Blackjack is a particular game. Although luck is staple in all the card games out there, an element of skill is also required to refine your decision-making in blackjack. After all, that is what sets winning blackjack players from losing ones: a tried-and-tested winning strategy that aims to make the correct decision every time.
How does a glossary of blackjack terms factor into the equation for success? Whether you’re a new player or a veteran who has seen it all, everyone needs a blackjack glossary to refer to whenever an unfamiliar term pops up.
Although we wouldn’t recommend memorising all the contents of this glossary of blackjack terms — for obvious reasons — we would suggest combing through it to see what new terms you could pick up! In fact, blackjack jargon might be the only way to impress the big dogs of blackjack out there.
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21: Refers to a blackjack, which requires a total value of 21 to be made. The term also refers to blackjack games in general.
21+3: Refers to a side bet in blackjack that features the player’s two cards and the dealer’s face-up card. The bet pays if the three cards form any of the following poker hand combinations: three of a kind, straight or a flush.
A
Ace: Refers to the ace card, which can be worth either one or 11 depending on the blackjack hand. An ace counts as 11 unless it busts the hand.
Ace poor: Refers to the situation in which more aces than anticipated have been dealt.
Ace rich: Refers to the situation in which less aces than anticipated have been dealt.
Action: Refers to the amount of money that has been bet. This can refer to either a single hand or an entire blackjack game, and it could also apply to one player or multiple ones.
Advantage: Refers to the advantage players can have over one another. This is also a casino term that refers to the house edge.
Advantage play: Refers to a careful play style that looks to capitalise on opportunities when the odds are in the player’s favour.
Advantage player: Refers to a player who incorporated advantage play in their play style. An advantage player is capable of sensing when a clear when mathematical advantage in their favour is present.
Anchor: Also known as ‘third base’. The term refers to the last player at a blackjack table to act before the dealer. The advantage or disadvantage of the anchor within the game is debated, since the game is played between the player and the dealer.
B
Bankroll: Refers to the money a player allocated towards placing bets. Every betting strategy out there aims to preserve a player’s bankroll by stretching it as much as possible.
Basic strategy: Refers to the act of following a general plan that dictates when a player should stand, hit or split. Strategies usually look to pursue the best odds possible so as to preserve the player’s bankroll.
Bet sizing: Refers to the act of scaling or adjusting the bet in accordance with the strategy being followed. For example, a progressive betting strategy will require that you bet big if you win and, conversely, bet smaller every time you lose.
Bet spread: Refers to the range between a player’s bet minimum and maximum bet sizes. For example, a bet spread of 1-6 would mean that a player bets six times their minum bet as their maximum.
Betting system: Refers to the act of incorporating a set of rules when it comes to betting while playing blackjack or other casino games. For example, flat betting states that the same amount (a flat bet) must be wagered in each round of a blackjack game, as opposed to progressive betting systems. The latter can either suggest that the player increases the bet after a loss or win, or decreases it. There is no exact limit when it comes to bet spreads.
Blackjack: Refers to the situation in which two cards form a total value of 21. For example, a picture card (10) and an ace (11) will form a blackjack (21).
Box: In the context of land-based casinos, the term refers to the area on a blackjack table where players place their bets. This area is usually specified by outlines around the players’ cards and chips.
Burn card: Refers to the first card of the deck that is discarded by the dealer in order to ensure that no player knows what it is.
Bust: Refers to the situation in which a player’s total hand value exceeds 21. A bust signifies an immediate loss.
Buy-in: Refers to the requirement of converting real money to chips before joining a game. This term can also be used in the context of other card games.
C
Chip down: Refers to the act of sizing down a bet from the one played previously. The inverse is called ‘chip-up’.
Chip up: Refers to the act of increasing a bet from the one played previously. The inverse is called ‘chip-down’.
Cold deck: Refers to decks of cards that have dealt several poor hands in a row. A cold deck doesn’t necessarily affect a player’s win rate if a good strategy is followed. The inverse is called a ‘hot deck’.
Colour up: In the context of land-based casinos, the term refers to the act of exchanging lower-value chips for higher-value ones. This is recommended and often perceived as good etiquette, since it will help the dealer avoid running out of low-denomination chips.
