Dealing Blackjack From A Shoe

Apr 08, 2013  Learn how to deal blackjack with this in-depth analysis. This video will cover the basics, how to handle the cards, how to shuffle, pitch, the basic skills for handling cheques, cutting cheques.

  • Blackjack Dealing Shoes. We offer several sizes of blackjack dealing shoes; 2 deck, 4 deck, 6 deck and 8 deck. These are high quality dealer shoes that feature weighted roller wedges to keep the cards tight and moving forward. All shoes are made with a high quality thick acrylic.
  • Dec 16, 2019  Dealing from a shoe is how most people learn to play blackjack around the country. There are more blackjack games in a casino that are dealt from a 4-8 deck shoe than any other type. Pitch Blackjack – This type of dealing a blackjack game is where the dealer holds the deck or decks (single or double deck) and “pitches” the cards to the players.

Yes, understanding the basics of blackjack is relatively easy. But, before you can walk away a winner, you need a deeper understanding of the nuances of the game and casino protocol.

Finding a table: Strategic seating

Blackjack begins by selecting a seat at the table. Typically, a blackjack table allows for five to seven players. Whenever you see an empty seat at a blackjack table, you may assume it’s for your taking (unless chips or a coat are holding the spot for a player who just stepped away for a moment or unless some player is playing two hands). In most cases, joining a game in progress is okay, although some tables have a No-Midshoe Entry policy (usually marked by a sign at the table), which means you have to wait until the shuffle before playing.

For your first trip to the tables, you’re better off finding a nearly full table. Although the number of players at the table hardly affects the odds on your hands, the game is much quicker with fewer players. A fuller table gives you more time to think about each hand without being rushed or pressured.

Seeking single-deck tables

Without getting into a lot of math, here’s a good rule to follow: The fewer decks the casino uses, the better for you. Your chances for success increase if you can find a single-deck game. Most casinos worldwide have gone to six or more decks in an attempt to thwart card counters (skilled players who keep track of cards). But some places still deal blackjack the old-fashioned way — with one deck of 52 cards. Most of the casinos in northern Nevada (Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Wendover) still use one deck of cards at many of their blackjack tables. If you aren’t sure how many decks the casino is using, just ask.

Eyeing table bet levels

Before you actually sit down, look for the table’s minimum and maximum betting limits. Every table has these fixed limits, which the casino usually posts on a small sign located on the table to the right of the dealer.

You may sit down at a table where the placard says $5–$500, which means you have to bet at least $5 on every hand and can never bet more than $500 on any one spot. Typically, the higher the minimum starting bet, the higher the maximum bet for that table.

When you’re starting out, find the lowest minimum table in the casino and begin there. Making smaller bets keeps you out of trouble until you understand the game better — and you’re less likely to end up sitting next to a high roller (who may not appreciate a novice at his table).

Dealing

Purchasing chips

After you select your seat, you need to buy chips from the dealer. Select the amount of money you want to start with and lay your cash on the felt in front of you. The dealer changes your cash into chips and slides them across the felt to you.

Don’t hand your money directly to the dealer; doing so is a breach of etiquette and brands you as a greenhorn.

After you receive your chips, leave them on the table in front of you. Chips come in several denominations and are color-coded. Although every casino uses distinctive chips, most colors are standard.

DoubleDown Casino Play for Free DoubleDown Casino is one of the best online casinos. It has a collection of selected of the most exciting slot machines, bingo games, and different card games. Every player will catch courage with Double Down Casino. Double down free slot play. Play Free Online Casino Games for Fun No Deposits, No Downloads or Registration Free Slots, Free Blackjack, Free Video Poker and Free Roulette. Play DoubleDown Casino – Vegas Slots Online for Free. All about the game: review, rating and get links. Only on GamesinBrowser.com. Sep 30, 2019  WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS! Play your favorite 3-reel & 5-reel classic slot machines with 35,000 CREDITS TO START. Collect MORE FREE CREDITS daily with added bonuses for coming back again & again. Feel like a HIGH ROLLER as you enjoy the thrill of WINNING on the same slot machines you play at the casino. 7s, Diamonds, Free Games, ReSpins, Jackpots, MegaBucks™ and MORE! Play Free Online Casino Games for Fun No Deposits, No Downloads or Registration Free Slots, Free Blackjack, Free Video Poker and Free Roulette. Play Free Online Casino Games for Fun No Deposits, No Downloads or Registration Free Slots, Free Blackjack, Free Video Poker and Free Roulette.

