How do blackjack tables work at casinos?
Many players say the anchor position (the last seat on the dealer’s right) is the best spot at the blackjack table. As the last to go, you can see what cards have come out for other players and make a better decision on your hand.
This depends on the number of decks in play and your skill. In single-deck games, it’s better to play solo, as you have more chances of getting blackjack. Busy games can give intermediate players more time to think through basic blackjack strategy and card counting and consider what’s left in the shoe.
Casinos will sometimes add additional decks to blackjack games to deter card counters or keep their advantage in the game. Most casinos will use between 6-8 decks at their tables, but the same blackjack rules apply.
Some players say you should target tables with loads of chips, as it means the shoe is running hot. However this only means it was running hot, or the players brought hefty bankrolls for their session. We recommend finding tables with rules that suit players, as discussed in our video Special Rules in Blackjack.
Between 1-7 people can sit at a blackjack table for a game.
Online casinos do not allow players to reserve their seats for live blackjack games. Casino sites offer numerous live dealer blackjack games. Even if you leave and return, you can find seats at other blackjack tables.
In real money blackjack games online, you don’t need to wait for a seat. These use random number generator (RNG) software and are based on single-player format. In live dealer blackjack, you may need to wait for a seat if a table is busy, as these games are run by real-life dealers and players around the world can join.