Casino Blackjack Table Etiquette

How to play blackjack. First thing’s first, if you’re not clued up on how to play blackjack, you’re not going to be doing all that much in terms of etiquette, so it’s important to get to grips with the game early on. Blackjack starts with players around the table making bets before any of the other action gets going.

1. Casino Blackjack Table Etiquette Rules
2. Casino Blackjack Table Etiquette Table
3. Casino Blackjack Table Etiquette Games
4. Casino Blackjack Table Etiquette For Dummies

Here are some blackjack etiquette tips to keep in mind next time you visit the casino.

If you’ve been a casino blackjack player for a while, this might be old hat for you. But a lot of newcomers don”t know how they’re expected to behave at the blackjack table.

In fact, some younger people don’t know how to behave in the casino at all.

So if you want to be a good and wanted player of Blackjack then you need to know the Blackjack table etiquette. Understand the Table Limits: If you do not know the table limits, then you are completely lost. Every table has a sign posted in a very visible manner what the minimum is and what the maximum is. Etiquette When Playing Casino Blackjack Don’t Sit Right Down – Although a seat may look empty, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s available. Sometimes players leave the game temporarily to use the restroom. Quite often, the player next to an empty seat will use the vacate spot to play a second hand. At most blackjack tables, you have the option of playing behind another player. This is basically just gambling on another player’s hand. To do this, you place chips behind their betting circle, and you lose or win in the same way as you normally would. You have no say as to how the hand is played, though; this is up to the player. Take the time to hone your skills so you can influence the outcome of each game and get an edge over the competition at your table. Blackjack etiquette and rules. Blackjack is by far one of the more simpler card games available to play at any brick-and-mortar or online casino. The aim of the game is to score closer to 21 than the dealer.

But good etiquette and manners are important. My goal is for you to be gracious, graceful, and polished the next time you visit the casino. You never know who you might meet in that situation or how they might be able to help you in the future.

Making a good impression on strangers, even ones you meet while playing blackjack at the casino, can pay unexpected dividends for the rest of your life.

You’ll also have a smoother, more enjoyable session at the casino if you don’t violate any of these unwritten rules of good manners at the blackjack table.

Here are the 7 blackjack etiquette tips:

1- Don’t hold up the game. Ever.

Anything you do that slows down the game is rude. People are there to play, not watch you struggle with whether you want to hit or stand.

Here are some things you can do that will help you avoid holding up the game:

Learn the rules beforehand. If you’re new to the game, that’s fine. Try to attend one of the free classes held in the casinos. Practice some of the free and/or real money games online. Look for a table where there are no other players. All of these things can help you learn the rules so you don’t have to hold up the game for other players.

Learn basic strategy beforehand, too. If you haven’t memorized basic strategy, at least have a basic strategy card or chart with you that you can refer to. Players who pester the dealer or other players for playing advice are holding up the game. It’s unnecessary, too, because the mathematically correct play in every blackjack situation is readily available.

2- It’s okay to just watch, but…

I’m not a fan of being a spectator in any gambling activity. I think gambling, including blackjack, is a participatory activity. But there are no rules, written or unwritten, spoken or unspoken, that require you to NOT be a spectator.

But there are some rules about HOW to be a spectator at a blackjack table.

One of the most important of these is to not take a seat at the table if someone else wants to play there. The casino staff are going to frown on this, and rightfully so. They’re in business to make money. If you’re just sitting at the table watching, you’re preventing another player from sitting at the table and playing.

The other big rule about spectating is to avoid giving advice or commenting on the players’ decisions. It’s bad enough when someone who’s playing at the table says something about how you’re playing your hand. But if you’re just watching, how dare you say anything about how I play my hand.

If you knew anything, you’d have a bankroll yourself, and you’d be playing at the table.

Asking lots of questions while just being a spectator is also obnoxious.

3- Tip the blackjack dealer.

Yes, tipping is optional. In fact, if the blackjack dealer is rude to you, feel free not to tip. (Even better, get up and leave the table and find a polite blackjack dealer to play with.)

Also, no one expects you to tip when you’re losing. But everyone wins the occasional hand of blackjack, so you should be giving the dealer an occasional tip, too.

