With blackjack tables hosting up to seven players at once, and having the dealer running the show, a game can turn into quite a social event. Yet not everyone is a social butterfly who finds speaking up an easy thing to do. Even for those people who flourish in social settings, when it comes down to business at the blackjack table, there’s no need actually to speak to play.
Instead, hand gestures can be used to indicate your next move to the dealer. This is standard practice at the blackjack table in a physical casino, and it adds an air of uniqueness to the game. Blackjack hand signals used are steeped in tradition and also play a role in security. Here we look at the silent language of blackjack and why, to this day, you would still be expected to use it at the table.
More Than Tradition
Gesturing with a hand instead of just speaking may sound a little odd to newcomers who have only ever played blackjack online. With the expansion of the digital iGaming scene and a swathe of high-quality legal operators reviewed by https://legalcasino.uk/, a website which analyses and rates online casinos, blackjack has become more accessible and easier to play.
But it’s also changed the way the game is played, because obviously, players can’t use hand gestures at a virtual table. Instead, buttons are clicked or tapped to make actions in live dealer games at online casino sites. While online gambling remains hugely popular, for those times you want to step back into a land-based casino, it may be worth brushing up on those hand signals first.
Where Did Hand Signals Come From?
Hand signals didn’t just come along by chance. They were originally a tool used so that dealers could clearly understand what players wanted, in loud and bustling casino environments. This was long before people could just quietly sit at home on their mobile device and play blackjack, of course, and a dealer attempting to hear players at a full table could lead to mistakes being made.
In contrast, hand signals are clear, visual indicators of what the player wants, and they are still in use today, with players expected to use them as much as possible. It’s firmly embedded in game etiquette, and they provide a service for the casino as well.
In modern casinos, with cameras watching everything, hand signals now also serve as a visual record, just in case the player wants to later argue that they were misinterpreted. So while they have been around for decades, blackjack gestures are still very much part and parcel of the modern game.
The Signals
Most modern “shoe” games involve the cards being dealt face up (besides the dealer’s hole card). There are universal gestures for this format of blackjack, which will change slightly for the less common single-deck games. But the most commonly used game gestures are:
Hit – A tap on the table with one or two fingers is the standard gesture here. A variation of this is a beckoning gesture to indicate that you want another card.
Stand – Waving the hand palm down over your cards is the signal to give if you don’t want any more cards.
Double Down – If you want to double down a bet, you point with one finger to your chips.
Split – If you want to split, then hold up the two fingers in a “V” shape for the dealer to see.
Why They Still Matter
The hand gestures at a physical table are still important, and by using them, you are indicating that you are a responsible player. Blackjack isn’t a rowdy game like roulette or slots, for example; it’s typically quiet and composed, and silent play can be performed by just using your hands.
However, it’s important to never touch the chips once the cards have been dealt to the table, as that can look terribly suspicious. The only thing that should be moving around anywhere near the betting circle at a blackjack table is your hands, which should be kept flat and not causing a distraction.
When making a blackjack hand signal, make it clear and deliberate to help the dealer. The smoother and more precise the hand signals are, the quicker the game can flow without interruptions and disputes. That ultimately allows a greater focus on the gameplay, strategy and enjoyment.
