Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world. It’s played with a conventional 52-card deck. The objective of the game is to beat the dealer by getting a total card value that is higher than the dealer’s but not too much higher. However, there are many variations on the basic rules of the game.

First, players are dealt two cards. These cards are then compared to the face-up card that the dealer has. If the hand exceeds 21, the player loses; if not, he or she wins.

To beat the dealer, the player must have a card total that is higher than the dealer’s but less than 21. This is known as “blackjack.” Ideally, the player wishes to get a hand that is closer to 21 than the dealer. In this way, the player can win, but it will also increase the house edge.

When playing blackjack, the player and the dealer are each dealt two cards. Players can split their cards into two separate hands, but most casinos restrict this to a maximum of three times. Once the player decides to split, he or she must place the second bet next to the original bet.

After splitting, a player can choose to play only one hand or double the bet and play both hands. Regardless, he or she must wait until the end of the round to make a decision.

The player may also buy insurance. This is a side bet offered when the dealer’s up card is an ace. Insurance pays out 2 to 1 if the dealer’s hand is blackjack. Unlike the main wager, the insurance bet is placed on a special section of the table.

Besides insurance, there are several other side bets available in blackjack. For instance, the Super Match pays out if the first four cards contain a pair, two pairs, or three of a kind. Some casinos offer a side bet called “Dealer Match,” which pays out if the dealer’s up card matches the player’s card.

There are also some blackjack variations, which give players different payouts. For example, Spanish 21 is a variation that gives players the option of re-doubling their bet on the same hand.

Blackjack variations have become very popular over the past two decades. However, these do not alter the basic rules of the game. While they do increase the house edge, they do not change the mathematically optimal way to play. Most of the time, a player can beat the house by following the basic strategy.

One of the most common blackjack variations is the Spanish 21. The rules of the game are very similar to the standard version, except that all 10s are removed from the shoe. The aces count as either 1 or 11, and all other cards count at the index value.

Another variation of the game is Blackjack Surrender. Unlike standard Blackjack, Surrender allows a player to recover half of his or her stake if the dealer has a blackjack.