Blackjack is one of the most popular casino table games. The game has a simple concept: Players and the dealer each get two cards, and the player with the highest point total wins. The game is played on a semicircular table that can accommodate varying numbers of players, up to seven “spots.” Players place their wagers by touching the circled areas on the bottom of the screen, which display their current bets and winnings. The table also includes a small screen that displays the dealer’s face, which is used for signaling bets and other information.

If a player’s first two cards are a pair of jacks or better, the hand is called a blackjack and the player wins immediately. The dealer will then pay the player’s bet based on posted limits and remove their cards. Blackjacks count as 21 points, and an ace can be counted as either a 1 or an 11 unless counting that would produce a point total in excess of 21, in which case it is counted as 1.

After all players have completed their action, the dealer will reveal their face-up card. If it is an ace, players may choose to take insurance. This bet is half of the original wager and pays 2-1 if the dealer has a blackjack. Insurance is a risky proposition, but it can help a player avoid losing their entire original bet.

Once the dealer has revealed their card, all hands are compared. If the dealer has a blackjack, all players lose their original bets (unless they have a blackjack as well). However, if both the dealer and the player have a total of 21 in their hand, then it is a push and the players keep their money. The dealer will then collect the cards, shuffle them and begin a new round.

The house edge in blackjack is about 5.5 percent. This is much higher than in most other table games, but it can be reduced with basic strategy. There are several ways to play the game that can improve a player’s odds, including reducing the number of hands played, doubling down on strong hands and splitting weak ones. In addition, a basic strategy chart is available online that can help a player make the best decisions at any given moment during the course of a game.

Some casinos have changed the rules of blackjack to increase their profit margin. They have done this by lowering the payout for blackjacks from 3 to 2 to 6 to 5. This change increases the house edge and makes card counting almost useless.

A blackjack dealer must be a good people person and be willing to work varied hours in a busy casino environment. They must be able to deal the games of blackjack and poker as well as handle customer complaints, gaming irregularities, credit card rejections and guest requests. Most dealers today have a high school diploma and have attended a dealer school funded by the casino or a vocational school that offers a program in casino game rules.