When do dealers check for Blackjack?

Dear readers,

Whenever a dealer's up card is an Ace Insurance is offered and after it has closed she peeks to see if she has a natural. My question is the following: apart from the aforementioned scenario is there any other time where the dealer peeks to see if she has a Blackjack?

Thank you.

If the up card is a ten-value card, the dealer will immediately check for an Ace underneath.

If the up card is an Ace, the dealer will offer insurance, and then check for a ten-value card underneath.

"If the up card is a ten-value card, the dealer will immediately check for an Ace underneath."

If the dealer indeed has an Ace underneath, will she reveal it immediately?

I believe most US casinos "peek" for any possible Blackjack, so would check when their up-card is a ten-value card or Ace. For completeness there are some casinos that don't "peek". Also I've seen reference to some that might only peek Aces and/or Tens.

(US) Atlantic City used to (may still do) not deal a second card to the dealer, so their Blackjack is only determined when all players have acted. However if the dealer does get Blackjack, only the original bet is lost - any doubles or splits are not lost.

(ENHC) In Europe, it is called European No Hole Card, the dealer also does not take a second card but any doubles or splits are lost. This means a slight change in strategy; also, unless you have a Blackjack, insurance isn't normally offered.

(Australia) There are various rules and the Wizard's site has details.

Quote: Plato

If the dealer indeed has an Ace underneath, will she reveal it immediately?

Usually.

It is in the casino's interest to do so, from a hands-per-hour perspective.

I remember the "old days" when the hands were completed before checking for blackjack. It could be frustrating at times for dealers and players alike in that the split and double portion of all bets had to be returned to the player. Split aces, get two 21s and lose. Yikes.

I say old days but that's how Foxwoods started and they opened in '92.

Quote: 1BB

I say old days but that's how Foxwoods started and they opened in '92.

Hole card peek devices were fairly new at that time. I believe that the Tech Art version was introduced around 1990.

Quote: Dieter

Hole card peek devices were fairly new at that time. I believe that the Tech Art version was introduced around 1990.

We didn't have them in 1985, I know that much. They were very particular as to how we peeked without exposure (finger placement etc.)

Quote: Dieter

Usually.

It is in the casino's interest to do so, from a hands-per-hour perspective.

So, everyone who does not have a natural loses immediately?

Quote: Plato

So, everyone who does not have a natural loses immediately?

Yes.

The long version:
A natural 21 ("Blackjack") ties another natural, and beats every other hand.
Anyone who does not have a natural is going to lose, no matter what they do.
Stopping the play at this point allows the next round of play to begin, increasing the number of hands per hour - which is advantageous to anyone playing with a positive expectation.

This should be exactly equivalent to "OBO" (but not OBBO) for settling the current round, but changes subsequent rounds.

I believe there are some variants where the hole card of a ten-up might not be checked right away, and they may push any player 21.

Ask if the house rules for blackjack are available to review. There are about two dozen rule variations I can think of, and most of them combine with each other to make a broad variety of rule sets.

If you encounter a 2:1 table where any two card 21 gets the "natural bonus", let me know -- I will make a detour for a few hours. (I fully expect that this unicorn is next to the faro tables.)