Standing

Whatever the version of blackjack that is being played, if a player receives their first two cards and they form a “pat” hand, i.e., one that equals 17 or more and contains no 11-valued Aces they may decide to stick with what they have and draw no more cards. This is called “standing”. This is indicated to the dealer by waving a hand over the cards, or by clicking the stand button in an online casino.

Different versions of blackjack offer varying rules on what is required for a player to stand. In some games, the player may not stand on less than 17, or may not be able to stand on “soft” 17 (a soft total is one where an Ace is being used as an 11, but where it could also be used as a 1 for a lower total). In the more common versions of blackjack, the dealer must hit on anything less than 17 and is not permitted to hit once a total of 17 or higher has been achieved.

It is worth mentioning the importance of hand signals in casinos. In a noisy casino, spoken instructions can often be misunderstood and are therefore rarely accepted. Hand signals can also be useful in the resolution of disputes. In cases where a dispute cannot be ended by a pit boss, hand signals can be verified by the overhead cameras that are usually hidden in the ceilings.