The Player Decisions in Blackjack
The premise or goal of blackjack is to beat the dealer's hand using a higher valued hand that does not bust. We'll go over the different player decisions or moves and provide each one with a concise description. The options given to blackjack players are the following: hit, stand, double down, and split. These player decisions generally manipulate the value of hands and some of them also change the stakes in a particular hand in blackjack.
The most common player decision is either to hit or to stand. To hit in blackjack simply implies taking another card to be added to your current hand. If you play the blackjack online, all you have to do is click a button to hit (or any other player decision for that matter that applies to your current hand).
If you play blackjack live in a brick and mortar casino you make hand signals especially for hands free games. The hand signal for a hit in blackjack is done by tapping the table or simply pointing to your cards. But in hand held blackjack games you may simply just announce the player decision you make, which means you say hit when you want the dealer to hit you.
To stand is the opposite of a hit in blackjack, which means to stay with what cards you currently have and take no more. Some places call this player decision as stay. You signal a stand by waiving one hand above your cards once with the palm down. Be careful when you make this hand signal since you are not allowed to touch the cards in hands free games.
To double down in blackjack means to take one more card and double your wager. The signal for this player decision is done by placing an exact same amount of chips right next to your original wager. Don't put your chips on top of your original bet but place it beside it. Players are usually allowed to double down for the initial hand and are not allowed after other decisions. However, there are certain tables that allow doubling down after a split.
A split or splitting pairs is a player decision wherein you have a pair for an initial hand; both cards are separated into two initial cards to be made into two new hands. A card is added to each new initial card making two new hands for you to deal with. You make the same amount of wager for both hands. The hand signal for this player decision is the same as with a double down except that you raise two fingers meaning you want a split.
These are the player decisions allowed in blackjack. To make the most of these moves players must use basic strategy to win against the dealer's hand.
