Simple Blackjack

Blackjack Made Simple – Part One

by: Vegas Vic – Victor H. Royer

If you are new to the game of casino Blackjack – or perhaps find the game a bit intimidating in the actual casino – it’s OK. No one is born ready, or an expert. We all struggle at the beginning. But the point is to overcome that fear, or lack of knowledge, and get in the game!

Blackjack is a terrific game, and should be enjoyed without trepidation. And while it may look confusing – or perhaps appear difficult if you are seeing it in the casino for the first time – it’s all actually quite simple. And that’s why I have written this article – to show you that this great game actually IS very simple. So, let’s go to the table, and enjoy the game!

Table Layout

First, here’s a typical Blackjack table, just as you’ll find it in the casino:

The circles (or sometime squares) are where you will place your wager, and where the cards will be dealt. To the left of the dealer is the “shoe”, a device where the shuffled cards are placed, ready for dealing. In some casinos a machine will shuffle the decks, and the shuffled cards are then placed into this “shoe.” In other casinos, the dealer will shuffle the cards, and then place them into this “shoe.” Once this is done, the game is ready to start – this is called: “A new deal”, or: “Start of a new shoe.”

The tray in front of the dealer is where the casino chips are stored. From this tray the dealer will pay the winning bets, and into this tray the dealer will place the chips that have been lost by losing hands.

Where to Sit at Blackjack Tables

When you first approach a Blackjack table, you can sit in any one of the available seats. Which one you take really doesn’t matter. The “first position” – the seat to the far left of the dealer – is called: “First Base.” The opposite side seat – the one to the dealer’s far right – is called: “Third Base.” These names really don’t matter much to your game at this point, but you might hear other players at the game refer to them, so now you know what they are, and what this means. The other seats at the table usually don’t have any catchy names.

Buying In

So, when you find a seat you like, sit down, wait for the current hand to be finished, and then – before the start of the next hand – place your cash on the table in front of you – but NOT into the “betting circle” (or betting square) – and say: “Change, please.”

This means that you want to join the game, and are asking the dealer to convert your cash into playing chips. The dealer will then take your cash, count it, spread it on the table so that the Supervisors can see it, announce the amount, and then convert the amount of the cash into an equivalent amount of playing chips, in various denominations.

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