CSM: An acronym for Continuous Shuffling Machine. In the context of land-based casinos, this refers to the act of shuffling used cards to then insert them back into the deck.
Cut: Refers to the dealer’s action of dividing the cards into two after having shuffled them. This action is done by wedging a plastic card in the middle of the deck. This procedure helps prevent cheating.
Cut card: Refers to a blank plastic card that is used by the dealer after having shuffled the deck.
D
D9: Refers to the restriction where a player can only double on hands valued nine, 10 or 11. Doubling on such hands might be handsomely rewarded if a 10 or an ace follow, since this would form a blackjack. In D9 blackjack games, soft hands cannot be doubled but hard hands can.
DA2: Refers to the games in which doubling can be done on both soft and hard hands.
DAS: An acronym for Double After Split. This refers to the act of doubling down on a bet after having split a pair. For example, if two sixes are split and a four follows (making for a 6-4 hand), the player can double this hand with the hopes of landing a 10-value card and forming a blackjack.
Dealer: Refers to the casino employee responsible for the conduct of the game. In the context of online blackjack at online casinos, the dealer is automated, which means that there is no human being operating the role of dealing the cards.
Deck: Refers to the set of 52 playing cards.
Deck penetration: Refers to the number of cards dealt before the dealer reshuffles the deck.
Deviation: Refers to situations which warrant an alteration of play. A playing deviation can happen when a specific hand is dealt, which means that the player may feel compelled to alter their usual gameplay and act accordingly.
Discard tray: Refers to the often transparent container in which the dealer places discarded or played cards. Discard trays are often used in multiple-deck games, where the total number of cards played is high.
Discards: In the context of land-based blackjack, the term refers to the cards dealt in previous rounds that have since been discarded.
DOA: An acronym for Double on Any. This refers to games in which doubling can be done on any of the first two cards, including doubling after splitting.
Double down: Refers to the act of placing double the original bet in exchange for one additional card. If the player wins, they will receive double the payout of their original wager. Doubling down on hand values of nine, 10 or 11 is considered wise.
Double exposure: Refers to a blackjack variant in which the dealer’s hand is dealt face up. This is considered advantageous to the player’s decisions, but the surrender and insurance bets are not available in such games.
E
Early surrender: Refers to the option that allows a player to surrender half the bet before the dealer checks their hole card. This option lessens the house edge, since players will not participate in as many hands as they would in regular blackjack.
EV: An acronym for Expected Value. This refers to the concept which calculates the worth of a blackjack hand in the context of the dealer’s exposed card. For example, a hand value of 20 in comparison to the dealer’s hand of 6 would mean that the player’s hand holds a high EV.
Even money: Refers to a side bet offered to a player who has a natural while the dealer’s face-up card is an ace. This bet protects the player from a push if the dealer proceeds to form a blackjack. Should the dealer not have a blackjack, the player will be paid 3:2 on the original bet.
F
Face card: Refers to one of the three face cards: jack, queen or king. The term is used since the aforementioned cards each feature face portraits.
First base: Refers to the first player at a blackjack table to act before the dealer. The advantage or disadvantage of the first base within the game is debated, since the game is played between the player and the dealer.
Five-Card Charlie: Refers to the somewhat rare rule in certain blackjack variants which states that a player wins if they reach five cards without busting. When Five-Card Charlie is effective, the player will win regardless of their hand value.
Flat betting: Refers to the act of consistently placing what is called a ‘flat bet’, that is, betting the same amount over the duration of a round or game. Flat betting is considered a safe and basic strategy, since it does not attempt to increase the bet size, thus posing less of a financial risk if the player loses.
H
Hand: Refers to the cards being held by either the player or the dealer.
Hand spreading: Refers to the act of playing two hands simultaneously. Players choose this option in order to increase the number of hands they play per hour.
Hard hand: Refers to hands that do not have an ace. A hard hand thus only has one possible value, as opposed to a soft hand.
Hard total: Refers to the value of a hard hand.
Heads up: Refers to online blackjack, which is played between one player and a dealer. The phrase does not refer to live blackjack, since live games can be played by several players at a time.
