How to Deal Blackjack

min read
A closeup of a blackjack dealer dealing out cards, and a person standing at the blackjack table in front of him.
BetMGM Oct 29, 2024, 9:31 AM

If youโ€™re a blackjack fan, youโ€™ve probably played the game in several settings. You might have even enjoyed a casual game at a friendโ€™s home and wondered if you could do the same in your own place.

Whether youโ€™re looking to act as a dealer in your own home or just gain more knowledge of blackjack for the next time you visit the casino, itโ€™s crucial to understand the procedures around how cards are dealt in blackjack. Itโ€™s not as simple as shuffling and divvying out the cards.

The Dealer Drives the Game in Blackjack

In blackjack, the dealer not only represents the houseโ€™s interest in the game but also acts as the gameโ€™s arbiter. Also known as the croupier, the dealer is the โ€œoppositionโ€ for each player and controls the cards.

For that reason, the dealer needs to be acutely familiar with the rules of blackjack. For instance, you should know whether the blackjack dealer can split their hand or not.

Besides the rules of the game, you need to maintain the proper procedures to ensure fairness and a smooth flow. Experience and knowledge go a long way.

How To Progress the Blackjack Game

Once all players have taken their seats and gathered their chips, itโ€™s time to shuffle up, deal, and get ready to play. At this point, the dealer should make their first swipe over the table.

The swipe over the table in blackjack is important because it lets all players know itโ€™s time to place their bets. The swipe should go from right to left from the dealerโ€™s perspective.

After allowing some time for players to move their chips into the betting section, another swipe in the opposite direction shows that bets are closed and itโ€™s time for the hand to play out. The dealer responds to any playersโ€™ requests for a hit, and then everyone reveals their cards to see who has won.

The dealer should strive to ensure fairness and transparency in everything. Having the experience of acting as a dealer in casual games can give players a new perspective on blackjack.

Blackjack Dealer Experience Makes Better Players

When you have some experience running blackjack games, you have literally been in the shoes of that person at a casino or playing a live dealer version of blackjack online. You know exactly how the game should proceed and what all the dealer motions mean.

Additionally, you might even be able to pick up on dealer tells. You might notice that they react in a certain way after looking at their cards, for example, and try to use that information to your benefit.

Even if the dealers you encounter are skilled at remaining stoic, you can still benefit from your experience dealing blackjack. Instead of wasting time thinking about how the game is supposed to play out or the rules, you can focus on playing the probabilities.

Learning to deal blackjack can improve your enjoyment of the classic card game no matter how your luck turns out. When you register with BetMGM, you can play online blackjack to observe and learn the rules in preparation for your time in the dealerโ€™s chair.

Actress Vanessa Hudgens flipping casino chips next to the text "The King of Casinos"
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Our BetMGM editors and authors are casino experts with a wealth of knowledge of the online casino industry at all levels. Their coverage includes company news, game reviews, how-to instructional articles, strategy guides, and editorials showcasing BetMGMโ€™s superior product and game library.

Our BetMGM editors and authors are casino experts with a wealth of knowledge of the online casino industry at all levels. Their coverage includes company news, game reviews, how-to instructional articles, strategy guides, and editorials showcasing BetMGMโ€™s superior product and game library.