Table Manners

Entering a game already in play

No matter if you happen to stumble innocently on a game already in play or if you've been silently counting the cards it is important to politely ask the current players before jumping in and making a wager. First look for an empty betting circle or square. In general it's a less than kosher way of playing blackjack so it's important to respect the opinions of current players who might not welcome a new player. The addition of a new player permanently alters the count and the current players may feel that a new player negatively affects the outcome of the game for them.

Where to Sit

In blackjack even your relative position while sitting at a table means something. New players risk the ire of advanced players by entering a game without understanding the rationale behind these positions. To make the best decision it's helpful to understand two key terms.

• First Baseman: The player sitting at a table who receives his cards first.

• Third Baseman: The player who receives his cards from the dealer last. If standing behind the active players, the third baseman is the person seated farthest to the left. This player is the last to act before the dealer and may be the most scrutinized if they make a mistake making this a less desirable position for novice players.

Of course a game can have more than two players, however these are the two "key" positions to be familiar with. It is often felt that the first baseman is the position of the greatest weakness in a game with multiple players while the third baseman is at an advantage. Unless you are playing in a tournament, there is no real basis for this.

How to Bet

The most important part of betting is to communicate in a clear and straightforward manner with the dealer. It's basic respect and will save the dealer a lot of trouble that will work in your favor in the end.

• If using chips of various denominations, then make sure that the highest value chips are on the bottom. The reason for this is that it prevents players from sneaking in a higher denomination chip once a favorable outcome is known.

• After placing a bet remove your hands so that the chips are clearly visible to the dealer.

• Wait for a break in the action to "color up."

Tip the Dealer

It is not only in the players best interest to tip the dealer, it is a standard courtesy for a service that is similar to that of a waiter. Casinos expect patrons to tip dealers and so pay them less, making the dealers actual income dependent on the generosity of individual gamblers. Like other things in blackjack there are several ways to tip a dealer (some more slick than others) and some general rules of thumb to measure how much and how often you should tip.

• Dealers don't expect players to tip as much when they are losing, so don't sweat that one. The general idea is that if you aren't winning you should move on to another table or take a break.

• Place an additional bet on the dealer’s behalf a few times per hour of play. Generally this works out to about 5 times per hour. This can be done by adding a chip to the side of your bet or to the top of your existing bet as long as this is plainly announced to the dealer before the hand.

• The difference between making a side bet and adding the amount to your own bet is that after a side bet is called the dealer must immediately take the money, while adding it to your own bet may allow you to "parlay" the winning bet for the dealer.

• Deciding how much to tip is a balancing act between deciding how friendly and proficient the dealer is along with your own bankroll. A safe ratio is 2/3 based on the dealer and 1/3 based on your win rate.

Players can always ask the dealer how tips are handled, as some casinos even pool tips rather than allowing dealers to keep the tips that they make individually.