Start off with a small amount of chips. A good approach is to cash in no more than 25 percent of your daily bankroll for chips. For example, if you budget $400 for the day, buy in for no more than $100 to start. This way, when you’re losing, you minimize the temptation to bet more than you planned. You can always buy more chips later if necessary.

Homing in on house rules

Blackjack rules are fairly similar worldwide — with a few variations. Sometimes a small placard sitting on the table indicates where the casino stands in regard to certain scenarios. If you don’t see a placard, you may ask the dealer what the house rules are, even when you’re in the middle of a hand.

Does the dealer hit on a soft 17?

A soft hand is any hand that counts an ace as 11 rather than 1. The hand is soft because it can’t bust on the next card. For example, if you hit (take another card) a soft 18 (an ace and a 7) with a 6, the ace automatically reverts to 1 (rather than 11), and the hand total is now 14 (rather than 24, which would be a bust).

Whether a dealer hits on a soft 17 is usually spelled out in bold white letters right on the felt. Normally the dealer counts an ace as 11 anytime he has a hand of 17 or more. However, about half the casinos worldwide deviate from this rule on soft 17 (an ace and a 6). In those cases, the ace counts as 1, and the dealer hits his soft 17.

Is doubling down restricted to certain card combinations?

In Las Vegas, casinos typically allow doubling down, an option that allows you to double your bet, on any two cards, but other places may restrict this move to just 10s or 11s. The placard probably won’t list restrictions to doubling down. If you aren’t sure whether restrictions are in place, don’t be afraid to ask the dealer, even if you’re in the middle of a hand.

Can you surrender?

A playing option known as surrender is an extremely profitable option for you as a player, but not many casinos offer it. When you surrender, you lose half of your initial bet and give up your hand. For example, if you bet $10 and are dealt a 16, you can surrender and only lose $5 (half your bet) rather than risk the entire $10 on a bad hand. Once again, the placard may not readily advertise this rule variation, so always ask if surrender is available.

Dealing what’s in the cards

Shoe

All right, you’re situated at the table, you’ve made your bet in the betting box, and your heart is pumping like a jackhammer. The dealer flashes you a warm smile, wishes you good luck, shuffles the deck, and asks you to cut the cards.

If you’re playing a one- or two-deck game, the dealer holds the cards in his hands and deals you two cards face-down. You can pick up these cards, but make sure you only hold them in one hand.

However, the majority of blackjack games today use six or eight decks. In these cases, the dealer deals your two cards face-up from a shoe (a boxlike device that houses the cards).

Whether your cards are dealt face-up or face-down really doesn’t matter — dealers follow strict rules, and seeing the values of your cards doesn’t influence them. Dealers’ hands always start off with one card exposed and one card hidden, regardless of the number of decks.

These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Seven feathers casino coos bay oregon. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.

Wizard Recommends

  • €1500 Welcome Bonus
  • €100 + 300 Free Spins
  • 100% Welcome Bonus

On This Page

Introduction

Live dealer blackjack rules vary quite a bit. All are dealt from a shoe, with about 50% penetration. I think nobody allows re-splitting any pair. In other words, one split only. Most stand on a soft 17. The most variable rules seem to be on surrender and the dealer peeking for blackjack.

Blackjack Shoes 6 Deck

Special mention should be made about the Ezugi game, where early surrender against an ace is allowed. The effect of this rule variation is a reduction in the house edge of 0.39% to a low 0.11%. Personally, I think they don't understand what they are doing and this rule won't last once they realize how beneficial it is to the player.

It is difficult writing live dealer software reviews when I don't have access to play or watch the games. This was the case with Ho Gaming and Vivo Gaming.

As to the appearance of the table and dealer, please refer to the screenshots at the bottom of the page, especially for Usoft.

Odds Comparison

Dealing Blackjack From A Shoe

Blackjack Supplies

The following table shows the configurable rules, to the best of my knowledge, at various brands of live dealer studios. An explanation of the column headings follows the table.

