They are, however, vital to know if you want to avoid looking like a doof.
Theres a right way and a wrong way to play blackjack, explains Mike Griggs.
Griggs has worked in gaming since the 1980s.
What are the hand signals used in blackjack?
Theyre easy to learn, and essential to playing in a casino game.
Tapping your finger on the table means give me another card.
It looks like this:.
So dont say hit me or stand.
Doing anything else can (and does) lead to confusion.
Dealers are trained not to act on verbal [cues], Griggs explained.
Theyre trained to act on hand signals.
So tap the table when you want a card.
Hand-wave when you dont want a card.
Once the deal begins, you cannot touch the chips youve bet.
And you’ve got the option to never touch the cards.
They might put it in sideways.
Or theyll just start jamming it in real hard.
Its just a simple cut.
Thats all it is.
If youre the cutter, the rule of dont touch the cards still applies.
Just slide the cut card in anywhere without touching the deck.
If youd rather not deal with cutting, its totally cool to say dealer cut.
More importantly, the dealer wants you to win because winners are more likely to tip them.
Its a token of appreciation, he said.
If you dont know how to play a hand, dont be afraid to ask.
If youre ever not sure, you could say, what do you think?
and other players will be quick to chime in, Griggs said.
And theyll almost always give you the right play.
Making that right play is called basic strategy.
The dealer has no choice in how they playtheyll always hit on 16.
(Dont blame me if they draw a 5 thoughthats why its gambling.)
But if blackjack players were logical, theyd stay out of casinos.
This becomes more important based on where youre sitting at the table.
You have to be careful at third base, explains Griggs.
Thats the last spot on the table before the dealer.
Everyone looks at that spot as if you have control of what the dealers going to get.
Can you take photographs inside a casino?
Its a privacy thing.
Someone might be taking off from work, or the wife doesnt know that her husband is down there.
What can you do?
Emotions get the best of you, and you may not be making the best moves.
Math has no pity.
So always walk into the casino mentally prepared for your eventual defeat.
If you lose, no biggie.
Have fun with it, but dont get caught up in it.
For almost everyone, blackjack (and every other casino game) is a sucker bet.
Oh, and always split aces.
