Sample Blackjack Game Flow

After going through the basic rules a quick look at the game flow will give us a great idea how an actual game action looks. Instead of showing you all the specific details, we'll just go over a typical piece of game action to show you what to expect when you sit at a blackjack table for the first time.

The game is played on a semi-circle table with green colored felt on top. To help players identify the correct table in a casino, a standard table will display the house rules of the game printed on the felt on top of the table. You'll often see something like "pays 3 to 2" and the name of the game. You'll also see either a circle or square on the players' side of the table (this is where you place your bet).

You have a choice to either join in on a table where other players are already playing the game or find an empty table (take note that a vacant table can sometimes be very hard to find during really crowded days). Either way, getting in a game is easy. Just sit on a vacant chair or available seat at the blackjack table, lay some money for the game, and that's it. One note though, you should not join in when a hand is still being played. Wait until the dealer has awarded winners and collected chips from losing hands. That way you won't be disturbing the action.

The dealer will then take the money you placed on the table and exchange them for chips. You then place your bet on the circle (each player on the table will have one in front of them; some tables have squares or other shapes).

The dealer will then deal a card to each player on the table (usually starts with the one who is at your far right or dealer's left). The dealer also gets a card, this one will be face up and everybody gets to see it. The dealer then goes through the same routine. The dealer also gets another card, but this time the second card is face down.

If the cards are dealt face down you may pick them up and hold them in your hands. If the cards are dealt face up, you're not allowed to touch the cards. With the cards in your hand and with one of the dealer's cards visible to you, you then make your game decisions.

After everyone has made their final moves the dealer then makes his decisions. The winners will be awarded and the dealer collects the chips from the losing hands. Cards will then be taken from the players' side and new cards will then be dealt for the next round.

That's how the action goes in blackjack. It's all pretty simple and easy to understand.

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