Blackjack is a game of chance and the chances of winning depend on the cards you have in your hand. If you are able to identify a good hand, it will be easier for you to win and beat the dealer. However, there are some hands that can be a lot worse than others and you should always play your cards carefully so that you can minimize losses as much as possible.

Getting the right cards for blackjack is very important and will help you improve your game significantly. It is also important to understand which cards are the best ones and what bets to make when you hold certain types of hands.

A good hand in blackjack is one that can be counted as a natural or a total of 21. This is the best hand in the game and it can pay three to two times your bet, depending on the number of cards in the hand.

The best starting hands for players are cards that combine to make 11 or ten since you can double down your bet, giving you a better chance of making 20 or 21. These hands are also the most common in the game as they are very likely to be dealt to you.

Another good hand in blackjack is a pair of aces and eights, which is a rare combination that gives you two excellent opportunities to beat the dealer’s hand. This is because there are more 10-value cards in a deck than any other card value and statistically, this hand has the highest probability of hitting a 21.

Splitting is also a good option when you are holding pairs of sixes or sevens, because it makes your hand stronger and will increase your odds of winning. Similarly, splitting eights is a good option because it gives you two chances to win a 21, which will be harder for the dealer to get than a 16 will be.

Surrendering is another way to improve your hand and boost your chances of winning. This is usually the best choice when you have a hard 14 or 15 and the dealer has a 10 or an ace showing.

You should never surrender with a hard 18 or 19 because these hands have a high chance of busting, especially when the dealer is showing a ten-value card. These hands are also very difficult to win with as the odds of losing them are extremely high.

Soft hands are a good option when you are playing blackjack online. They are very beneficial because you can adjust your hand’s total whenever you want and you will not go bust. This is because you will be able to change the value of your ace at any time, which can be useful when the dealer’s card is weak.

The most common starting hands in blackjack are cards that combine to make eleven or ten, as these have the highest chances of making 20 or 21. You can then double your bet and have a higher chance of beating the dealer’s hand.