Casino Tips

Blackjack

Blackjack is played against a dealer at a table with as many as 7 other players around it. There are circles in front of each chair for placing bets. The cards used can consist of either one deck (now extremely rare) or multiple decks. The most common are four- and six- deck games. As many as eight decks can be used. The larger multi-deck games are dealt from a “shoe,” a device that holds all the cards and then makes it easier for the dealer to deal them out. Cards already used are placed in a discard tray. The cards are collected and reshuffled when the unused cards get down to a small fraction of the total. For example, a reshuffle might come after 5 out of 6 decks have been dealt. Reshuffling will take place more frequently if the house is alerted to thinking a player is counting cards.

The tables are arrayed in a cluster, called a “pit.” There is a dealer supervisor, or “pit boss” who monitors all the games in his or her pit. This is to correct dealer errors, resolve any questions of procedure, and to be sure that no one is cheating. Mainly it is to protect the house against cheats. Although card counting is not cheating, it is often considered unsporting by a casino that does not like to lose its edge, so card counters may be barred from play by a watchful pit boss. Pit bosses also defend their dealers against obnoxious guests.

Blackjack tables are easily confused at first with tables for baccarat or other forms of table poker. However, the layout on the table will have large letters that spell out some basic rules of the game, such as “Dealer Stands on 17.”

Check the blackjack table for a sign that will state the betting limits for that table. Don’t sit down unless the betting limits match what you’ve already decided are in your comfort zone. (If you haven’t yet decided, go back and start over with Chapter One.)

The colors in the signs represent the betting limit. They are: $5 (red), $25 (green), and $100 (black).
Look at the table to discern how many decks are in play. Usually the lower limit games are multi-deck games dealt from a shoe. In shoe games, the players’ cards are dealt face up. The friendlier dealers will help to “talk” a guest through the strategy for playing the hand. Higher stakes games (with fewer decks) are usually quieter, more serious, and face down.

It is useful to size up the dealers as they manage any games already in progress. Experts always advise that one should try to find a dealer that he or she can relate to. This enhances the experience, and may help in subtle ways later on.

One of the surprising aspects of blackjack for those who have not seen it in a casino is how rapidly it is played. Some dealers are quicker than others, and of course, the number of people at the table will affect the number of hands per hour. Seasoned players are accustomed to playing 100 hands per hour. That works out to one hand every 36 seconds! If you would rather play a little more slowly than that, look for a dealer and players who seem content with a slower pace.

If cards are dealt face up, check to see that the dealer’s second card is dealt face down. If both cards are exposed (which is called “double exposure” and is rare in Las Vegas), the maximization strategy for playing blackjack changes.

Players do not touch their cards in shoe games. Make a note of this as you look around the tables in the pit. The dealer does all the handling of the cards.