Blackjack is one of the most popular card games in casinos, featuring a high payout and the opportunity to develop sophisticated strategy. This game is played with one or more standard 52-card decks in which each card has a value of either its number, one for face cards or ten for aces. Players and the dealer each receive two cards and are allowed to stand, draw or request more cards based on certain rules. A player’s goal is to accumulate a hand that totals as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it. Casino dealers deal the cards and enforce the rules of the game.

A person who wishes to become a blackjack dealer needs to complete a course offered by a local casino. These courses usually take eight to 12 weeks and offer the opportunity for hands-on experience with the game. Students are taught the basics of the game and how to handle customers and encourage players to play. They also learn how to shuffle the cards and how to count them.

During the course of a game, blackjack dealers are expected to keep track of the cards that have been dealt and the cards that have been discarded by each player. This record is needed so that a dealer can reshuffle the cards and offer new ones to each player as necessary. Dealers also need to know when it is appropriate to eject a disruptive player and how to handle a dispute between two players at the table.

To become a blackjack dealer, it is important to have good memory skills. Dealers are required to remember the cards that were dealt, the discarded cards and the cards that each player played. This information is needed so the dealer can keep track of who has a blackjack and pay out accordingly. In addition, a dealer must be able to recall the rules of the game and explain them to players.

Blackjack dealers must be able to make quick decisions in a fast-paced environment. They are responsible for handling customer disputes, enforcing casino rules and bringing in pit bosses when necessary. To be successful at this job, a blackjack dealer should be confident and friendly. He or she should be able to answer questions about the game and encourage casino patrons to try other games as well.

When the dealer has an ace showing, she will often offer “even money.” This means that if the player has blackjack and the dealer does have a blackjack, the dealer will pay out the original bet on the player’s blackjack and take the insurance wagers. This is not a wise bet for a player unless the player has been counting cards and knows that the dealer has a high probability of having a ten underneath. Otherwise, the insurance bet is a poor investment because it pays only 2 to 1.