Blackjack is a card game in which players compete against the dealer. The goal is to have a higher hand than the dealer. If both hands are equal, it is called a tie, and neither player wins or loses. To play blackjack, players must make a bet by placing their chips into the betting circle. They can then either ask for another card (hit) or stick with their current hand (stand).

Blackjack dealers must have excellent memory skills to remember the cards they deal, the cards the players discard and the cards played. They also need to know when to reshuffle the deck and offer the players a new set of cards.

Dealers must also be able to read the faces of the cards and understand their numerical values. A face card is worth 10 points, the cards numbered 2-10 are worth their printed value, and aces can be counted as either 1 or 11. The dealer also needs to understand that if the dealer busts, he will lose his bet to the players, so he must hit until he has a total of 17 or more.

In addition to basic strategy, there are some strategies that you can use to decrease the house edge and increase your chances of winning. One is to always double when you are dealt two aces against a dealer showing a face card. This is a great way to increase your odds of getting a blackjack, which pays 3:2 in most casinos.

Another strategy is to never take insurance if you have no knowledge or estimation of the dealer’s hole card. This is because taking insurance will reduce your chances of winning a blackjack, as the probability of having a dealer with a blackjack is very low.

If you have a strong hand, such as a 12, it may be a good idea to split your cards. This will give you two separate hands, and it is possible that one of them will have a ten value and thus be a blackjack. However, it is important to remember that splitting pairs of aces will not increase your odds of getting a blackjack, as they are already quite high.

Communication skills are important for a blackjack dealer, as they are responsible for communicating with customers and answering questions. They must be able to listen carefully and understand what the customer is saying, as well as explain the rules of the game. They should also be able to communicate with other casino employees, such as security, in order to ensure that the casino is running smoothly.

In addition to being a pleasant person, a blackjack dealer must be able to multitask and be able to pay out winners quickly. This involves a lot of mental work, especially when dealing multiple tables simultaneously. They must be able to follow the action on all of the tables they are dealing with and must also keep track of their own bets and payouts. They should also be able to remain calm under pressure, which is important in an environment where there are many distractions.