How often you tip the dealer per hour is up to you. The amount that you tip is also your decision. But here are some guidelines:

If you’re an advantage player, you want to avoid tipping so much that it wipes out your potential profits. Most card counters know in the long run what their hourly wage is. A moderately good counter with a reasonable bankroll probably makes $50/hour for her time at the table.

In that case, I suggest not tipping the dealer more than $10/hour.

If you’re not an advantage player, you don’t have to worry about wiping out your advantage over the casino by tipping too much. You still shouldn’t go overboard with the tipping.

If you’re betting $5 per hand, maybe twice an hour, place a bet on the dealer’s behalf as a tip. This usually involves putting the bet elsewhere on the surface of the table–maybe inside the betting circle if you want to maintain control over the separate bet.

If you’re betting $25 per hand, it would be appropriate to place a $5 bet for the dealer 4 or 5 times per hour.

You can, of course, just give the dealer cash.

But I think it’s more fun for you and the dealer if you place the occasional bet on his behalf.

4- Take it easy on the alcohol.

One of the perks of playing casino games for real money is that you get free cocktails. I’ve seen some writers suggest that you shouldn’t drink at the blackjack table at all. I think that’s silly.

As long as you’re not an alcoholic and you know how to drink moderately, you can and should enjoy the free cocktails that are available at the casino. In fact, order the more expensive drinks, since it’s on the house. Trust me, you’re paying for it with your losses at the tables.

But don’t drink at the table if you’re clumsy. You know who you are. If you spill a drink at the blackjack table, guess what happens?

You’re holding up the game for everyone.

Accidents happen, sure, but you know if you’re clumsy and inattentive. You also know if you’re careful and graceful.

Don’t kill yourself if you happen to spill a drink. But if it’s happened more than once, do everyone a favor and save your drinking for some time and place other than the blackjack table.

Also, if you don’t hold your liquor well, you’re going to behave badly when you’re drunk. That’s just what people do. You might not even be an alcoholic, just an obnoxious drunk.

Try to be self aware enough to address the problem before it happens.

5- Chill out with the conversation, bro.

One of the perks of playing blackjack is that it’s a social game. You’re there to relax and enjoy gambling in the company of other people. It’s not like playing slot machines, which is a game meant for introverts who don’t want to interact with other gamblers.

But that doesn’t mean you need to talk everyone’s ear off at the table, either. The other players don’t need to hear you hooting and hollering as you root for them, either. If that’s how you want to behave, you’ll probably be better off at the craps table.

I was at a small local casino with a buddy of mine once. He’d had a lot to drink, and he was having a good time. He was doing almost everything I’ve said not to do on this list:

• He was drunk and obnoxious.
• He was cheering on the other players, loudly.
• He was only spectating.

Casino Blackjack Table Etiquette Rules

I knew the cocktail waitress, there, and she took me aside. She told me, “Look Jim, we like your buddy Ryan and all that, but please tell him that these guys take their blackjack pretty seriously.”

I told him as diplomatically as I could, and he very seriously told me, “I’m sorry, Jim. I’ve embarrassed you again.”

We’ve been laughing about that anecdote at his expense now for years. Any time Ryan does something silly, we get a hangdog look and say, “I’m sorry, Jim. I’ve embarrassed you again.”

Quiet, normal conversation is fine.

Just keep it subdued.

And for God’s sake, if someone doesn’t seem like she wants to talk, leave her alone. Not everyone is interested in chit chat at the blackjack table.

In fact, you might be playing with a newbie card counter. Your insistence on conversation might be interfering with his ability to keep up with the count.

6- Don’t beg other people for strategy advice.

This is similar to some of the other advice in this post. Begging the other players for strategy advice on every hand holds up the game. It’s also obnoxious. And most players don’t want to give you strategy advice because they don’t want to be blamed when you lose.

You definitely shouldn’t be asking the dealer for strategy advice, either. This isn’t just good manners; it’s good sense. Sure, some blackjack dealers know the game well. They might give you good strategy advice.

But not every blackjack dealer is an expert in blackjack strategy.

I used to employ a former blackjack dealer as my house cleaner. She was a nice lady, but you could tell she knew nothing about basic strategy or even fundamental probabilities. I’d be horrified to find anyone getting advice about how to play their blackjack hands from this woman.

