Hand signal for surrender

This happened to me back in 2013 when I was at the MGM Grand. I was playing blackjack and during my session, there were 2 instances where I elected to surrender, according to basic strategy. I used to appropriate hand signal in both cases. After the second time, the dealer said to me to just say the word "surrender" and not use the hand signal since it almost looked like I wanted to hit.

I know that we are always told, on this site and elsewhere, to use hand signals when playing blackjack. I'm curious to see if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Are you saying "surrender" when giving the hand signal? When surrendering I've never heard of or witnessed the verbal surrender signal not given. The drawing of a six-inch line under your wager with your index finger is supportive of the verbal signal, and is mainly for the benefit of surveillance.

Where I play only a verbal "surrender" is accepted, and dealers will tell you not to use the hand signal with the verbal one. They don't care how surrendering is handled anywhere else in the world.

Usually, the dealer says to say surrender, because the signal looks like a hit signal, but then after saying surrender (verbally) to draw the line behind the wager for surveillance.

IE, "proper procedure:

Verbally say "surrender"
Dealer acknowledges you want to surrender
Do hand signal for surrender [for surveillance]



I wonder if a different hand signal could be made (I'm sure it could be) to introduce a new signal for surrender, one that is easy but doesn't look like the hit signal. Perhaps every BJ seat can come equipped with a French flag, that must be waved when surrendering.

I always do both at the same time, saying "surrender" quite loudly.

If you must do only one, then just say "surrender." I'm sure I've written somewhere that surveillance must be able to see what you want to do. That is in general true, but if you give the hand signal only, the dealer will likely interpret it as a hit and an argument will ensue if you bust.

I find it all depends on the dealer.

I've been scolded for only using the hand signal and for only saying surrender. So I usually just ask which they'd prefer the first time I surrender...

(And if the dealer tells me surrender is a bad play - THEN I get really mad. That happens far too often.)

On a somewhat unrelated note, a couple years ago, one night during G2E week, several WoV members were sitting at FreeBet BJ with Geoff / Switch at Golden Nugget. It was either being field trialed or a really new install. (For those that don't know, Geoff invented FreeBet as well as BJ Switch. His WoV handle is Switch.)

We asked Geoff what the hand signal was for the free bet. He hadn't come up with one. I think he thought that the verbal request, combined with the dealer placing the FreeBet token, was good enough. So rather than asking the dealer or floor, we came up with one ourselves: Do the King Kong chest pound thing. As if that wasn't enough, we added doing it while grunting like a gorilla.

Even though we were all having a good time, dealer included, for some reason it didn't catch on.

Quote: Wizard

I always do both at the same time, saying "surrender" quite loudly.

If you must do only one, then just say "surrender." I'm sure I've written somewhere that surveillance must be able to see what you want to do. That is in general true, but if you give the hand signal only, the dealer will likely interpret it as a hit and an argument will ensue if you bust.

No, no, no. You do the hand signal, but in an ambiguous manner. Then when the dealer gives you a card, you say nothing if it improves your hand, but if it busts you, you loudly proclaim that you gave the surrender, not the hit signal. Ideally, you have perfected your surrenderhit signal so that a reasonable person could interpret it either way.

And if you're worrying about getting thrown out, well, that won't happen if you only do it once, and anyway, consider how long it would take to get thrown out of every casino in the world. Hmm, maybe not all that long for every casino that offers surrender...

I think my moral purity is being corrupted by the Wizard's "Are you a good person?" thread.

Quote: MikeV

This happened to me back in 2013 when I was at the MGM Grand. I was playing blackjack and during my session, there were 2 instances where I elected to surrender, according to basic strategy. I used to appropriate hand signal in both cases. After the second time, the dealer said to me to just say the word "surrender" and not use the hand signal since it almost looked like I wanted to hit.

I know that we are always told, on this site and elsewhere, to use hand signals when playing blackjack. I'm curious to see if anyone else has had a similar experience.

The dealer's advise of using only verbal signal is wrong. Hand signal should used because it can visually verified by surveillance camera in case of dispute.

My advice is to use both verbal and hand signals.

Quote: 777

The dealer's advise of using only verbal signal is wrong. Hand signal should used because it can visually verified by surveillance camera in case of dispute.

My advice is to use both verbal and hand signals.

I have a special hand AND verbal signal for when the dealer hits his 16 with a 5 and beats my 20, but so far, neither has been well received.

I've always found it best to announce "Surrender," and THEN give the signal. Not simultaneously. That's just what I do, however.