Blackjack is a card game where the player attempts to beat the dealer. It is played with one or more decks of cards that are shuffled before each round. Normally, the dealer deals two cards to each player and themselves. If a player has a hand value of 21 on the first two cards, this is called a blackjack and cannot be beaten unless the dealer also has a blackjack. Typically, the house pays 3:2 for blackjacks. Other side bets may be offered, such as insurance which pays when the dealer has an ace up, and Dealer Match which pays when the dealer’s card matches the player’s.

The basic strategy for blackjack is a mathematical system for deciding when to hit, stand, double down or split based on the point total of the player’s hand and the dealer’s visible card. This system is not foolproof, but it reduces the casino’s edge to a small percentage. It also makes the game more fun and interesting for players.

Another key blackjack skill is recognizing when the table is hot or cold. It is easy to tell when a table is hot, because the players are making lots of money and are betting bigger bets. Conversely, a table is cold when the players are losing bets and making smaller bets. A dealer should be able to read the mood of the players and adjust accordingly.

Blackjack dealers use their competence in mathematics to calculate the earnings of winning customers quickly and accurately. This is important because it helps to maintain the momentum of the game. In addition, it allows them to communicate the status of each player’s hands to guests effectively.

Dealers must also be able to read the cards that are dealt from their perspective. This is not always possible because the dealer must be able to see the cards through the shuffling deck, but it is still an important aspect of the game. This ability is usually known as “telling” and is done by observing the way the dealer holds their cards and how they are placed in their hand.

There are a number of other skills that a blackjack dealer must have in order to do their job well. For example, they must have excellent memory to be able to remember the cards that were dealt and the cards that were discarded. This information is needed so that the dealer can reshuffle and offer a new set of cards to each player as necessary. They also must be able to understand the rules of blackjack, as they are responsible for explaining them to their players and making sure that all players are playing by those rules. They must also be able to keep up with the amount of money that each player is wagering. This is important because the dealer must know when to ask the player for more money and how much to accept. They must also be able to answer any questions or concerns that the players may have.