“Table Manners for the Blackjack Player”

If you thought you only needed good manners at the dinner table, think again! There are certain codes of behavior to abide by at casino games, and particularly at the Blackjack table. If you’d like to brush up on your Blackjack etiquette, read on.

It is very important that you know the acceptable “hit” and “stand” gestures. While these gestures differ slightly – beginners usually use two hands to indicate a stand; more advanced players use only one – the language of Blackjack should be understood before a player comes to the table.

Do not turn the cards over when the game is finished. You are not being helpful to the dealer, even though you might think you are. Dealers know what they’re doing and are quite methodical in the way they go about gathering up the cards. By “helping” them, you’re only slowing them down. Besides, there are cameras that read the cards, and the dealers are the only ones who know how to spread them out accordingly.

A good way to get thrown out of a casino is by bending, tearing, folding or in any way mangling the cards. Handle them with care.

Another way to get thrown out is by using foul, abusive language. Speak like a gentleman/lady, or you’ll find yourself being ushered out of the casino in no time.

Don’t touch your chips once your bet has been placed. Only when the game is over and you have paid (or been paid) should you make contact with them again.

The best thing to do if you feel you’re repeatedly and consistently getting bad cards is to move to a different table. Asking the dealer to switch decks on a more than occasional basis will only annoy the other players, and the dealer.

Don’t get too familiar or personal with the dealer. Naturally during the course of the game you’ll engage in some light banter, but don’t let the banter get “out of bounds.”

The dealer could lose his job if he tells you what his hole card is, so DON’T ASK! Asking the dealer for help at certain times is perfectly acceptable and legitimate, but he is not in a position to give advice after he’s looked at his cards.

You should definitely understand and utilize blackjack basic strategy, but to talk about and refer to it continuously throughout the game will probably get on your fellow players’ nerves and make you seem like the amateur you don’t want to appear to be!

Do not accuse the dealer of cheating. Remember: the fault is often not in the “stars” but in “ourselves,” so if you are doing poorly at the table, draw it up to either bad luck or bad playing, not to the dealer’s cheating.

Be courteous and considerate. To ask a dealer to shuffle a six to eight deck shoe when you’re only planning to place one small bet is rude. Once you sit down at a table you should really commit to staying for at least a few games in order to make it worth everyone’s while.