Blackjack is a casino card game that pits you against the dealer. To win, you must make a higher hand total than the dealer without going over 21. The game has many fine points and a lot of nuances, so you need to learn the rules and etiquette before you can play. You should also familiarize yourself with the various strategies players use to gain an advantage over the dealer. These techniques require a good memory and a thorough understanding of probability theory.
If you’re applying to be a casino dealer, the interviewer will ask you to physically demonstrate your shuffling and dealing technique. This is a crucial part of the job because it reflects your ability to manage the table and maintain a steady gaming pace. This is also an opportunity for the interviewer to assess your professionalism and attention to detail.
You should be able to explain how to deal and shuffle cards quickly, so the casino doesn’t lose money. It’s also important to be able to handle the pressure of the table and remain calm in stressful situations. If you don’t have the proper skills, it can be difficult to deal a blackjack table in a busy casino and ensure that all players receive their cards properly.
Some casinos have a single deck and deal the cards face up. Others have multiple decks and deal the cards face down. In either case, the dealers must shuffle the cards before each round of play. You should know how to use the riffle shuffle method, which involves splitting the deck into two roughly equal parts and then holding each half in one hand with thumbs inward and releasing them so they intermingle.
During a round of blackjack, the dealer will deal each player 2 cards. Then the player can decide to split them if they are dealt two of the same cards, such as two aces or two face cards. Afterwards, the dealer will deal one additional card to each hand. If a player has a total of 21 on both their first two cards, they have a blackjack and win immediately.
A player can also double down if they have a strong hand and are confident that they will beat the dealer’s hand. However, if the dealer has a blackjack, the player’s original bet is lost and they push with their side bet.
Some casinos allow players to place an insurance bet, which is a side bet that pays out if the dealer has a blackjack. The dealer will ask for insurance bets before the player starts playing, and they can be up to half of the player’s initial bet. The casino then takes the player’s chips and places them on an “insurance bar” above their cards. In some casinos, the dealer will pay off a player’s insurance bet immediately while in others they wait until the end of the play.