Now let’s take a brief look at how the dealer runs the game, what he uses to do so, and what rules and procedures he is forced to abide by. Let’s start with the various objects found on a typical blackjack table, and follow with a description of what the dealer’s responsibilities are once the cards are being dealt.
The Shoe
In four-, six-, and eight-deck games, cards are placed in what’s called a "shoe," as it would be impossible for any dealer to hold four or more decks of cards and effectively run a game at the same time. In single- and double-deck games, shoes are generally not used, as dealers are trained to hold the cards dealt a blackjack while performing all of the duties necessary.
The Discard Tray
The discard tray holds those cards that have already been used, and accumulates cards both when players bust and at the conclusion of each hand. The discard tray is found next to the player sitting in the last seat blackjack beats, sometimes refered to as "third base," located to the dealer’s right.
The Chip Rack
Each table’s chip rack holds the many chips needed to either pay off winning hands or hold losing wagers after they’re collected. All chip racks are arranged and maintained with the highest-denomination chips kept at center and those with lesser value on each side. Often, little plastic disks called spacers are used to maintain checks in stacks of twenty.
