The Art of Dealing and Shuffling
Playing blackjack, whether online or real-time, includes many fascinating elements such as seeing how the cards are dealt and shuffled. However, with online blackjack the cards are dealt automatically by the online casino's server. When playing in a land-based casino, it is a good idea to know how the cards are dealt.
Basically, blackjack is played with more than one deck of cards; whether it is online or land-based casino. Blackjack played in a real casino usually makes use of up to eight decks and all are shuffled together. Normally, casinos that play multiple-deck blackjack will employ a croupier to shuffle the cards. Online casinos either imitate the real casino's card-shuffling or play from an infinite deck where the odds of drawing a card are 1 in 13.
Once shuffled, the players take turns in cutting the deck. The player at the immediate left of the dealer will start first. The player cuts through the deck by placing a plastic card and the dealer cuts the deck from that point. This procedure is done by every player. Players may choose to pass or reject the offer of cutting the deck; some players do this for superstitious reasons.
Once the deck is cut, the top card or 'burning card' will be removed by the dealer. The burning card will be placed in the shoe and all of the discarded cards during the game will be placed on top of it.
The dealer may place a red plastic card to mark the deck, a common practice when playing multiple-deck blackjack. Re-shuffling the deck will be done once the round is completed.
Each player will be dealt one card at a time, starting with player on the immediate left side of the dealer. How the cards are dealt depends on the casino and the blackjack table. In land-based casinos, when cards are dealt face up, players are not allowed to touch the cards; and when cards are dealt face down, players can touch them with one hand and look at them as much as they want. In high stakes tables, the cards are usually dealt face down. Players should also keep their cards on the table and they are not allowed to touch the extra cards dealt to them by the dealer.
There are two cards dealt by the dealer to himself; one is a hole card or the card facing down and a card dealt face up. The hole card will only be revealed once all the players have either opted to bust or stand. This case is called 'ace in the hole'.
Though shuffling and dealing may look entertaining, the need for the dealer to do so is part of the rules and principles of the game. How the dealer executes these moves depends on his mastery of the craft.
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