Blackjack is a card game played by two or more players against the dealer. The objective of the game is to beat the dealer by obtaining a hand that has a total point value higher than 21. This can be done by doubling down, splitting, or standing. Depending on the game variant and rules, one to eight 52-card decks are used. The aces are worth one point, cards 2 through 9 have their respective values, and the tens hold ten points. In addition to these basic rules, different game variations have specific rule changes. These rule changes could affect the outcome of a blackjack hand. Several factors determine the outcome of a blackjack hand, including the player’s knowledge of card counting and his or her ability to make informed decisions. Those who want to improve their blackjack skills should practice with a live dealer and study the game’s strategy and odds. In addition, a blackjack game should be played in an environment where the cards are dealt fairly and players do not feel intimidated by the dealer. If a player has a blackjack, they can choose to take insurance on their next deal. This side bet costs half of the original bet and pays a 2:1 payout in the event that the dealer has a blackjack. Many dealers advise players to take this insurance. The dealer deals two cards to each player, starting with the person to their left. Then, the dealer deals himself or herself a card face up and a second card face down. If the dealer has an ace up, they will offer insurance to the players. Players can choose to pay the insurance, which will cause their original bet to lose (unless they have a blackjack), but their side bet will win. Another factor in blackjack is a player’s desire to continue playing. This desire is a form of utility, and it may explain why players are more willing to accept passive losses than active ones. Some researchers have argued that this preference for passive loss is due to the fact that passive losses do not disrupt play, whereas active losses can. A player can double down on a hand that contains any combination of an ace and a card with a value of 10, as long as the total points of the hand do not exceed 21. The doubling down is known as splitting the pair, and it can be done in multiple ways, depending on the game rules. When a player splits two aces, they can only hit their hands once and cannot receive any additional cards. If the player gets a blackjack on a split hand, they get paid out “Even Money,” which is a 1:1 payout rather than the usual 3:2 payout. After each hand is complete, the dealer collects and shuffles all of the cards that were played, then begins a new round. In some casinos, the dealer also takes all of the chips that players paid for insurance and puts them into the bank.