How to Deal Blackjack: Step-by-Step Procedures

This guide covers the technical procedures for dealing blackjack—the mechanics, sequences, and physical skills required to run a professional blackjack game. For career advice, income information, and player interaction strategies, see our companion article Working as a Blackjack Dealer.

Pre-Game Setup

Before dealing begins, several setup procedures ensure game integrity and readiness.

Table Inspection

Layout check:

• Betting circles clearly visible and unobstructed
• Table felt clean and in good condition
• Discard rack properly positioned
• Shoe or pitch deck area clear

Chip tray verification:

• All denominations present and properly organized
• Chips stacked in standard heights (20 chips per stack)
• Sufficient chips for expected action
• Lammers and markers in designated spots

Signage confirmation:

• Table minimum and maximum clearly displayed
• House rules visible (dealer hits/stands soft 17, blackjack pays 3:2 or 6:5)
• Side bet information if applicable

Deck Preparation

Spreading the cards:

• Remove cards from packaging or previous shoe
• Spread cards face-up across the table in a ribbon spread
• Verify all cards present and undamaged
• Check for missing or duplicate cards
• Display for surveillance verification

The shuffle sequence:

Standard casino shuffle for 6-8 deck shoe:

1. Riffle shuffle - Split deck roughly in half, interleave cards
2. Strip shuffle - Pull small packets from top, reassemble
3. Riffle shuffle - Second interleave
4. Strip shuffle - Second strip
5. Riffle shuffle - Final interleave
6. Square the deck - Align all edges cleanly

Repeat sequence for each portion of the multi-deck shoe.

Offering the cut:

• Present cut card to a player (typically the player to dealer's right)
• Player inserts cut card into the deck
• Complete the cut by moving cards above cut card to bottom
• Insert cut card approximately 1-1.5 decks from the back (penetration varies by house)

Loading the shoe:

• Place shuffled cards into dealing shoe
• Cut card visible, indicating when to shuffle
• Close shoe securely

The Deal Sequence

Opening the Round

Calling for bets:

• "Place your bets" or house-specific phrase
• Allow adequate time for betting
• Watch for late bets approaching the cutoff

Closing betting:

• "No more bets" with clear hand signal (wave across layout)
• Do not deal until all bets are properly placed
• Verify bets are within table limits

Initial Card Distribution

First card round (left to right):

• Deal one card face-up to each betting position with a wager
• Smooth, consistent motion for each card
• Cards placed cleanly in front of betting circles
• Skip empty positions

Dealer up card:

• Deal one card face-up to the dealer position
• Place at standard angle for visibility

Second card round:

• Deal second card face-up to each player position
• Same left-to-right sequence

Dealer hole card:

• Deal second dealer card face-down
• Tuck partially under the up card
• Do not expose the hole card

Hole Card Procedures

When to peek:

• Peek only when up card is an Ace or 10-value card
• Use mirror device or peek method per house procedure

Ace up card sequence:

1. Offer insurance: "Insurance open"
2. Allow players to place insurance bets (half original wager)
3. Close insurance: "Insurance closed"
4. Peek at hole card using approved method
5. If blackjack: "Blackjack" - reveal card, settle bets
6. If no blackjack: proceed with player hands

10-value up card:

1. Peek at hole card (no insurance offered)
2. If blackjack: reveal and settle
3. If no blackjack: proceed normally

Even money option:

• When player has blackjack and dealer shows Ace
• Offer before peeking: "Even money?"
• If accepted: pay 1:1 immediately
• If declined: proceed with insurance/peek sequence

Player Decisions

Handle each player position completely before moving to the next, working left to right.

Hit

Player signal: Tapping or scratching the table, or pointing at cards

Procedure:

1. Acknowledge the signal
2. Deal one card face-up next to existing cards
3. Announce new total if helpful (optional per house)
4. Wait for next decision

Bust procedure:

• When hand exceeds 21: "Too many" or simply collect
• Take cards first (place in discard)
• Then collect losing wager
• Move to next position

Stand

Player signal: Waving hand horizontally over cards, palm down

Procedure:

1. Acknowledge the signal
2. Move immediately to next position
3. Do not touch player cards

Double Down

Player signal: Placing additional chips (up to original bet) and holding up one finger, or verbal "double"

Procedure:

