Blackjack is a casino card game in which players compete against a dealer to build winning hand of cards. Using between one and eight 52-card decks, cards range in value from 2-10 with face cards such as Jack, Queen and King counting as 10. The goal of the game is to beat the dealer by having a higher total than theirs without exceeding 21; although many consider blackjack simply a game of chance. Strategies also play an integral part.
Beginning a hand of blackjack requires that the dealer discard (or “burn”) one card before dealing two to each player. Each must then decide whether to hit, stand, or split their cards; if they possess two tens they may choose double down by increasing their original bet by twofold if confident of beating their dealer’s hand.
If a player manages to obtain a blackjack, they are paid one and a half times their bet – this can be a lucrative way of making money in the game, but be careful not to make any errors!
Dealers must not only know the rules of blackjack, but must also communicate effectively with players. They should be able to answer players’ queries, explain game regulations and handle unhappy or abusive customers effectively. A dealer is also expected to enforce them, if uncertain or need help clarifying something then summoning their pit boss or another employee could help clarify things further.
A dealer must recognize any cheating or misconduct during a game and stop it before it spirals out of control. He or she also needs to count cards fast enough so as to keep track of all the chips placed by players – this requires practice!
Finally, blackjack dealers should be able to detect any tells that players might give off while playing. This can be particularly challenging for novice players; experienced dealers typically detect these hints quickly; however some players are adept at hiding emotions and avoiding telling signs, making it harder for dealers to spot them.
Blackjack does not use cash as its currency of bet placement; players instead must use casino chips. Most tables accommodate from five to seven players at any one time, and once an empty seat becomes available it can be filled by sitting down (unless someone’s coat or chips have taken precedence over your spot). Before placing cash onto the table it should always be converted to chips so as to prevent confusion between requesting change and placing a bet for future rounds of blackjack.