Free Blackjack / How to deal blackjack
How to deal blackjack
To deal blackjack, give each player and yourself two cards, check for blackjack, let each player act from your left to your right, then play your own hand by fixed rules: hit until 17 or more.
1. Shuffle and cut
Shuffle the cards and have a player cut them. With a shoe, a plastic cut card goes in about three quarters of the way back. When it comes out, finish that hand and shuffle. Burn the first card face down.
2. Take bets
Every player bets before any card is dealt.
3. Deal
Start at your left. One card face up to each player, one to yourself face up, then a second card face up to each player and a second card face down to yourself. Your face-down card is the hole card.
4. Check for blackjack
If your upcard is an ace, offer insurance, then check your hole card. If your upcard is a 10, J, Q or K, check your hole card. With blackjack, turn it over: every bet loses except a player's blackjack, which pushes. Pay any insurance 2 to 1. Pay each player's blackjack 3 to 2.
5. Players act
Go from your left to your right. Each player hits, stands, doubles or splits. Take a busted hand's bet and cards right away.
6. Dealer rules
Turn over the hole card. Hit every total of 16 or less. Stand on 17 or more. Decide before the game whether you hit a soft 17 (a 17 with an ace counted as 11). Most casinos print the rule on the felt: "Dealer must stand on all 17s" or "Dealer hits soft 17".
7. Pay the table
Go from your right to your left. Pay winners 1 to 1, take losing bets, and leave pushes in place. If you bust, pay every hand still in play.
Dealing at home
Use one or two decks and the same steps. Pick the dealer stand rule before you start. Rotate the dealer every few hands so everyone gets a turn.
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Questions
What are the dealer rules in blackjack?
The dealer hits 16 or less and stands on 17 or more. Some tables have the dealer hit a soft 17.
Which way do you deal blackjack?
Clockwise, starting with the player on the dealer's left, called first base.
Does the dealer get two cards face up?
No. The dealer's first card is face up and the second, the hole card, is face down until the players finish.
More: Blackjack rules · How to play blackjack · Card values in blackjack · Blackjack odds and payouts · Blackjack insurance · Soft 17 in blackjack · Blackjack terms · Blackjack hand signals