about 80 percent of the time when they show an ace. Consequently, you should never stand on a hand of 16 against a dealer showing an ace.

Dealing blackjack is similar to dealing poker and can be done by almost anyone with a little training. Start by distributing the cards to the table from left to right. The first card should be dealt to the player to the left of you. Gently slide the card across the table, turning it face up while doing so.

Next, collect all the used cards and put them in the discard holder. You may want to use a cut card (a solid-colored card placed in the deck that indicates where the cards should be separated during the cut) to speed up the process. Once all the cards are collected, you can begin dealing again.