Does the dealer reveal a blackjack at the very beginning?

[Gomar T]

I have not played the game in a long time and in a post yesterday I asked a question about hitting versus doubling with an 11 against a dealer upcard of 10.

The response was unanimous that doubling is the proper play.

But now I have another question.

Let's say we are talking about the same single deck game.

Let's assume that dealer has an upcard of 10 and let's also assume that the hole card is an Ace, which would mean he has a blackjack. (Insurance in this case would not be an option.)

Does the dealer reveal that blackjack before I have a chance to take additional cards?

Or does he NOT reveal that blackjack and force me to first play the hand?

If the latter is true, then if I were (using the basic strategy) to double down against what turns out to be a blackjack, I would lose twice my initial bet.

What I am asking here is this.

When people say in a single game that you should double down with an 11 versus a dealer upcard of ten does that assume that the dealer has, in fact, revealed a blackjack at the very outset? (That would mean that doubling would not be an option since I would not be allowed to take any additional cards.)

Or does it assume that the dealer has not revealed a blackjack and you could (with a double down) lose twice your bet?

And, if the latter case is true ..... that the dealer does not reveal a blackjack at the outset and forces you first to play your hand .....

And with the possibility that even a double-down 21 could lose to his eventually-revealed blackjack .....

Would the best basic strategy play in that single deck game, under those circumstances, still be to double with the 11 rather than to simply hit it?

 

[KenSmith]

In the US, the dealer will peek under tens and aces, and will reveal the blackjack before you are allowed to double. In games with that rule, doubling 11vA is the best play in single or double deck, but not in more decks.

If the dealer does not peek, then you should hit 11vA. That's a common rule in much of Europe.

The Strategy Engine at this site allows you to specify whether you are playing a peek or no peek game to get an appropriate strategy chart.

 

[shadroch]

I believe there are a few clubs that do not check their tens,but if they end up with Bj,you get any doubles or splits returned to you. Isn't that how one of the locals chains in Vegas still do it?

 

[EasyRhino]

At Golden Gate downtown, they didn't have any mirrors or peek devices. So they would deal themselves a hole card, if an ace up, they would offer insurance. If a ten up, they would not peek (old fashioned turn up corner peek). However, as soon as a player began to split or double down, the dealer would peek, thus wiping out the table even after some people had drawn cards.

It was kind of strange.

 

[Cardcounter]

It depends.

Does the dealer reveal a blackjack at the very beginning?
It depends on what part of the world you are playing on and the particular rules of the casino. In the u.s. most of the time the dealer will reveal a blackjack and take all the bets on the table except for the players who have blackjack as well. If the dealer does not check for blackjack but you can only lose your orginal bet if you double down or split play as if the dealer checked for blackjack but did not have one.
If the dealer does not check and you can lose additional doubles and splits when the dealer has blackjack than you should be more careful when doubling an 11 vs a 10 and should not do it against an ace.

 

[Kasi]

Not only should you be more careful when doubling 11 vs 10, you shouldn't do it at all!

Likewise don't split 8,8 vs 10 either.

All assuming no card-counting of course.