Blackjack is a casino game in which the objective is to build hands that total 21 (or as close as possible) without going beyond. A hand can beat out its dealer if its value surpasses 21, or go bust (break). Playing and winning can be extremely thrilling!
To start playing blackjack, the first step is placing your bet. This can be accomplished either by placing chips into the betting circle or making your bet using the dealer’s table marker. After placing a bet, the dealer will distribute two cards – one facing up and the other down – to each player as well as herself; she then checks if she has achieved a natural blackjack (ie an 11 on both cards); if so, play continues as normal; otherwise all bets are returned back to players.
After this step is completed, it’s up to the player to decide whether to hit or stand. If you would like another card added to your hand, lightly tap on the table to signal this to the dealer; an extra card will then be provided and will increase its total value. Conversely, if your hand already contains enough strength then tapping your table could also signal this desire – signalling to them you want to stand.
Decidng when and whether to double down or split pairs is another key decision in blackjack. As a general guideline, always split aces and eights in order to create more hands, while other pairs should only be split if the dealer’s upcard is below 7. Certain players known as tell players can read dealers’ hole cards effectively in order to gain an advantage against the house.
Once all players have completed their hands, the dealer will reveal her card. She will hit any hand that has a value of 16 or less while standing on those 17 or higher; additionally she may bust if her own hand exceeds 21 points.
A sharp memory is crucial for any blackjack dealer; she must recall which cards were dealt and discarded as well as those played by each player to know when it’s time to reshuffle the deck and offer new ones to her customers. She relies on her good memory to know when it is necessary to ask players to hit or stand, as well as keep track of winning players’ bets and payouts so she can pay them out as appropriate. Blackjack dealers have the responsibility of ensuring all bets are placed correctly and paid out promptly, while also communicating in an friendly and professional manner with other employees and customers. Furthermore, they must be comfortable working in an environment frequently exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke as well as moderate noise levels.