Blackjack is a popular casino game where players can try their luck at beating the dealer’s hand. Unlike some other casino games, blackjack is more than just pure chance and can be played with skill and a strategy. While some luck will always be needed, blackjack players can increase their chances of winning significantly by learning and practicing useful strategies that help them to improve the quality of their hands.

This is why it’s important for all blackjack players to familiarize themselves with the basic strategy chart. This chart will provide you with a guide for the best way to play each situation as it arises in the game. You can also consult other charts for specific situations as you play, but the basic one is a good place to start.

It’s also a good idea to practice keeping a running count. To do this, simply take a single deck of cards and turn them over one at a time, adding up the values as you go. Once you have a running total, you can then calculate the probability of getting a blackjack after the deck is reshuffled. This is done by multiplying the probability of drawing an ace with the probability of drawing a ten-value card (there are four of each in a standard 52-card pack) and then dividing by two to account for the fact that both events are dependent on each other.

Another thing you can do to increase your odds of winning is to use side bets. These bets are a bit riskier than the main wager, but they can give you some extra money when you’re in a good spot to win. Just make sure to only place them when you’re confident that you can beat the dealer.

Insurance is one of the most common blackjack side bets, but there are hundreds more that you can choose from. These bets usually involve betting on different things such as whether the dealer’s hole card will be a ten or a face, whether you’ll have a pair as your first two cards, or if you’ll beat the dealer’s hand with the same value as yours.

Aside from the fact that they are generally rigged in favor of the house, blackjack side bets can be very expensive for you. In addition to their high house edge, they are often made with low maximum bets, which means you’ll have a hard time making a big profit on them. This is why they’re so tempting for new blackjack players.