Blackjack Hand Signals for Beginners: Simple Guide

When you sit down at a blackjack table in a real money casino, it’s not enough to just say what you want to do. You also have to use blackjack hand signals. These small, simple gestures tell the dealer, and the casino cameras, what action you’re taking. They’re a required part of the game in every land-based casino, and learning them is just as important as knowing when to hit or stand.

Whether you're a first-time player or just looking to brush up before your next trip to the casino, this guide will walk you through the blackjack hand signals you need to know. You'll learn what each gesture means, when to use it, and why it's required at the table.

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Why Hand Signals Matter in Blackjack

When you play blackjack at a casino, you’re not just interacting with the dealer, you’re also being watched by security cameras. Every action you take has to be clear, consistent, and traceable. That’s where hand signals in blackjack come in.

These hand signals are used to:

• Confirm your decisions in a way cameras can see
• Help the dealer avoid misunderstandings
• Prevent cheating, disputes, or confusion

Even if you tell the dealer, “Hit me,” they’re trained not to act until you give the right hand gesture. Verbal instructions alone don’t count. If you don’t use the correct signal, the dealer might pause or skip your turn, especially in busy casinos where everything moves quickly.

Hand signals also protect you as the player. If there’s ever a disagreement about what you meant to do, the cameras can review your gestures. That’s why knowing and using the correct blackjack hand gestures is more than just polite, it’s part of how the game works.

Blackjack Hand Signals With Gestures

When it’s your turn to act at the table, you’ll choose between a few basic moves: hit, stand, double down, split, or sometimes surrender. Each of these has a specific hand signal. Let’s go over them one by one so you’re ready for any situation.

Hit – Tap the Table

When you’re asking for another card in your hand. To make this clear, lightly tap the table near your cards using your finger or the back of your hand. One or two taps are all it takes. This move is common when your total is low, like 12 or 13, and you’re hoping to get closer to 21 without going over.

Stand – Wave Your Hand Side to Side

If you’re done with your hand and don’t want another card, simply wave your hand side to side with your palm facing down over your cards. This gesture tells the dealer you’re standing. It’s the smart move when you have a solid total, like 18, 19, or 20, and want to avoid the risk of going over 21.

Double Down – Add a Chip and Point

You’re doubling your bet and taking one (and only one) more card. This is how you signal it: place an additional chip next to your original bet, then point at your cards with one finger. You use it when you have a good chance of getting a winning hand with just one more card, usually on a total of 9, 10, or 11.

Split – Make a V with Your Fingers

You’re turning one hand into two by splitting a pair. To signal this move, place an extra chip next to your original bet, then hold up a peace sign (V-shape) over your cards. You’ll use this when you’re dealt two cards of the same value, like two 8s or two Aces, and want to play each as its own hand.

Surrender – Draw an Imaginary Line Behind Your Cards

You’re choosing to fold your hand and get back half of your original bet. To signal surrender in blackjack, use your index finger to draw a small horizontal line behind your cards on the table. Players usually use this option when the dealer has a strong card, like a 10 or Ace, and their own hand is weak, such as a 16.

Hand Signals vs Speaking – Which One Counts?

At the blackjack table, what you say doesn’t matter nearly as much as what you do. In a real casino, hand signals always override your words. That might seem strange, but there’s a good reason for it: security and consistency.

Casinos use cameras, sometimes called “eye in the sky,” to monitor every table. These cameras don’t record sound. So if there’s ever a dispute, they rely on your hand gestures to decide what action you took. That’s why using the proper hand signals in blackjack is not optional; it’s required.

Let’s say you tell the dealer “stand” but accidentally tap the table. The dealer might interpret that as a “hit” because the gesture is what counts. You could get another card you didn’t want, and once it happens, you can’t take it back.

So even if you’re nervous or unsure, use the correct hand signal. It’s the only way the dealer and security team can confirm what you really meant to do.

FAQs – Blackjack Hand Signals for Beginners

Do I have to use hand signals in blackjack?

In land-based casinos, hand signals are required for every action. Dealers and security rely on your gestures to confirm what you want to do.

Can I just say what I want to do?

Verbal instructions aren’t enough. You must use proper blackjack hand signals like tapping the table to hit or waving your hand to stand.

What if I give the wrong signal by accident?

Once you make a hand gesture, the dealer has to follow it. If you make a mistake, speak up right away, but it may be too late to undo the move.

Are hand signals the same at every casino?

Mostly, yes. The core hand signals for blackjack are standard worldwide. Minor differences can exist depending on whether cards are dealt face-up or face-down.

Do I need hand signals when playing blackjack online?

Online blackjack doesn’t require gestures. You click buttons like “Hit” or “Stand.” Hand signals are only needed in physical casinos.