High roller: Also referred to as ‘whale’, the term refers to players that boast a large sum of gambling money. High rollers tend to place big bets, which also evidences a different decision-making process in comparison to players with a lower budget.
Hit: Refers to the action of requesting to have another card dealt. This option is chosen by players who want to be dealt more cards in an effort to edge closer to a blackjack as much as possible.
Hit 17/H17: Refers to the rule in certain games in which the dealer receives another card if their blackjack hand value is 17, including hard hands. If the dealer busts, the player will win the game.
Hole card: Refers to a face-down card. The dealer’s hole card is the only card dealt face down in blackjack. Having said that, the hole card is responsible for affecting each and every decision they make in the game.
Hot deck: Refers to decks of cards that have dealt several strong hands in a row. The inverse is called a ‘cold deck’.
House edge: Also known as the house advantage, the house edge refers to the casino’s advantage over the player expressed as a percentage of the player’s bet. In games like blackjack, knowledgeable players can use specific strategies to lower the house edge.
I
Illustrious 18: Refers to the 18 different blackjack strategies developed by mathematician Don Schlesinger. Each strategy is said to help improve a player’s decision-making.
Insurance bet: Refers to a bet offered when the dealer’s up-card is an ace, thus offering the player a 2 : 1 payout if the dealer has a blackjack.
K
Kelly Betting: Also known as Kelly Criterion, the name refers to a blackjack betting system that is based on a formula, whose aim is to determine the ideal bet size at any point in a game. It was created by J.L. Kelly Jr.
L
Land-based casino: Refers to a brick-and-mortar casino. The phrase doesn’t not necessarily refer to a local casino.
Late surrender: Refers to the rule in which players can discard their hand after the dealer checks for a blackjack. There are two conditions for the late surrender:
- The dealer’s up-card must be a ten or an ace.
- The player must forfeit half their ante.
Loaded deck: Refers to multiple decks that have several high-value cards, thus putting the player at an advantage when it comes to doubles and splits.
M
Martingale system: Refers to a negative progression betting system. It involves betting double after each loss and returning back to the initial wager after a win. This system must be used with caution, since losing streaks can prove to be very damaging to a player’s bankroll.
Money management: Refers to the care and attention a player devotes towards preserving their gambling money. Implementing strategies, sizing down bets and playing responsibly are some of the most effective money management strategies a player can implement.
Monkey: Refers to a face card in blackjack. The term is frequently used in Asia culture.
Multi-deck: Refers to blackjack games that feature more than one deck. Multiple decks are often used to counteract card counters.
N
Natural: Refers to a hand where the first two cards are an ace and a 10 card (either a 10 or a picture card), which makes a blackjack. If the player has a natural and the deal does not, the player is immediately paid one and a half times the bet. In most games, splitting 10s or aces and then landing a blackjack doesn’t count as a natural.
NDAS: An acronym for No Double After Splitting. Refers to the opposite of DAS blackjack games, where the act of doubling down on a bet after having split a pair is not allowed.
No win: Can either refer to the situation in which the player has lost or when the result is a push. In the latter case, the player gets their money back.
NRSA: An acronym for No Resplitting Aces. In cases when the player splits aces and one of the aces is dealt another ace, the rule prohibits said ace from being split again.
O
Online casinos: Refers to casinos found online that host both online and live blackjack. In online blackjack, an automated dealer is responsible for every blackjack game dealt.
P
Paint: Refers to situations in which players hope for a ten-value card or any of the face cards, since these will help them make a blackjack, or get close to one.
Pair: Refers to a hand containing cards of equal value. In this case, the player might choose to split and create two separate hands, thus having a total of two opportunities to make a blackjack.
Pat hand: Refers to a standing hand, that is, one which is considered sufficiently close to 21 — usually between 17 and 21.
Perfect play: Refers to a player abiding by basic strategy.
Ploppy: Refers to a name used by experienced players targeted towards inexperienced ones who tend to not incorporate basic strategy and often mismanage their hands. Most casinos tend to welcome such players, since the house edge on a Ploppy’s bets tends to be higher.
Preferential shuffle: Refers to the situation in which a casino impulsively decides to shuffle the cards to avoid cheating.
Progressive betting: Refers to betting strategies that recommend doubling a bet after each loss. Playing blackjack this way can be considered risky, especially for players with a small bankroll.
