The Job of a Blackjack Dealer
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Blackjack is a game of cards played on a circular table that seats varying numbers of players. Each player and dealer is dealt two cards each. A player may choose to hit (request additional cards) or stand (stop taking cards for the rest of the hand). The goal is to get a total closer to 21 than the dealer. The value of each card is its number, or 10 for face cards and 1 or 11 for aces.
If the player’s first two cards total 21, this is a “blackjack” and the player wins immediately. If the dealer also has a blackjack, the game is a tie. Otherwise, the player’s bet is returned without adjustment.
Side bets are offered on many blackjack games. These can include insurance, which pays when the dealer has an ace up, and player match, which pays when the player’s first two cards match the dealer’s up card. Some blackjack tables even have bonus squares where a high payout is awarded for certain combinations.
Before the dealer deals each player their cards, she checks her own hole card using a special window in the table. If the dealer has a ten underneath, she has a blackjack and everyone else’s original wager is paid out. The dealer will also take any insurance bets that were made at this time.
A blackjack dealer works an eight hour shift daily and is entitled to 20 paid leaves per year. The working conditions for a blackjack dealer are usually good and the pay is relatively high for this type of job.
The game of blackjack is a popular one in casinos and is played by both amateurs and professionals alike. The rules of the game are simple and can be learned in a few minutes. However, it is important to understand the odds of winning to increase your chances of success.
A typical casino offers multiple tables of blackjack, which can accommodate up to seven players each. Each player is seated around a circular table, and the dealer is located behind the table and chip rack. The dealer begins the game by dealing each player two cards face down and then a single card facing up (the “up card”). The player may decide to hit or stand based on the value of their two cards and the dealer’s up card.
A player’s first two cards can be combined into a blackjack with an ace and a 10, jack, queen, or king to form a “blackjack.” This is known as a natural, or a blackjack, and it beats any other hand in the game. The player’s bet is paid out at 3 to 2 if they have a blackjack, or one to one if they have a split pair. Some casinos have reduced the payout for blackjacks to 6 to 5, which increases the house edge and makes card counting more difficult.