Common Terms Used in a Blackjack Game

The following are common terms used in blackjack. You'll also find these terms used in our discussions.

Basic strategy: The ideal strategy to play the game.

Blackjack: It is the name of the game; also refers to the hand of 21. It is composed of an Ace and a Ten-value card.

Bust: A hand that has a total of more than 21. It definitely means that you lose.

Card counting: A strategy used to get the edge of the game by being able to track the ratio of high cards to low cards. Today, there are many card counting systems with different levels of efficiency.

Double down: You double your initial bet when the first two cards are dealt and have only one chance of hitting. Double down is done when the first two cards are advantageous.

Early Surrender: This happens when you give up your first two cards before the dealer's hand is checked for an Ace. Half of the player's wager will be lost.

Face cards: Refers to the Jack, Queen, and King cards; these cards have the value of Ten.

Hard hand: A hand that has no Aces or an Ace counted as One so that a player won't go bust.

Hit: To take an additional card for your hand.

Hole card: Refers to the face down card of the dealer.

House edge: The casino's percentage advantage compared to the player's on a certain bet.

Insurance: This is a side bet in case that the dealer does have a 21.

Late Surrender: An optional rule. It happens when the player is allowed to surrender after seeing the hole card of the dealer.

Multiple Deck: Having more than one deck in use during the game.

Natural: Refers to the hand of 21 or blackjack.

Pair: Two cards that have an identical card value.

Push: Refers to the instances that the hand of the player and the dealer has the same total and the bet of the player is often returned.

Shoe Game: Refers to multiple deck games where the cards are dealt from a shoe.

Soft hand: A hand that contains an Ace that can be counted as either One or 11 without the danger of getting busted.

Split: When a pair is played separately as two hands.

Stand: To stop hitting and keep the current total of your hand.

Stiff Hand: These are hard hands from 12 through 16 that when drawn would give you the possibility to bust.

Surrender: Giving up your first two cards and stop playing. It is an option that not all casinos would like to offer.

Up card: The first card as well as the face up card of the dealer.

These are the usual terms used in our discussion. It is advisable to be familiar with these terms when learning the game.

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