Push: Also known as a stand off or a no win, the phrase refers to the situation in which the player and the dealer have cards of the exact same amount of value. In this case, the player is returned their initial wager, but no additional money will be won.
R
Resplits: Refers to the action of splitting twice: once when two cards of the same value are dealt and another when an additional card of the same value is dealt again. Resplits can only be possible if the house rules allow, and they also entail an additional bet.
Risk of Ruin (ROR): Refers to the overall percentage of how likely it is for a player to lose.
RSA: Refers to a rule that allows players to resplit aces. This means that several aces can be replit, making for potentially numerous unnatural blackjack. RSA blackjack tables are not common for that very reason.
S
Seven-Card Charlie: Refers to the somewhat rare rule in certain blackjack variants which states that a player wins if they reach seven cards without busting. When Seven-Card Charlie is effective, the player will win regardless of their hand value.
Shoe: In the context of land-based casinos, the term refers to a box in which used cards are stored by the dealer. A multi-deck shoe can hold multiple decks, whereas a single-deck game might require a smaller shoe. The name ‘shoe’ was given to said boxes owing to their past resemblance to high-heeled shoes.
Shoe game: Refers to games in which a shoe is used to distribute cards. Shoe games tend to make use of several decks — as opposed to double deck games, which are usually dealt by hand.
Side bet: Refers to a type of bet offered over and above the standard bets. For example, most blackjack games offer the Perfect Pair bet, which is offered to a player to cover the possibility that the first two cards being dealt will be a pair.
Single deck: Refers to a game played using a single deck. In this case, the deck penetration will vary, which is why the dealer shuffles periodically.
Sit and Go: Refers to tournaments that offer a wide range of buy-ins — perfectly suitable for new players as well as veterans. The rules and length of play are equally flexible.
Soft double: Refers to the act of doubling when a hand contains an ace.
Soft hand: Refers to hands containing an ace that can be valued at both one and 11. For example, hand containing an ace and a five can be valued at six or 15.
Soft total: Refers to the total sum of a soft hand. For example, a soft total of an ace and a five can be either six or 15.
Split: Refers to the player’s option to separate two cards of equal value and playing them individually. An additional bet must be placed before a split, but in return, the player can win double.
Stand: Refers to the action of refusing to be dealt additional cards. This is chosen when a player believes that their hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s is.
Stand 17: Refers to the rule that the dealer cannot be dealt additional cards if their total is 17 or over. In this case, the dealer must stand even if the player’s hand is closer to 21.
Standing hand: Refers to a hand that is advised to not be hit. For example, totals of 19 or 20 are generally known to be standing hands, since the chances are that any additional card will be a bust card.
Stand off: Also known as a push or a no win, the phrase refers to the situation in which the player and the dealer have cards of the exact same value. In this case, the player is returned their initial wager, but no additional money will be won.
Stiff: Refers to hands in which the total is around 12 to 16. This is widely regarded as the toughest hand to deal with since the dealer can easily win if the bettor stands. Conversely, hitting runs the risk of busting.
Surrender: Refers to the player’s option of discarding their hand at the cost of a half bet. The term further branches into ‘early surrender’ and ‘late surrender’.
T
Third base: Also known as ‘anchor’. The term refers to the last player at a blackjack table to act before the dealer. The advantage or disadvantage of the anchor within the game is debated, since the game is played between the player and the dealer
U
Up card: Refers to the dealer’s visible card. The dealer’s up-card is fundamental in blackjack since it directly affects the player’s decision on whether to hit or stand.
V
Variance: Also known as ‘volatility’, this popular casino term refers to the general odds of winning. High variance will deliver payouts more rarely than low-variance games will, whereas medium-variance games fall somewhere in the middle. Blackjack is said to be a game of low variance, since winning generally happens frequently if basic strategy is followed.
W
Whale: Also referred to as ‘high roller’, the term refers to players that boast a large sum of gambling money. High rollers tend to place big bets, which also evidences a different decision-making process in comparison to players with a lower budget.
Win rate: Refers to a player’s win percentage in a particular game. Whales tend to have a win rate much higher than new players due to experience and the use of strategy.
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