Online Blackjack

After receiving his initial two cards, the player has four standard options: he can “hit,” “stand,” “double down,” or “split a pair.” Each option requires the use of a hand signal. At some casinos or tables, the player may have a fifth option called “surrender.”

• Hit: Take another card from the dealer.

signal: (handheld) Scrape cards against table. (face up) Touch finger to table or wave hand toward himself.

• Stand: Take no more cards; also known as “stick” or “stay”.

signal: (handheld) Slide cards under bet. (face up) Wave hand horizontally.

• Double down: After receiving his first two cards and before any more are dealt to him, a player has the option to “double down.” This means the player is allowed to double his initial bet in exchange for receiving only one more card from the dealer. The hand played consists of his original two cards plus one more from the dealer. To do this he moves a second bet equal to the first into the betting box next to his original bet. (If desired and allowed by casino rules, the player is usually allowed to “double down for less,” placing an amount less than the original bet next to it in the betting box, although this is generally not a good idea as the player should only double in favorable situations but should then increase the bet as much as possible. Conversely, a player cannot “double down for more” than the value of the original bet.)

signal: Place additional chips next to (not on top of) the original bet.

• Split a pair: If his first two cards are a “pair,” meaning two cards of the same value, the player can “split the pair.” To do this, he moves a second bet equal to the first into an area outside the betting box of the original bet. The dealer separates the cards to create two hands, placing one bet with each hand. The player then plays two separate hands.

signal: Place additional chips next to the original bet outside of the betting box.

• Surrender: Some casinos offer a fifth option called “surrender.” After the dealer has checked for blackjack, the player may “surrender” by giving up half his bet and not playing out the hand.

signal: There is no commonly accepted hand signal; it is just done verbally.

Hand signals are used to assist the “eye in the sky,” a person or video camera located above the table but concealed behind one-way glass. This tool is used to protect the casino against dealers or players who cheat. It may also be used to protect the casino against card counters, even though card counting is not illegal in the United States.

The player can take as many hits as he wants as long as the total in his hand is not above hard-20. However, if he busts, he loses that hand. After all players have finished making their decisions, the dealer then reveals his hole card and plays out his or her hand according to predetermined rules.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.