Blackjack is a card game that involves skill, strategy, and luck. Some of the best strategies for blackjack are based on probability analysis, but players can also use betting methods to improve their chances of winning. Effective bankroll management is essential for long-term success. Players should set a budget for their blackjack sessions and predetermine how much they are willing to risk per hand. This will help them avoid making impulsive decisions after losing hands, and minimize the chances of financial strain.

While a winning streak can boost your confidence, it is important to remember that blackjack is a game of chance. The more you play, the more likely you are to experience both wins and losses. It is recommended that you stick to a basic betting strategy and only bet one to two percent of your total bankroll per hand. This will prevent you from making impulsive decisions after a big win or emotional decision after a bad loss.

Keeping a running count is a popular technique for improving your blackjack skills. It requires a deck of cards and the patience to turn them over one by one, adding up their values as you go. You can also practice with a computer program that will keep track of your total for you. Once you’re comfortable with counting, you can try your hand at blackjack with a live dealer.

Another way to improve your blackjack experience is to learn the dealer’s strategy. It’s important to know whether the dealer should hit or stand on a given hand value. Generally, a dealer should not stand on a soft 17 when holding an ace and a 10 because this gives them a very high chance of busting.

It’s also wise to hit a hard 11 against a dealer’s 2 or 3 upcard, as this will lose you less money than standing. However, many players fear busting, so they will instead stand on their hands when they have a value of 12 or higher. This is a mistake, as you will lose more money in the long run by standing on your hand than hitting it.

Doubling down is a profitable option in blackjack, but you should only double when it makes sense. This is usually when your first two cards add up to nine or higher, and you’re facing a dealer with a low upcard. If you have a hard 11, for example, it’s worth increasing your bet by up to two times in order to draw an additional card and increase your odds of beating the dealer’s hand.

You can also double down on 8s and split them if the dealer has a 7 or higher. This will give you significant gains compared to splitting any other pairs, and it is the best strategy for both Aces and 8s. This is because a pair of eights can always be improved by the addition of a seventh card, while a pair of Aces will benefit from the fact that you can only hit each hand once, based on the dealer’s upcard.