Live Dealer Blackjack Comparison

BrandPlayDecksSoft 17DASPeekSurr.Edge
Amaya Software(Live)Redbet Casino8HitNoNoNo0.71%
Asia Gaming(Blackjack)EmuCasino8HitNoYesNo0.62%
BetConstruct(Blackjack)Lucky311HitYesYesYes0.43%
Evolution Gaming(Live Dealer Blackjack)Guts Casino8HitNoNoNo0.72%
Evolution Gaming(Infinite Blackjack (with six-card Charlie))Guts Casino8HitNoYesNo0.45%
Extreme Live Gaming(Blackjack)Mr Green Casino8HitNoYesNo0.62%
Ezugi(Unlimited)Hello Casino8HitYesNoNo0.35%
Ezugi(Blackjack)Hello Casino8HitYesYesYes0.11%
FashionTV(Blackjack)VIP Stakes8HitYesYesYes0.41%
Gameplay Interactive(Blackjack)NetBet Casino6HitYesNoNo0.46%
HO Gaming(Blackjack)InterCasino8HitNoNoNo0.6%
LuckyStreak(Blackjack)Sloty Casino8HitYesYesNo0.49%
Net Entertainment(Common Draw Blackjack (Live Dealer))Guts Casino6HitYesNoNo0.59%
Net Entertainment(Live Beyond Live Blackjack)Guts Casino6HitYesNoNo0.59%
Playtech(Unlimited Blackjack (Live Dealer))BitStarz8HitYesNoNo0.5%
Usoft Gaming(Blackjack Unlimited)Playhub Casino6HitYesYesYes0.43%
Visionary iGaming(Blackjack)Sloto'Cash Casino6StandYesYesNo0.69%
Visionary iGaming(Early Payout)Sloto'Cash Casino1StandYesYesNo0.69%
Vivo Gaming(Blackjack)BitStarz8HitYesYesNo0.5%
Wirex Gaming(Blackjack)8HitYesNoNo0.56%
Xprogaming(Blackjack)Betadonis6StandYesNoNo0.54%

Column headings:

  • Brand: Live dealer studio and in some cases the particular game.
  • Decks: Number of decks used. Penetration tends to be about 50% everywhere.
  • Soft 17: What the dealer does with a soft 17.
  • DAS: Is double after a split allowed?
  • Peek: Does the dealer peek at hole card for a blackjack. In cases where there isn't a hole card, the value in the table indicates if the player will lose his original bet only (yes) or everything (no) if the dealer eventually gets a blackjack. Sometimes the dealer will peek only under 10 or under an ace. Possible values are:
    • Yes = Dealer always peeks with either a 10 or ace up.
    • No = Dealer never peeks. Player will lose all money bet doubling and splitting if the dealer gets a blackjack
    • Ace only = Dealer peeks only under an ace up. If no hole card is taken, 'ace only' means the player will lose his original bet only if the dealer gets a blackjack starting with an ace up, but everything if starting with a 10 up.
    • 10 only = Dealer peeks only under a 10 up. If no hole card is taken, '10 only' means the player will lose his original bet only if the dealer gets a blackjack starting with a 10 up, but everything if starting with an ace up.
  • Surrender = Can player forfeit half his bet and not play the hand? This option is generally offered only after the dealer peeks for blackjack, but in the Ezugi regular game (as opposed to unlimited), the player may surrender before the dealer peeks.
  • Edge = House edge

Screenshots

8 Deck Blackjack Shoe

Asia Gaming.

Uspin slot machine online. FashionTV.

Ho Gaming.

Evolution Gaming.

Wirex.

Free Slots – Play 7780+ Free Online Casino Games. You’ve just discovered the biggest online, free slots library. Like thousands of slots players who use VegasSlotsOnline.com every day, you now have instant access to over 7780 free online slots that you can play right here. Intended for an adult audience and does not offer real money gambling or an opportunity to win real money or prizes. Practice or success at social gambling does not imply future s. Vegas casino online game. Choose from more than 120 games including all your favourites and the best selection of slots games anywhere!

Free slot games com. Even more is that our online games arena is updated every day with new slots games for you to enjoy. One of the best things is that you can play any game you want, at any time of the day, 24/7.

In the Usoft game, the dealer will flash when any player gets a blackjack.

Blackjack Early Payout and regular blackjack by Visionary iGaming.

Blackjack early payout and conventional blackjack by Net Entertainment.


Written by: Michael Shackleford