How to Become a Blackjack Dealer
Blackjack is a casino card game that pits the dealer against the player. It is played with one or more 52-card decks and the value of each card is its numerical rank (number for face cards, ten for a picture card, and either one or eleven for an ace). Players may choose to split, double down, or stand. Some casino games allow additional side bets like insurance. Blackjack is often called the “king of card games.”
In a game of blackjack, the player’s goal is to beat the dealer’s hand total without going over 21. The game begins when the dealer gives each player two cards. Then the dealer lays one of his or her own cards face up on the table. If a player’s first two cards total 21 and the dealer does not, the player wins immediately. Otherwise, the bets are settled as a tie.
The game is supervised by a stern-looking casino employee, known as the pit boss. The casino has several blackjack tables in a designated area of the floor, called a pit. Guests may sit anywhere at the blackjack table, provided that there are empty seats and that they do not interfere with other players or block their view of the dealers. The pit boss will usually give a brief explanation of the rules of the game before a round starts.
There are a variety of different blackjack variations, but the most common is played with a standard six-deck shoe. There are also single-deck and double-deck blackjack games, as well as variations in the number of cards dealt, the way aces are counted, and splitting.
A good croupier is not only skilled in the rules and strategies of blackjack, but also knows how to read the players and their behavior. He or she is able to take note of the type of hand that a player holds, how much the player bets, and whether the player is showing signs of confidence or fear. The croupier is also aware of the dealers’ tendencies and how they might affect the outcome of a particular hand.
While there are no minimum qualifications to become a blackjack dealer, some people choose to go to blackjack dealer school. These courses typically last eight to 12 weeks and teach the fundamentals of dealing. They also provide a hands-on learning experience and a chance to practice the skills of the job.
A casino blackjack dealer must have competence in mathematics. This is because they need to calculate the winnings of their customers quickly and accurately. They also use mental math when distributing the cards to their guests, which helps maintain the speed of play. In addition, they must be able to identify the best strategy for each situation, and make decisions quickly and accurately. Finally, they must be able to communicate the status of each guest’s hand to their customers clearly. To do this, they must be able to read the expressions of their customers and discern the meanings of their gestures.