Get a blackjack strategy card. Better yet, memorize the basic strategy for the game. It’s really not that hard.

Also, don’t tell other people how to play their hands. And don’t fall into the trap of thinking that some other player’s mistake somehow hurt the entire table. That’s a myth that’s been dispelled repeatedly.

If you try to make someone feel bad for how she played her blackjack hand, you’re not just foolish. You’re also a boor.

And the whole point of blackjack etiquette is to avoid looking like (or being) a boor.

7- Learn how to handle (or not handle) the cards.

You’ll find 2 different kinds of blackjack game being dealt at casinos:

1. Handheld games
2. Shoe games

A handheld blackjack game is one where the dealer has a single deck and holds the deck in his hand while he’s dealing. In such a game, the cards are dealt face down. You’ll be allowed to touch the cards in a handheld game.

When you make your decisions in a blackjack game, it’s polite to demonstrate these decisions to the dealer using hand signals. You can just say what you want to do, too, but the casinos prefer that you use the hand signals. That way they have a record of your choices if there’s a dispute.

That’s right, they’re filming you from above. That’s what the eye in the sky is.

If you want to take a hit in a handheld game, gently scrape the cards on the table. If you want to stand, just place your cards beneath your chips.

If you want to double down or split, you turn your cards over, first. Then place your 2nd bet and announce to the dealer what you’re doing.

No matter what you do, don’t damage or mark the cards in any way.

The other kind of game, which is more common now, uses multiple decks that are kept in a “shoe”. (It’s just a device that holds several decks of card at once.)

Casino Blackjack Table Etiquette Table

In a shoe game, the dealer gives you your cards face up. You are NOT allowed to touch your cards in a shoe game.

To hit a hand in a shoe game, point at your cards or tap your index finger on the table. To stand, wave your hand, palm-down, over your cards. To double down or split, you place a 2nd bet next to your original bet. Then announce what you’re doing.

These are the most important etiquette rules at the table, by the way. They’re the rules that keep the game running smoothly, and if you ignore these standards of behavior, the casino staff WILL correct you.

Finally

These 7 blackjack etiquette tips cover most of what you need to know to get along with other people at the table. And when I say other people at the table, I include both customers and employees of the casino. You don’t need ANYONE pissed off at you in the casino.

I know some of this blackjack etiquette advice might sound trite or unnecessary, especially if you’re an old hand at the game. But every now and then an etiquette review is helpful for people who’ve forgotten how to behave.

I’m a firm believer in good manners in every situation. Some people might think that all they need is to be kind and say please and thank you.

That’s a good start, but specific situations call for specific rules of etiquette. Blackjack is no exception.

I’ve met clients and friends in the casino setting. You might, too.

There’s no downside to making a good impression on the people around you. It’s all upside. Feel free to bookmark this page and skim it before your next casino visit.

Blackjack is a game which emphasises concentration and focus in order to win, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t time to learn the important rules of table manners (get it?). First and foremost, you should be confident in your knowledge and understanding of the rules and terminology of 21 before joining a table. The choice of where and how you play is up to you, and your enjoyment should be the number one priority, but it’s equally as important to be respectful of other players and dealers so everyone’s experience is as smooth as yours.

Know the Rules…

While the casino environment is highly entertaining, we are dealing with real money and real people, and real money and real people need real rules. Casinos go to the utmost lengths to maintain control and ensure security.

Here are the basic and more important rules to adhere to when playing 21:

• Buy chips between hands only, and have your money ready to present to the dealer.
• Never ask to convert small denomination chips for larger ones.
• Never touch or change your bets after the first card is dealt and placed on the table.
• Place additional chips next to your original wager rather than on top of it.
• Cards dealt face up cannot be touched at all.
• Cards dealt face down can be touched but with a single hand only.

Most dealers and other players are helpful in providing instructions should you forget a particular hand signal or misunderstand a rule, for example. However, needing constant help and reminders on how to play can unfairly slow down the game. Other players may become impatient of such inexperience, and the dealer has more important things to worry about than constantly teaching someone the rules they should already know. So brush up on the everything you need to know before hitting the tables.

