Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games. It has a long history and is very exciting. There are many ways to play the game, but it is essential that you know the rules and strategies. This will help you win more often and minimize the house advantage.
A blackjack tournament is a competition where players vie for a top prize. It usually involves multiple rounds, with each round consisting of a set number of hands. The winner is the player with the most chips at the end of the tournament. Typically, there are six or seven players at the final table. The winner receives the largest share of the prize money, while the other finalists receive a smaller fraction.
There are several important rules to remember when playing blackjack. The first is to always stand on a hand of 17 or higher, no matter what the dealer’s up card is. You should also hit if your hand is worth 12 or less, unless the dealer has an Ace or face up card. It’s also a good idea to split pairs of eights, nines, sevens, threes, and twos if the dealer is showing a two or six.
To maximize your chances of winning, you should always bet more when the count is positive and less when the count is negative. In addition, you should try to avoid betting more than 2% of your bankroll per hand. This will reduce your risk and keep you from making impulsive decisions.
Effective bankroll management is key to success in blackjack. It is recommended to set a budget for each session and predetermine the amount you are willing to bet per hand. This will ensure that you don’t bet more than you can afford to lose and will protect you from emotional decisions after a losing streak.
In the last couple of decades, blackjack side bets have become popular. These are placed at the same time as the main wager and can change your odds. There are many different types of side bets, but the most common is insurance. Insurance is offered on all blackjack tables and allows you to protect half of your stake if the dealer has a blackjack.
The hi-lo system is a blackjack strategy that involves keeping track of the running count and true count. The running count is the number of high cards dealt minus the number of low cards, while the true count takes into account the number of decks remaining in the shoe. Using this system, you can make the best decision on whether to double down or not. This method has been used by professional players, and Ken Uston won a lawsuit against the casinos for being barred from blackjack because of his skills as a card counter.