Blackjack is a card game in which the goal is to acquire cards that total as close to 21 as possible without going over. It is played using a standard 52-card deck. Face cards are worth 10, cards numbered 2-10 are worth their printed values, and aces count as either 1 or 11 depending on the situation. The dealer also receives two cards. Players can hit (take another card) or stand (stop drawing cards) based on their hand value and the dealer’s up card.
Blackjack dealers are responsible for explaining the rules of the game and collecting the wagers from the table. They must also communicate with customers to answer questions, provide assistance and resolve problems. Customer service skills are a must for blackjack dealers, including active listening. This involves listening attentively and paraphrasing what has been said to show that you understand the communication.
Casino blackjack dealers may also need to explain special side bets that can be placed on the game. These bets are placed at the same time as the main wager. The side bets are generally based on the outcome of a specific event in the game, such as betting on whether or not a player will get a pair as their first two cards or whether or not the dealer will bust.
Some casino blackjack games allow players to take insurance, which is a bet that the dealer has a blackjack. The dealer will ask for the insurance bets before dealing each hand. A player can place up to half of their original bet on an insurance bet, and the dealer will pay out these bets at two to one if the dealer has a blackjack. However, if the dealer does not have a blackjack, the player loses their original bet and the game continues as normal.
A player can make multiple insurance bets, but they must be careful to not bet more than they can afford to lose. In the long run, a player will not profit from taking insurance. This is because the dealer only has a blackjack less than a third of the time.
When a dealer has an ace showing, they will often offer players even money on their blackjack bets. This is a misrepresentation of the game and should be avoided. This is because a player will never win more than they bet on their blackjack, so the dealer can only make a profit by offering even money on the insurance bets.
Blackjack is a fast-paced game, and there are a lot of things that can go wrong with it. There are many myths about this game, and it is important to know the truth about them before you start playing. Some of these myths include believing that the dealer always wins, thinking that you should always hit on 16 when the dealer has a seven or thinking that it is okay to split your cards. If you want to play blackjack, it is important to understand these myths and the correct strategy for winning.