1. Verify additional bet is placed correctly (beside, not on top of original)
2. Verify bet amount is within rules (equal to or less than original)
3. Deal exactly one card—typically placed sideways to indicate doubled hand
4. Move to next position (no additional cards regardless of total)

Double for less:

• Some houses allow doubling for less than original bet
• Same procedure, note the lesser amount

Split

Player signal: Placing matching bet beside original and making V-sign with fingers, or verbal "split"

Procedure:

1. Verify cards are a valid splitting pair (matching values)
2. Verify additional bet equals original bet
3. Separate the cards, one to each betting position
4. Deal one card to first split hand
5. Complete first hand fully (hit/stand/double/re-split if applicable)
6. Deal one card to second split hand
7. Complete second hand fully

Split Aces special rules (most houses):

• Each Ace receives only one card
• No hitting, doubling, or re-splitting
• 21 on split Aces typically pays 1:1, not 3:2 (counts as 21, not blackjack)

Re-splitting:

• If split hand receives another matching card
• House rules vary on number of re-splits allowed
• Same procedure for each re-split

Surrender

When offered (not all houses):

• Late surrender: after dealer checks for blackjack
• Early surrender: before dealer checks (rare)

Procedure:

1. Player verbally requests "surrender"
2. Collect half the original wager
3. Return half to player
4. Remove player cards to discard
5. Move to next position

Dealer Hand Play

After all player hands are complete:

Revealing the Hole Card

Procedure:

1. Flip hole card face-up with smooth motion
2. Announce total: "Dealer has [X]"
3. Position cards for clear visibility

Playing the Dealer Hand

Standard rules (verify house rules):

• Hit on 16 or less
• Stand on 17 or more (hard 17)
• Soft 17 rule varies: hit or stand per house rules

Drawing cards:

• Deal additional cards face-up
• Announce running total
• Continue until 17+ or bust

Dealer bust:

• Announce "Dealer busts" or "Too many"
• Proceed to pay all remaining hands

Payouts and Collection

Work right to left (opposite of deal direction) for payouts.

Calculating Payouts

Standard payouts:

Common payout calculations:

3:2 Blackjack payouts:

• $5 bet = $7.50 (pay $7 + 50¢ chip or round per house rules)
• $10 bet = $15
• $15 bet = $22.50
• $25 bet = $37.50
• $100 bet = $150

6:5 Blackjack payouts (if applicable):

• $5 bet = $6
• $10 bet = $12
• $25 bet = $30

Chip Cutting

Cutting technique:

1. Size into the bet to count chips
2. Cut out matching stacks from tray
3. Verify count visually
4. Place payout beside original bet
5. Do not place on top of bet until verified

Cutting accuracy:

• Practice cutting exact amounts quickly
• Standard stack heights: 20 chips
• Cut in standard increments (5s, 10s, 20s)

Payout Sequence

Winning hand:

1. Cut payout from tray
2. Place beside player's original bet
3. Do not touch original bet

Losing hand:

1. Pick up player's cards first (to discard)
2. Then collect losing chips
3. Drop chips into tray

Push (tie):

1. Knock table twice with knuckles
2. Leave bet in place
3. Player may pick up or let ride

Blackjack payout:

1. Announce "Blackjack"
2. Pay 3:2 (or 6:5)
3. Collect cards

Clearing the Layout

After all payouts:

1. Collect all remaining cards
2. Place in discard rack
3. Verify layout is clear
4. Call for new round of betting

Special Situations

Insurance Payouts

When dealer has blackjack with Ace showing:

1. Pay insurance bets first (2:1)
2. Then collect original bets that didn't have blackjack
3. Push original bets that had blackjack

Multiple Blackjacks

Dealer and player both have blackjack:

• Push on original bet
• Player loses insurance bet (if taken)

Multiple players with blackjack:

• Pay each from right to left
• Same 3:2 payout for each

Misdeal Procedures

Card exposed during deal:

• Complete the round of dealing
• Exposed card typically becomes first card of next round
• Or burn the exposed card (house policy varies)

Card dealt to wrong position:

• Stop immediately
• Call floor supervisor
• Follow house procedure for correction

Error Correction

Payout error caught immediately:

1. Call "short pay" or "overpay"
2. Request supervisor verification if significant
3. Correct the error with player and surveillance aware

Error caught after cards collected:

1. Stop game
2. Call floor supervisor
3. Surveillance review may be required
4. Follow supervisor direction

Chip Handling Skills

Tray Organization

Standard arrangement (varies by property):

• Highest denomination on dealer's right
• Descending value moving left
• Keep adequate supply of all denominations
• Maintain neat, squared stacks

Color Changes

Player requests color change:

1. Verify it's between hands only (not during active play)
2. Count incoming chips clearly
3. Announce total: "[Amount] changing color"
4. Cut out equivalent in requested denomination
5. Drop incoming chips
6. Push changed chips to player

Procedure for color up (higher denomination):

• Same as above
• Often done at player departure

Procedure for color down (lower denomination):

• Same procedure
• Verify sufficient small chips in tray

Drop Box Procedures

Dropping cash buy-ins:

1. Spread bills on table (face up, in direction of tray camera)
2. Announce total: "[Amount] in"
3. Cut out equivalent chips
4. Push chips to player
5. Use paddle to insert bills into drop box
6. Never put hands in drop box

Fill requests:

• When tray runs low on any denomination
• Call floor supervisor
• Complete fill paperwork per house procedure

Side Bets

Common side bets have specific procedures:

21+3

Setup:

• Separate betting circle for side bet
• Must be placed before deal

Resolution:

1. After initial deal, before player decisions
2. Check player's two cards plus dealer up card
3. Pay qualifying three-card poker hands:
   • Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Straight Flush, Suited Three of a Kind
4. Collect losing side bets
5. Proceed with main game

Perfect Pairs

Resolution:

1. After initial deal
2. Check if player's two cards are a pair
3. Pay scale: Mixed pair, Colored pair, Perfect pair
4. Collect losing bets
5. Proceed with main game

Insurance Betting

Already covered in hole card procedures above.

Game Protection

Watching for Issues

Bet manipulation:

• Capping (adding chips after seeing cards)
• Pinching (removing chips after unfavorable cards)
• Past-posting (placing bets after cutoff)

Card manipulation:

• Marking cards
• Switching cards
• Hand mucking

Proper response:

• Do not accuse players directly
• Note the activity
• Discreetly notify floor supervisor
• Continue dealing normally until directed otherwise

Procedural Consistency

• Same procedure every time reduces vulnerability
• Never deviate from established sequences
• Maintain card control throughout
• Keep hands visible to surveillance

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the correct shuffle sequence?

Standard casino shuffle is: riffle, strip, riffle, strip, riffle, square. This sequence is repeated for each portion of a multi-deck shoe. Some casinos use shuffle machines, which have their own loading procedures.

When exactly should I peek for blackjack?

Peek only when the up card is an Ace or a 10-value card (10, J, Q, K). With an Ace showing, offer insurance first, then peek. With a 10 showing, peek immediately without offering insurance.

How fast should I be dealing?

Speed develops naturally with practice. Focus on accuracy first. A comfortable pace for experienced dealers is 60-80 hands per hour on a full table, but this varies by property expectations and game conditions. Never sacrifice accuracy for speed.

What happens if I make a payout error?

Stop immediately, announce the error, and correct it with the player's awareness. For significant errors, call a floor supervisor. Never try to hide errors—surveillance records everything.

How do I handle odd-cent payouts on blackjack?

For 3:2 blackjack on odd amounts (like $5), the payout is $7.50. House rules determine handling: some round up, some round down, some use 50-cent chips. Know your property's specific policy.

Should I announce totals out loud?

Policies vary. Some houses want dealers to announce dealer totals ("Dealer has 17"). Player totals are typically not announced unless requested. Announcing can help game pace and reduce disputes.

Practice Drills

Payout Speed Drill

Practice cutting common payouts until automatic:

• Even money on $5, $10, $15, $25, $100
• 3:2 blackjack on same amounts
• Insurance 2:1 payouts

Deal Speed Drill

With a single deck, practice:

• Dealing to 6 positions plus dealer
• Picking up in reverse order
• Smooth, consistent card placement

Chip Cutting Drill

Practice cutting exact amounts:

• Stacks of 5, 10, 15, 20 chips
• Mixed denomination payouts
• Color changes of various amounts

Additional Resources

• Working as a Blackjack Dealer - Career and income guide
• How to Become a Casino Dealer - Complete career guide
• Blackjack - Game rules for player perspective