Blackjack is a card game where players try to get closer to 21 than the dealer. Unlike other casino games, this game involves some degree of player choice, and a skilled player can reduce the house edge to just a small percentage by using basic strategy.

The first step in playing blackjack is to place your bets. Players make their bets with chips in the betting spots on the table. The number of spots on the table can vary, from five or six to eight or more. Depending on the number of seats, different rules may apply to the size of bets, and how the cards are dealt.

Once the bets have been placed, the dealer deals two cards to each player and one card to himself (one face up, one face down). The players then decide whether to hit, stand, double down or split their hands. The dealer acts last, and must hit on 16 or less, and stand on 17 through 21. The players win when their hand total is higher than the dealer’s or they have a blackjack, also known as a “natural”; in that case they receive an even money payoff.

Blackjack dealers need to have competence in mathematics, as they must be able to calculate the earnings of winning customers quickly and accurately. They must also be able to use mental math while dealing the cards, so they know what each card is worth and can communicate this information to their guests effectively.

During the early history of blackjack, some casinos refused to let players play it because they believed that the game was too complicated to be mathematically analyzed. But this changed in 1956, when a team of Stanford researchers published a paper explaining how to beat the game with a combination of basic strategy and counting the cards.

Another key element of a successful blackjack dealer is their memory. The cards in a blackjack shoe are reshuffled frequently, and the dealer needs to keep track of the cards that have been played so they can correctly reshuffle the cards for the next deal. In addition, they must remember which players have already discarded their cards.

A blackjack dealer should be able to interact with players in a friendly, courteous manner while remaining professional at all times. They must be able to answer any questions players have about the game and explain its rules in detail. They should also be able to tell players when it is appropriate to split, double down or take insurance, and when they are best off standing. They should also be able to keep the game moving smoothly by maintaining a high level of energy and enthusiasm. In addition, they should be able to deal with any problems or disputes that arise during the course of the game. They must be able to deal with any situation that comes their way, including the possibility of a cheating or colluding player.