Blackjack is a card game for those who enjoy a little risk and have the patience to wait for their chance to win. It is a casino favorite, with full tables seen almost every night. Its rules, chances to win, and the fact that players choose exactly how they play cards and how much they want to bet appeal to fans around the world.

Basic Strategy

The foundation of blackjack is a set of general rules that dictate how the player should proceed with his hand. These rules have evolved over time to fit modern blackjack regulations, but they are still a crucial part of any winning strategy.

Insurance

If the dealer has an Ace up card, he offers insurance to the player. This is a way to reduce the house edge, and it only costs half of the original bet. It is a good choice when the dealer has a poor starting hand, but it can also be a bad one when the dealer has an excellent starting hand.

No Peek Rule

The no peek rule in European blackjack is a major feature that helps to ensure fairness. The dealer does not peek at his up card unless it is an ace, and he does not look at his face down card when the first card is a 10, which is often done in order to speed up the process of playing.

A Dealer’s Hand

In a blackjack game, the dealer must deal two cards to each player at the table. He can then hit, stand, or draw a card depending on the rules of the game. The dealer will also take into account the numerical value of his cards.

When a dealer’s hand exceeds 21, he busts and loses the initial bet. He can then re-start the hand by drawing cards until he is satisfied with his hand or reaches a score of 21.

A dealer’s aces have the value of 1 or 11 depending on whether they bust or not, while all other aces have a value of 1. The dealer can split his aces up to three times, making four separate hands.

Social Skills

When you are a blackjack dealer, you are expected to talk to your customers and keep the conversation flowing between hands. This can be a great way to interact with your customers, but it is important to remember that this can also lead to some awkward moments.

If you are a new blackjack dealer, it is important to learn some basic social skills that will help you to communicate effectively with your customers and make them feel comfortable in the casino. These skills include communication, patience and understanding of the game’s rules.

The best way to improve these skills is to identify which ones need improvement and then plan ways to develop them. This will depend on your personality, prior work experience and level of qualification. You can start by improving your interpersonal skills and then move on to learning how to play the game well, using strategy.