Remember: the game and your guests\u2019 enjoyment are in your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It doesn\u2019t matter whether you\u2019re looking to throw a casino-themed party for your best friend\u2019s birthday or seriously thinking about looking for a casino job and moving to Vegas, you\u2019ll need to work on your skills. And while you won\u2019t magically transform into a professional dealer overnight, here\u2019s a thorough crash course on how to deal blackjack \u2013 get started on the essentials now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Learn the rules (ALL of them!)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"blackjack](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/history-of-blackjack.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nNow obviously, the game itself is the same \u2013 whichever side of that table you\u2019re on, blackjack dealer rules aren\u2019t going to change. But for you, different levels of ease and mastery are required. You\u2019ve seen those bumbling new players, and you\u2019ve probably been one of them yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re reading this guide and haven\u2019t actually mastered playing the game, you might want to consider bookmarking this article and coming back to it after you\u2019ve already covered the foundation. If you\u2019re looking for a solid summary, check out our easy beginner\u2019s guide to blackjack<\/a> for an overview of the rules and winning strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to win<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Okay, hopefully you know by now that the object of the game is to beat the dealer, and typically the player can accomplish this with a final hand that is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1) higher than the dealer\u2019s hand, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2) not exceeding a total of 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second way to win is just to receive a lucky initial hand that equals exactly 21, also known as a natural, or a blackjack \u2013 that\u2019s if the dealer does not also get blackjack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The player can also win the hand if the dealer \u201cbusts\u201d: meaning that he draws cards and reaches a final hand of over 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A quick recap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Unlike many other card games, blackjack players don\u2019t go up against each other but are instead competing with only the dealer. Each player is initially dealt two cards face up; the dealer receives two cards, one of which is dealt face down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The players may draw additional cards in an effort to improve their hand. Then, the dealer reveals his hand and must hit until the cards total 17 or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some establishments also include a \u201csoft 17\u201d rule: the dealer is required to draw on a hand with a total of 17 if it includes an Ace. If the player outperforms the dealer, he or she wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The equipment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first thing each player needs is something to bet with. Before they can join the game and start playing, participants must exchange cash for casino tokens. Typically these come in the following denominations and colors:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Pile-of-casino-chips-of-different-colors.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n$1: white chips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n$5: red chips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n$25: green chips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n$100: black chips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n$500: purple chips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nOf course, if you play at with us at Planet 7 Casino, we make it easy to navigate to the Cashier page to make a quick deposit with one of many payment method options and get some virtual chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next element is the table. As with many other table games, blackjack involves a green velvet-lined surface with wooden trim. The table has a semi-circular shape, with the players seated around the curved side and the dealer behind the straight end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blackjack tables have several common features:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- The dealer\u2019s shoe is the device that holds the decks of playing cards in use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The currency slot is where cash is placed when exchanged for chips.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The dealer keeps the chip tray in front of him or her for handling payouts or gathering chips from losing hands.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Individual players\u2019 betting areas are marked by circles or squares in front of each seat, and this is where their chips are placed when bets are made.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The seat to the dealer\u2019s left is first base, and the seat to the right is third base. The surface of the table is typically also marked with the rules of the game \u2013 payout ratios, bet limits, and any other relevant conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Depending on the specific game or casino, the number of decks in use can range from one to eight 52-card decks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numbered cards (2 through 10) are played at face value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) are valued at 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An Ace may count as 1 or 11 points, depending on which value is more beneficial to the player\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The specifics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- The dealer shuffles the cards thoroughly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A player cuts the deck by inserting a plastic cut card.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The dealer burns the top card.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- At the start of each round and before the dealing begins, players place their bets by moving their chips into the designated betting areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Two cards are dealt face up to each of the players, and two are dealt to the dealer with one face down \u2013 this is called the hole card. The dealer always begins with the player on his left and moves clockwise, dealing each player one card face up. He\/she then deals himself one card face down. He\/she deals a second round of face up cards to the players and one for himself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- a) If his\/her face up card is an Ace, the dealer offers \u201cinsurance,\u201d a side bet that pays out if the dealer\u2019s hole card is worth 10 points \u2013 in other words, if he\/she has a natural blackjack.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- b) With a 10 or Ace showing, the dealer checks his\/her hole card. If it\u2019s a blackjack, he\/she reveals it immediately. All wagers lose except for players who bought insurance. Players who also have blackjack receive their original bet back; this is called a push.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The player now must choose to hit or stand. In some cases, he\/she may also choose to double, split, or surrender.