The Start

We begin with the shuffle. The shuffling method varies by casino and by the number of decks. Some casinos now use automatic shufflers (ASMs) to speed the game and thwart experts who track cards through shuffles. However, the machines are very expensive, can break down, and in my opinion interfere with the casino’s historic roots. Casino managers like machines and if they had their way there would be nothing but slot machines. More accurately, they would be happy if you handed them your money at the door and left. CSMs are continuous shuffling machines. This is a variation where the dealer discards into the machine as the game is played and it is always shuffling new cards and old cards together. In my opinion, this is not even Blackjack. No one plays a card game that way.

After the shuffle, the cards are held horizontally in front of one of the players and he is handed a cut card. The player slides the cut card into the stack, not too close to the start or end of the stack. The dealer will usually hold the stack tightly to keep the player from opening the stack to peek at any of the cards. So, you may have to chop down sharply to get the card into the stack. You can wave off the cut and let another player cut the cards. The cards are cut by the dealer at the cut card, and the cut card is normally inserted back into the stack to indicate where the dealer will again shuffle. The shuffle point is decided by the casino. Some one-deck games deal a fixed number of rounds depending on the number of players instead of using a cut card. In these games, an extra round may also be dealt at times.

The Bet

 Most players wait for the shuffling process to complete before betting. However, you can bet at any time. Place your bet in the betting circle. It may be a circle, square or more commonly these days, a logo. If your bet consists of more than one color of chip, the higher value chips must be at the bottom of the stack. The chips should be neatly stacked, or the dealer will straighten them, slowing the game. If you have been consistently betting stacks of one color, and then make a bet with two colors of chips, you might want to be

 © 2009 Norman Wattenberger