Blackjack Terminology

Betway Las Vegas Blackjack

Casino games each have their own unique terminology and Blackjack is no exception. If you're new to the game it may sound completely odd to hear someone asking the dealer to "hit" them and the dealer telling them that the hand is a "bust" or a "push" and you may even be expecting some kind of fight to result from all this, but in fact these are genuine terms that we will explore amongst others, in the terminology list below.

Blackjack Abbreviations

  • BSE = Basic Strategy Edge
  • D10 = Double on 10 or 11 only
  • DAS = Double After Splitting permitted
  • DOA = Double On Any first two cards
  • ESR = Early Surrender
  • H17 = Hit soft 17 (dealer must hit)
  • LS or LSR = Late Surrender
  • O/U = Over/Under 13 side bets are permitted
  • RSA = Re-Splitting Aces permitted
  • S17 = Stand on any 17 (dealer must stand)

Basic Game Play

  • 21: The original name for the game of blackjack (from the French "vingt-et-un" which literally means 21) and also the desired total in the game.
  • Basic Strategy: A playing strategy, originally computer developed which can be memorised and used by players to minimise the house edge without counting cards.
  • Betting Limit: The minimum and maximum bets allowed at a specific table by the casino.
  • Blackjack: A player has blackjack when the total of the initial 2 cards dealt add up to 21. This is made up of an Ace and a 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen or King)
  • Break/ Bust: When the total of 21 is exceeded by cards held. This is indicative of a loss by the player.
  • Burn Card: A single card which is removed from the top of the deck after the first shuffle and not used in the game.
  • Chip: A plastic disk (available in different colour varieties according to denomination) which is used instead of money to place bets.
  • Cut: To split the deck of cards before they are dealt.
  • Cut Card: A solid coloured plastic card given to the player by the dealer to cut the deck after a shuffle.
  • Deal: To distribute the cards (this is done by the dealer).
  • Double Down: Refers to the doubling of the initial bet. When Doubling Down a player will only receive one more card and not further "hits" will be given.
  • Draw: Adding another card to your hand (also known as a hit).
  • Early Surrender: The ability to surrender your hand before the dealer checks his cards for blackjack.
  • Even Money: Offered when the player holds Blackjack, and the dealer displays an Ace, indicating a potential Blackjack hand. When taking Even Money, the dealer will pay your blackjack 1-1 instead of 3-2 because there is a 50% chance that he may have blackjack and your payout will be zero in this event.
  • Face Card: King, Queen, or Jack cards (those with the faces on them)
  • Face Down Game: First Card is dealt face up while the other is dealt face down.
  • Face Up Game: Both cards are dealt face up.
  • First Base: The first seat to the dealers left and also the first player to act on his/her hand.
  • Flat Bet: The same wager amount is placed recurrently.
  • Hard Count: The true face value of the hand.
  • Hard Hand: A hand without an Ace or where the Ace counts as one and not eleven.
  • Hard Doubling (HD): Doubling Down on the first two cards where there is no Ace.
  • Head on / Heads up: To play one on one against the dealer with no other players involved in the game.
  • Hit/Hit me: To request another card in the effort to reach a total card value of 21.
  • Hole Card (HC): Dealer has one card face down.
  • Insurance: Dealer will offer insurance when his shown card is an Ace. This is a side bet up to half the initial bet that the dealer does have 21.
  • Late Surrender: Surrender allowed after the dealer has checked for blackjack, if he does not have blackjack the player loses half his/her bet.
  • Natural / Natural Blackjack: When the first two cards dealt to a player total 21.
  • Over/Under: A side bet before the cards are dealt that the player's cards will be either over or under 13 where the Ace counts as one.
  • Pair: When a players cards are numerically the same e.g. Two 10's.
  • Pat Hand: A hand with a total value of between 17 and 21.
  • Payout Ratios: The amounts paid out according to the bet placed. A regular win pays out 1-1, Blackjack usually pays out 3-2, and insurance usually pays out 2-1.
  • Peek: When the dealer checks to see if he has blackjack before dealing further cards.
  • Press/Progressive Betting: To increase the value of your wager.
  • Push: A tie between the dealer and players hand where no money is won or lost.
  • Red/Black: A side bet where you bet on whether the dealer's up card will be red or black.
  • Scare Card: The name given to the dealers up card when it is of high value.
  • Second Base: A player seated between other players (neither first nor last).
  • Settlement: The payout at the end of the hand where the dealer either takes your chips or pays you out for a win.
  • Shoe: A box used to hold cards (up to eight decks) and the dealer slides out one card at a time.
  • Shuffle: The process of mixing cards, usually performed by the dealer.
  • Single Deck: A game played with a single deck of 54 cards.
  • Soft Hand: A hand where an Ace can be counted as 1 or 11.
  • Spanish Deck: A deck of 48 cards which excludes 10's.
  • Split Hand: When holding a pair the player has the option of splitting the two cards and playing them as two separate hands.
  • Split Pair: The same as a split hand where if the player holds a pair he/she can split them into two individual hands.
  • Spots: The areas on the table where players place their bets.
  • Spread: Placing more than one bet before the cards are dealt.
  • Stand / Stay: To decline receiving another card.
  • Stiff: A hand that could bust if another card is added to it, usually hands between 12 and 16 are stiff.
  • Stripping (the deck): Refers to method of shuffling, whereby a few cards are dropped alternately from the top and bottom of the deck.
  • Suit: One of the four types of cards Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs and Spades.
  • Suited: Cards in the same suit e.g. All hearts.
  • Suited Blackjack: The cards that make up 21 are both of the same suit e.g. Ace and King of Clubs.
  • Surrender: A player is permitted to surrender and forfeit half of their original bet should they not wish to bet against the dealer's hand.
  • Third Base: Or Anchor, the last seat at the Blackjack table and the last player to act on his/her hand, situated immediately to the right of the dealer.
  • Upcard: The first card dealt by the dealer placed facing upwards.

Read about Card Counting in Blackjack at RoyalCasinoGuide.

Other Blackjack Related Terms

  • Bankroll: The amount of available money that the player has to spend at the table / casino OR the house bankroll which refers to the amount of chips that the dealer has available in his/her rack.
  • Bottom Dealing: A dishonest technique whereby the dealer deals one or more cards from the bottom of the deck.
  • Card Shark: An expert at card games.
  • Drop Percentage: The amount that the casino expects to win due to the house edge (this is usually around 20% of the player's initial stake).
  • Grinder: Someone who makes small wagers.
  • High Roller: Someone who makes large wagers.
  • House: The casino and its dealers.
  • Mechanic: Someone who manipulates the cards in order to cheat, can refer to either the player or the dealer. Mechanics are found at land based casinos as card manipulation is not possible in online blackjack games.
  • Pit: The area inside a group of gaming tables.
  • Pit Boss: The floor supervisor who oversees Blackjack tables, dealers and players at the casino.
  • Spooking: A form of cheating whereby someone will stand behind the dealer to peek at the hole card, and then secretly convey the information to a partner player sitting at the table.
  • Tell Play: A method of observing the dealer's body language and expressions to determine his hand of cards and how to bet accordingly.
  • Toke: A tip given to the dealer.