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- a) Hit vs. Stand: When a player wants one or more additional cards, he says \u201cHit,\u201d or taps the table. If he\/she feels that his hand is best left alone, he\/she says, \u201cstand,\u201d or gestures with a quick horizontal motion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- b) The player also has a few other options in special cases. Double: if the player\u2019s hand totals 9, 10, or 11, he\/she can double his bet in exchange for a single additional card. It\u2019s placed face down and is not revealed until bets are settled at the end of the hand. Split: if he\/she has two cards of the same value, the player can separate them into two individual hands and double his\/her bet. After receiving a second card for each hand, he\/she may hit, stand, or double as usual. If the original two cards are Aces, he\/she may only receive one additional card. However, if the dealer has a blackjack and the player receives a post-split blackjack, it does not count as a natural.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- c) Surrender: this option is not universally available in all casinos. After receiving his\/her initial two cards, the player can forfeit half of his\/her bet and choose not to play the hand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Once the players have finished their turns, the dealer reveals his\/her hole card.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- With a total of less than 17 points, the dealer must hit. According to certain game rules, if he\/she has a 17-point hand that contains an Ace (a soft 17), he\/she must also hit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- If the dealer goes over 21 points, he\/she busts. Any player who has not also bust will win. Otherwise, whoever has the higher point value will win.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The dealer collects all losing bets and awards payouts, again from left to right.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Payouts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Regular Win: 1:1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nBlackjack Win: 3:2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nInsurance: 2:1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nPush (a tie, including when both player and dealer have blackjack): Bet Returned<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Did you get everything? We suggest that you review whatever you don\u2019t know completely by heart. The best way to internalize it all? Practice, practice, practice! That includes being completely familiar with the game \u2013 play online here at Planet 7 Casino to solidify your understanding from the player\u2019s standpoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Learn how to shuffle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"card](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Hands-shuffling-blackjack-cards.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nYou know what to do when you\u2019re a participant in the game; now figure out what to do once you\u2019re on the other side of that table. Learning how to deal blackjack starts with your first task: shuffling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you and your friends have ever played blackjack or any other card games in the past, it\u2019s highly likely that you\u2019ve learned to deal cards, however clumsily that might be. Typically in amateur settings, the players will take turns being the dealer. However, if you\u2019re just playing solely the part of the dealer, your painstakingly slow shuffling and occasional mishaps just aren\u2019t going to cut it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This step is easy to practice \u2013 watch a few tutorials on YouTube<\/a>. If you\u2019re at home enjoying a session at Planet 7, keep a spare deck of cards on your desk so you can alternate between playing blackjack online<\/a> and honing your shuffling skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 3: Learn how to deal.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ve mastered the riffle shuffle and general techniques, now include the part where you actually get the cards from out of the deck and into the players\u2019 hands. This should be smooth, across the distance of the table and with accuracy. The technique is called \u201csailing cards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you learn? More how-to videos and diligent practice. You can simply clear off your desk at home and practice, or volunteer to play dealer if you\u2019re having a poker or table game night with friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Learn how to handle chips.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s no guide on how to accomplish this \u2013 it\u2019s all about familiarity and muscle memory. Familiarize yourself about how the surface of chips feel and their size and weight. Practice sweeping and stacking them until you can handle the chips effortlessly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 5: Learn the lingo.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Terminology is important, even more so for a dealer than for a player. If you come off as a novice, the players will, at best, silently distrust your methods and general competence, making it difficult for them to be completely at ease; at worst, unruly players will heckle you and disrupt the game for everyone else involved. It\u2019s not a pleasant scenario, and it\u2019s one you should avoid at all costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 6: Figure out the math.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
So far, everything has been pretty straightforward \u2013 nothing you can\u2019t handle with a bit of dedicated repetition. This next part is crucial to your success as a dealer and requires a little more memorizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Familiarize yourself with the payouts. The most common payouts are 1:1, so a $25 bet will lead to a $25 payout. However, when a player wins with a blackjack, the math for a 3:2 payout can be trickier. This is just something you need to memorize, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep practicing \u2013 the most embarrassing mistake you can make as a dealer is if you calculate something incorrectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t forget to add up the points! Just because the hand is a bust, doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t have to bother with adding. The dealer should always announce the total points of each player\u2019s hand, regardless of what it amounts to. This is also something you need to practice, just like you would with flashcards before a math test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 7: Ensure fairness.<\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nNow obviously, the game itself is the same \u2013 whichever side of that table you\u2019re on, blackjack dealer rules aren\u2019t going to change. But for you, different levels of ease and mastery are required. You\u2019ve seen those bumbling new players, and you\u2019ve probably been one of them yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re reading this guide and haven\u2019t actually mastered playing the game, you might want to consider bookmarking this article and coming back to it after you\u2019ve already covered the foundation. If you\u2019re looking for a solid summary, check out our easy beginner\u2019s guide to blackjack<\/a> for an overview of the rules and winning strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, hopefully you know by now that the object of the game is to beat the dealer, and typically the player can accomplish this with a final hand that is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) higher than the dealer\u2019s hand, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2) not exceeding a total of 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second way to win is just to receive a lucky initial hand that equals exactly 21, also known as a natural, or a blackjack \u2013 that\u2019s if the dealer does not also get