Computer Vegas Blackjack Components

Blackjack is played on a semicircular shaped table. The blackjack tables are covered by green or blue colored felt. The blackjack table has seven places for players. The dealer stands behind the table. The dealer deals cards in a clockwise direction from one or multiple decks. After shuffling all cards thoroughly, the dealer will give one of the players a plastic card. The deck is cut by inserting the plastic card into the deck. After shuffling and cutting the deck, the dealer "burns" one to five cards immediately placing these unseen cards into the discard box before the deal of the first hand. Players can see the minimum and maximum table bets on the table. Minimum bets are usually $1.00, $2.00, $5.00, $10.00, $25.00 or $100.00. Maximum bets are generally $500.00, $1,000.00 or $5,000.00. Minimum and maximum bets can be higher through special arrangements with the house. You can make your bets with house chips. In some casinos players can make bets with cash. Players can get their winnings only in chips. Chips can be purchased at the tables. If you want to cash your chips you must go to the Cashier. At the outset of each hand, you have to place your bet in the square on the table directly in front of your seat. When all the bets are made all players and the dealer receive two cards each. Players don’t see dealer’s cards. After the dealer has dealt everyone two cards, he will turn his first card face up for all to see. The dealer’s face down cards is called ‘a hole card’. After all players have played out their hands, the dealer will turn his hole card face up and, if necessary, hit his hand until he has a hand value of seventeen or more. When one or two decks are played, the dealer will deal from his hand and the player's cards will be dealt face down. When there are four or more decks, the cards are dealt face up from a "shoe". The shoe is a plastic box, which sits on the table holding the portion of the deck remaining to be dealt. The shoe provides the dealer with a convenient way to handle four or more decks. The shoe makes it more difficult for a dealer to cheat by dealing a card other than the bottom card. The house has one more advantage when dealing from the shoe. The more decks a house plays, the more favorable the odds become for the house against the card counters. When using four or more decks, the cards are often dealt face up both in European and American casinos. Dealing cards face up prevents some forms of cheating by the players.