Blackjack may appear like an act of sheer chance, but its success lies more in math and statistics. Smart decisions from players can vastly increase their odds of victory; learning the rules can help players become better blackjack players who know when it is necessary to hit, double down, split or walk away.

Before players begin betting, the dealer will distribute two cards and one face up card to each of them. If their initial hand adds up to 21 (an ace and card valued at 10), they win; otherwise they must decide whether or not they wish to add any further cards (hit) or whether to stand (stack).

Blackjack players need to understand the difference between a hard and soft hand, in order to increase their odds of success. When dealing with soft hands, always hit because dealers tend to bust before players do; therefore increasing chances of victory with soft hands. Hard hands should only be hit upon seeing 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 from their dealer.

If a player has the chance to double down in blackjack, they should take it. Doubling allows a player to add another card to their hand which increases chances of creating a strong 21. It is particularly effective when the dealer holds upcard is low like six or less.

Learning card-counting strategies is another way to hone your blackjack skills and increase chances of victory. By keeping track of how many cards are left in a deck, card counting enables you to predict which ones are more likely to appear and bet accordingly – the house edge decreases when true counts rise, so this strategy could help increase chances of victory more often!

Part of being successful at blackjack lies in maintaining a positive mental attitude throughout. Doing this will allow you to avoid making hasty decisions that could drain your bankroll quickly. In addition, setting losing and winning limits before beginning is also helpful; stop playing as soon as you hit these marks.

Many players opt to take out insurance when playing blackjack. This side bet pays 2 to 1 if the dealer gets a blackjack, and can be found almost everywhere casino offers it. Unfortunately, taking insurance often gives an unfair edge to dealers, plus if you fail to achieve one yourself you could end up losing your original bet altogether if a blackjack does not occur – therefore sticking with basic strategy and only hitting hard hands would likely yield better results in terms of profit and satisfaction.