Blackjack Hand Signals

At a live blackjack table you don’t say your move — you signal it. The dealer (and the camera overhead) reads your hands, not your voice. Here are the standard hand signals for hit, stand, double down, split and surrender, and why every casino insists on them.

Why blackjack uses hand signals

Casinos require hand signals because the surveillance cameras can see your hands but cannot hear you. A clear gesture creates an unambiguous, recorded decision — which protects you (no dispute over what you said) and the house (no confusion over what you meant). Speaking your move out loud is fine, but you must still make the signal.

The hand signals

Decision	Shoe game (cards face-up)	Hand-held game (cards in hand)
Hit	Tap or scratch the felt beside your cards	Lightly scratch your cards toward you
Stand	Wave a flat hand horizontally over your cards	Slide your cards face-down under your bet
Double down	Place a matching bet beside the original; point one finger	Same — turn cards up, add the bet, point one finger
Split	Place a matching bet beside the original; hold up two fingers	Same — add the bet and make a “V” with two fingers
Surrender	Draw a horizontal line behind your bet and say “surrender”	Usually verbal — surrender is rare in hand-held games

The golden rule in a shoe game: never touch your cards or your chips once the hand is underway. Everything is done with signals and by placing chips, not by handling cards.

Shoe games vs hand-held games

In a shoe game the cards are dealt face-up and you may not touch them, so hit and stand are pure gestures (tap to hit, wave to stand). In a hand-held game (one or two decks) your cards are face-down in your hand, so you scratch them on the felt to hit and tuck them under your chips to stand. The double and split signals are the same in both: add a matching bet and point (double) or show two fingers (split).

Practise the decisions, not just the gestures

Signals are easy; knowing which move to make is the real skill. Learn the right play for every hand with our basic strategy chart, then drill it free in the strategy trainer or at any of our free blackjack games — no download, no signup. By the time you sit at a real table, the signals will be the easy part.

Frequently asked questions

What are hand signals in blackjack?

Hand signals are the silent gestures you use to tell the dealer your decision — hit, stand, double down or split — at a live blackjack table. Casinos require them instead of (or in addition to) speaking, because the overhead cameras can see your hands but cannot hear your voice.

How do you signal hit and stand?

To hit, tap or lightly scratch the felt next to your cards (in shoe games) or scratch your cards toward you (in hand-held games). To stand, wave your flat hand horizontally over your cards (shoe games) or slide your cards face-down under your bet (hand-held games).

What is the hand signal for double down and split?

For both double down and split, place a second bet equal to your original next to it in the betting circle. To make it unmistakable, point one finger for a double down and hold up two fingers (a “V”) for a split. The dealer will confirm before acting.

Why do casinos require hand signals?

Hand signals create a clear, camera-visible record of every decision. This protects both the player and the house: it removes any dispute about whether you said “hit” or “stand,” and the surveillance footage can always confirm what you signalled. Verbal calls alone are not enough.

Do I need hand signals to play online or here?

No. Online and on this site you simply click Hit, Stand, Double or Split — no gestures needed. Hand signals only matter at a live table. Learning them now means you will look like a regular the first time you sit down in a real casino. You can practise the decisions themselves free in our games.