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…and Hand Signals

Casino Blackjack Table Etiquette Games

•If you’ve mostly played blackjack online or if you’re new to the game, it’s understandable if you are rusty on the hand signals used within B&R casinos. Each signal varies depending on whether the blackjack game played is face-up or face-down, but all are easy to remember:

• In face up games, the hand signal used to indicate a hit is a tap on the table next to the cards. In face down games, gently scratch your cards across the felt.
• In face up games, a wave of your hands over the cards signifies a stand. In face down games, slide your cards under their initial bets.
• In face up games, if you want to double down, simply voice your intentions and place another stack of chips (equal in value to your original bet) directly next to your initial bet on the table. If you also want to perform a hand signal, although not necessary, hold your first finger up indicating you only want one more card (this applies for face down games, too).
• In face up games, if you want to split, you also are required to voice your intentions and place another stack of chips (equal in value to your original bet) next to your initial bet on the table, slightly further apart than you would when requesting to double. The hand signal for a split, which applies for both face down and face up games, is to raise your index and middle fingers in the shape of a ‘V’.
• There is no standard hand signal for surrendering, but if a player wishes to surrender, they can place an index finger above the table and draw an imaginary horizontal line from their cards to the dealer’s cards. But you need to voice your intentions first.
• If you bust in a face down game of BJ, simply lay down your cards face up beside your bet. Don’t throw the cards in frustration, as much as you might want to.

Note: If you are dealt a matching pair, it is important to make your intentions clear, because you may wish to double or split; so hand signals are quite useful. Having said that, you still need to verbalise what you intend to do.

If might sounds obvious, but make sure you know whether you are playing a face up or face down game of 21 prior to commencing, in order to avoid any confusion.

Respect the Dealer

The dealer is not your enemy, nor is he/she someone to expect any favours or sympathies from. The dealer is there to handle the game on behalf of the casino. Friendly banter and conversation is fine, but you should always remain mindful of their primary role as a dealer, and be respectful when playing at their table.

If you want, you can ask a dealer for some advice on what your next move should be, but don’t make a habit out of it. They may provide you with an insightful answer, they might give you a vague answer, or they may refuse to offer any advice at all. Whatever they choose to do, chances are they will be polite about it, so you should too. If you choose to follow any advice given which doesn’t pay off, you can never blame the dealer for your misfortunes, as any advice given will most likely be based on basic strategy, which as we all know, doesn’t always work.

Casino Blackjack Table Etiquette For Dummies

I have witnessed a few players express strong frustration with a poor hand, displeased at the dealer and expecting some sort of favour. Seriously. Your hand is your hand and nothing can be done to change the cards dealt, so enjoy the game and make your next decision based on careful thinking. We know you will, we’re just here for some reinforcement.

Observe From Afar

If you happen to come across a blackjack table you’re more inclined to watch rather than join, observe and enjoy the game from a distance to avoid interfering or distracting the participants. If you’re staring at a player’s cards behind their back it can be rather agitating or invasive for those who are concentrating, and it can be a distraction for others. If there’s an empty seat on the table, be mindful to leave it available for other potential players.

Note: Most casinos allow you to bet behind a player (back betting). This means you can bet on another player’s hand, but that player remains in control of the hand. If they win, your bet also wins, and the same goes for a loss. So if you don’t wish to sit at a table, but opt to bet behind someone, you can do so by placing your chips behind the controlling player’s chips.

Control Your Drinks

Remain in control of your drinks while you’re at the BJ table. We all love a night out on the town with a few drinks and some great games, but it’s important to be mindful of your behaviour and avoid excessive drinking. Drunken behaviour will turn other players away from a table and is almost guaranteed to get you escorted.

If your casino serves drinks on the floor, be respectful of other players and decide on what drinks you want in between hands. There are few things more irritating than waiting for a player deciding whether to order a beer or a bourbon and coke. Most casinos are going to allow you to place your drinks on the table while you play, so just be careful not to spill them. We obviously aren’t immune from mistakes, but we can try our best to reduce the risk of knocking over a drink by staying alert. I’ve seen spillages happen numerous times before, and it’s a bloody hassle for employees and all players involved when the table gets soaked in alcohol, as there is always going to be a lengthy pause before play can restart.

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