Being one of the most popular casino games in the world, blackjack is a game to know a thing or two about. Learning how to deal blackjack games will surely make your gameplay experience easier yet more enjoyable. Of course, it may be overwhelming to jump into a blackjack game and not know where to begin and how to proceed — that is where we come in! We’re spilling the dealers’ rules for you to increase your chances at beating the house.
In this article, we will be taking you through the blackjack rules for the player and dealer, different sorts of blackjack terms and giving you some tips on how to increase your chances of winning via basic strategy. If you’re ready to take your blackjack knowledge up a notch, then just keep on reading!
WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY BLACKJACK
BLACKJACK CARDS AND THEIR VALUES
IIn blackjack, how to deal cards is one of the prime skills learnt as a dealer. One can even say that blackjack is nothing without playing cards. The game is played using a standard 52-card deck, with each card numbered anything from two to 10, a jack, queen or king (known as picture cards or face cards), or ace. An ace card is worth one point, or 11 points, whilst face cards are all worth 10 points.
These card values make up your hand and determine your position in the game. The number on the card is what affects your hand value, not the card suit or colour; however, the latter can be useful in an additional bet, like a side bet.
Keep in mind that you can opt for playing with a single deck or multiple decks of cards, depending on the game. The house edge of the former is lower than that of the latter. This is due to the fact that card counting tends to be a more commonly used strategy when playing with one deck since it is easier to track, despite being frowned upon.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BLACKJACK TABLE
Blackjack is traditionally played on semicircular tables to allow all the players to sit and play blackjack adequately. The dealer stands at the opposite end of the table, with a card shuffler normally placed on the left side. At most casinos, the shoe is rectangular in shape and may hold up to eight card decks.
On the other hand, online blackjack is based on an RNG software with no dealer dealing the cards or overseeing the gameplay. In this case, betting options and other features should be found at the bottom of the screen.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN BLACKJACK STRATEGY FOR THE PLAYER AND THE DEALER?
The basic strategy in blackjack is rather simple. Players aim to score blackjack or tiptoe as close to 21 as possible without exceeding 21.
In most online and brick-and-mortar casinos, dealers hit on cards with a face value of less than 17. However, a dealer can’t hit on cards like 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21, as this will likely end in a dealer bust.
The main advantage for the dealer is that the players place their bets first. Often, the player will bust and lose the stake before the dealer plays. If the player chooses to stand, the dealer’s hand still has a chance of winning.
Dealers must abide by a set of rules when playing blackjack. The advanced blackjack dealer rules state that dealers are unable to take an insurance bet or double down, split or surrender.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE DEALER?
LIVE BLACKJACK DEALER
A live blackjack dealer shuffles all the cards and deals them while accepting the player’s bet. The blackjack dealer pays players for wins or collects from non-winners. It is important that the dealer oversees the card game and ensures that the game is being played fairly. This prevents moves such as counting cards from occurring throughout the game.
HOW TO DEAL BLACKJACK — WHERE TO START
The real question stands: how do you deal blackjack cards? As we’ve mentioned, putting yourself in the mind of the blackjack dealer helps you understand strategy and better your overall blackjack gameplay. So, how does it all work?
START BY SHUFFLING THE DECK
One of the most important tasks for a blackjack dealer is meticulously shuffling all the cards at hand. This is usually done in front of players to prevent cheating and emphasise transparency. Occasionally, machines could take on the task of shuffling cards.
INVITE PLAYERS TO ORIGINAL BET
Next up, the dealer has players place their initial bets in the betting circle. The dealer is not allowed to place bets on their own hand and dealing cards before all players place their bets is prohibited.
DEAL CARDS CAREFULLY TO THE PLAYERS AT THE BLACKJACK TABLE
The dealer then deals one card face-up to all the players, from left to right. A single card from the top of the deck is slid across the table to the first person on the dealer’s left. The card is flipped face-up in doing so and is set in the box across from the player. Continue giving one card face up to each player from left to right across the table.
FOCUS ON YOURSELF
It is then the dealer’s turn to take a card. The dealer sets one face-down card (hole card) in front of them by taking the next card from the deck. It is important that the dealer presses the card flat on the table to ensure that the remaining players do not see what the value the face-down card has.
The dealer deals everyone (including themselves) one more card. The card is dealt face up, starting with the player on the dealer’s left, and is set on top of the first card so that the numbers are still visible in the corner. The second card face-up is dealt to both the player and the dealer.
TIME FOR PLAYER MOVE
DOUBLE DOWN
If a player is confident with their blackjack hand, they can choose to double down on their original bet. When this happens, the dealer must wait for the player to place another bet before dealing cards.
If the player wins the double down bet against the dealer’s hand, then the player wins double the amount of money. For example, if the player bet €5 initially, and then wins after doubling down, they immediately collect €20 from the dealer.
SPLITTING BET
When players are dealt cards of a same total hand value, they can choose to split, meaning separate the one hand into two hands. The dealer moves the top card over and asks the player to place another bet equal to the first one on the table. One more face-up card is dealt for each hand. If the player gets a blackjack on a split hand, they win the same value of their entire bet rather than 3:2.
BLACKJACK SURRENDER
Depending on the casino version, players may have the chance to surrender in exchange for half of their original wager. The catch is that players must make this decision before the second card is drawn for the other hands.
Casinos usually follow one of two rules when it comes to surrendering. The rule followed is either that the play can surrender before the dealer looks at their hold card OR that a player can surrender after the dealer checks their hand for blackjack.
HIT IN BLACKJACK
The player to the dealer’s left is asked what action they would like to take next. Should the player choose to hit, the dealer will draw the top card from the deck and slide it over to the player.
INSURANCE BET
If the dealer’s face-up card is an ace, players are asked if they want to place any insurance wagers before the dealer’s play begins. Insurance bets must be placed on the insurance line and must be a maximum of half the original bet to be valid.
Players may opt to take even money when the dealer’s upcard is an ace, and the player has blackjack. If the player proceeds, the dealer must pay 1:1 on the player’s initial bet before looking at the hole card.
END THE ROUND AT THE RIGHT MOMENT IN THE GAME
When the dealer ensures every player has played their turn, their face-down card is turned facing up. If the total is 17 or more, the dealer must stand, but if the total is 16 or under, they must take a card. The dealer will continue to draw cards until the total is 17 or more, in which the dealer then stands.
CONCLUSION — LEARN THE SECRETS AND BECOME A DEALER
In blackjack, how to deal cards and take control of the game as a dealer is of utmost importance. You could take your blackjack strategy to a whole new level just by understanding the moves that your opponent, or the dealer, may take.
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FAQ
✅ DOES THE BLACKJACK DEALER ALWAYS HAVE AN EDGE?
It is common for casino games to have a fixed house edge that is usually in the house’s favour. In casino blackjack and live blackjack games, however, the dealer does not always have the advantage. In fact, blackjack is known for offering players the best odds of winning compared to any other casino game, with a house edge of just 1%.
✅ WHEN CAN A NEW DECK OF CARDS BE USED?
In a single-deck blackjack game, the deck is reshuffled after every round. If six to eight decks are used, the cards are shuffled once the cut card has been reached. Therefore, in the latter case, you can play many blackjack hands before the dealer shuffles once again.
✅ DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO LISTEN TO PLAYERS’ REQUESTS?
The dealer must always oversee the actions of every player at the table. Hence, a player’s action must not be skipped without first being asked about their action. Prior to moving on to the next turn, the dealer must wait for the player to communicate any actions or requests, whether through words or hand gestures.