blackjack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The player can also win the hand if the dealer \u201cbusts\u201d: meaning that he draws cards and reaches a final hand of over 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike many other card games, blackjack players don\u2019t go up against each other but are instead competing with only the dealer. Each player is initially dealt two cards face up; the dealer receives two cards, one of which is dealt face down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The players may draw additional cards in an effort to improve their hand. Then, the dealer reveals his hand and must hit until the cards total 17 or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some establishments also include a \u201csoft 17\u201d rule: the dealer is required to draw on a hand with a total of 17 if it includes an Ace. If the player outperforms the dealer, he or she wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first thing each player needs is something to bet with. Before they can join the game and start playing, participants must exchange cash for casino tokens. Typically these come in the following denominations and colors:<\/p>\n\n\n $1: white chips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n $5: red chips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n $25: green chips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n $100: black chips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n $500: purple chips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, if you play at with us at Planet 7 Casino, we make it easy to navigate to the Cashier page to make a quick deposit with one of many payment method options and get some virtual chips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next element is the table. As with many other table games, blackjack involves a green velvet-lined surface with wooden trim. The table has a semi-circular shape, with the players seated around the curved side and the dealer behind the straight end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blackjack tables have several common features:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The seat to the dealer\u2019s left is first base, and the seat to the right is third base. The surface of the table is typically also marked with the rules of the game \u2013 payout ratios, bet limits, and any other relevant conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the specific game or casino, the number of decks in use can range from one to eight 52-card decks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbered cards (2 through 10) are played at face value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) are valued at 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An Ace may count as 1 or 11 points, depending on which value is more beneficial to the player\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regular Win: 1:1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Blackjack Win: 3:2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Insurance: 2:1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Push (a tie, including when both player and dealer have blackjack): Bet Returned<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you get everything? We suggest that you review whatever you don\u2019t know completely by heart. The best way to internalize it all? Practice, practice, practice! That includes being completely familiar with the game \u2013 play online here at Planet 7 Casino to solidify your understanding from the player\u2019s standpoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You know what to do when you\u2019re a participant in the game; now figure out what to do once you\u2019re on the other side of that table. Learning how to deal blackjack starts with your first task: shuffling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you and your friends have ever played blackjack or any other card games in the past, it\u2019s highly likely that you\u2019ve learned to deal cards, however clumsily that might be. Typically in amateur settings, the players will take turns being the dealer. However, if you\u2019re just playing solely the part of the dealer, your painstakingly slow shuffling and occasional mishaps just aren\u2019t going to cut it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This step is easy to practice \u2013 watch a few tutorials on YouTube<\/a>. If you\u2019re at home enjoying a session at Planet 7, keep a spare deck of cards on your desk so you can alternate between playing blackjack online<\/a> and honing your shuffling skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve mastered the riffle shuffle and general techniques, now include the part where you actually get the cards from out of the deck and into the players\u2019 hands. This should be smooth, across the distance of the table and with accuracy. The technique is called \u201csailing cards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you learn? More how-to videos and diligent practice. You can simply clear off your desk at home and practice, or volunteer to play dealer if you\u2019re having a poker or table game night with friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no guide on how to accomplish this \u2013 it\u2019s all about familiarity and muscle memory. Familiarize yourself about how the surface of chips feel and their size and weight. Practice sweeping and stacking them until you can handle the chips effortlessly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Terminology is important, even more so for a dealer than for a player. If you come off as a novice, the players will, at best, silently distrust your methods and general competence, making it difficult for them to be completely at ease; at worst, unruly players will heckle you and disrupt the game for everyone else involved. It\u2019s not a pleasant scenario, and it\u2019s one you should avoid at all costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So far, everything has been pretty straightforward \u2013 nothing you can\u2019t handle with a bit of dedicated repetition. This next part is crucial to your success as a dealer and requires a little more memorizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Familiarize yourself with the payouts. The most common payouts are 1:1, so a $25 bet will lead to a $25 payout. However, when a player wins with a blackjack, the math for a 3:2 payout can be trickier. This is just something you need to memorize, period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep practicing \u2013 the most embarrassing mistake you can make as a dealer is if you calculate something incorrectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t forget to add up the points! Just because the hand is a bust, doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t have to bother with adding. The dealer should always announce the total points of each player\u2019s hand, regardless of what it amounts to. This is also something you need to practice, just like you would with flashcards before a math test.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to win<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A quick recap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The equipment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
The cards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The specifics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Payouts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Learn how to shuffle<\/h2>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nStep 3: Learn how to deal.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Learn how to handle chips.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 5: Learn the lingo.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 6: Figure out the math.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 7: Ensure fairness.<\/h2>\n\n\n