The rules in online blackjack and land casino blackjack are the same, but the game play is different. In online blackjack, the buttons for all the moves available at any time are displayed on the screen. You only have to click on the selected button. In land casinos this procedure obviously cannot be followed. You have to communicate to the dealer what you want to do. However, verbal communication between player and dealer is not feasible. The prevalent background chatter may prevent the dealer from correctly hearing what the player says. Issues of different accents could also arise. There can be no room for ambiguity or misunderstanding in the communication. Therefore a standard system of hand signals is in place for playing blackjack at land casinos. It is fairly standard throughout the world. This article explains the hand signals for the common blackjack moves.

In most blackjack tables around the world the player’s cards are dealt face up. You must keep two things in mind. You are under no circumstances allowed to touch the dealt cards or your original bet in any way. If you want to hit then you must tap the table with your finger. Alternatively, you may point to your cards. If you want to stand then you must wave your hand horizontally over the cards keeping your hand parallel to the table.

The double and split bets are slightly more complicated. Both require you to place another bet equal to your ante bet. And there are some hands in which you are allowed to split and double. An example is a pair of fives. So you have to communicate clearly to the dealer whether you want to split or double. First you put your additional wager behind your ante wager. Never put the additional wager on top of the ante wager. If you want to double you should hold up your index finger to indicate that you want one card. If you do not have a pair it will be presumed that you want to double, even if you do not hold up your index finger.

If you want to split then you must make a V sign with your fingers to indicate you want to form two hands. There is no option here, because you have the choice to double on any pair. If you do not make the V sign then the dealer may assume that you want to double and will deal the card to your hand.