Blackjack is a casino card game that requires some level of skill to play well. A player wins the game by drawing cards with a value closer to 21 than that of the dealer. The cards are ranked from lowest to highest: Aces, Kings, Queens and Jacks. Unlike most casino games, players do not play against each other in blackjack. Instead, they play against the dealer and must beat her hand to win.

Blackjack rules are relatively simple and a basic strategy chart can be found online. It can be printed and kept next to the table for quick reference. This will help you make the right decisions on whether to hit or stand depending on the dealer’s cards and your own. The chart will also tell you when it is appropriate to double down and when you should not.

Another important blackjack tip is to always split Aces and 8’s if the dealer has a 10 showing. This will give you two hands that will pay 1:1, making them much more valuable than a single hand with a 10 (which pays only 1:1). This is especially true for eights since the ace can be used to create a 21, which is much better than the dealer’s 10.

While it may seem counterintuitive, you should never split fives or faces. This is because the cards are so similar that they will be harder to manage in two hands. They are also more likely to go bust than other pairs of cards.

A good blackjack dealer must be able to read people and interact with them in a friendly manner. They must be able to explain the game’s rules clearly and encourage customers to play. They should also be able to remember the cards that have been dealt and those that have been discarded by each player.

To become a blackjack dealer, you must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent. You should have good math skills and be able to handle money. It is also helpful to have good hand-eye coordination and a positive attitude. You should be able to work under pressure and deal with stressful situations.

During the course of a round of blackjack, a dealer will reveal her hole card using a special viewing window on the table. If she has a ten underneath, she gets a blackjack and will pay everyone’s insurance wagers at 2:1. If she does not have a ten, she will return all of the players’ original bets and the game will continue like normal.

If you’re serious about becoming a blackjack dealer, you should try to learn as much as possible about the game. Read books by experts such as Edward O. Thorp and Arnold Snyder. If you want to improve your blackjack play, you should also try learning card counting techniques. This is a strategy that involves keeping track of the number of cards dealt and raising your bet as the count goes up.