Blackjack is a game where you try to beat the dealer by getting a higher total card than them without going over 21. The dealer is dealt two cards face up and one card face down and the players play against them on a semicircular table that can accommodate anywhere from seven to 12 players (or “spots”). The dealers position is behind the chips and the players are seated on either side of the table.
Before the dealer reveals their face up card, players may choose to buy insurance or surrender. This is a protection in case the dealer has a blackjack. The insurance cost is 50% of the player’s original bet and if the dealer has blackjack, the player loses their insurance bet and the game continues for the initial bet amount. Insurance is generally not a good idea and should be avoided unless you are sure that the dealer has a blackjack.
After the dealer has revealed their face up card, the players are able to decide whether to hit, stand or double down. The dealer will then deal the player one more card if they have chosen to hit. If the player has a total of 21 or more in their first two cards, this is called a blackjack or natural and the player automatically wins the round. A player can also win by beating the dealer’s blackjack or if they have a hand that is closer to 21 than the dealer’s.
The game of blackjack has a very small house advantage over the player, even for a bad player. However, this can be reduced to almost zero percent by following a basic strategy. A good basic strategy is based on the dealer’s visible card and the player’s point total, determining when to hit, stand or double down.
There are a few things that players should know about dealing blackjack before they begin their career as a casino dealer. For starters, a good dealer should be able to perform mental math quickly and be able to follow a list of steps in a procedure. They should also be able to look at the players’ faces and determine what kind of hands they are holding.
In addition to learning basic strategy, blackjack dealers should be familiar with the rules of the game and the number of decks used. They should be able to answer questions about the game and explain the odds to customers. They should also have good communication skills and a pleasant demeanor.
When dealing blackjack, the dealer must be able to read tells from the players. Some of these tells are subtle, but some can be fairly easy to pick up on if you have practiced enough. A professional dealer should be able to read these tells in the same way that they would read an expression on the face of a shopper in a store. Many casinos have training programs for their blackjack dealers to teach them how to recognize these tells.