Blackjack Terminology

Anchor
The last player seated to the dealer’s right.

Bankroll
The total amount of money a player can bet with.

Basic Strategy
A simple method which can be memorized which is a set of plays that maximizes a player’s advantage.

Blackjack
The total of 21 on a player’s original two cards dealt.

Breaking Hand
A hand that will go over 21 with a one card hit. Such as a hard 12-16.

Burn Cards
Taking cards from the top of the deck and placing them in the discard tray after shuffling and cutting.

Bust
To go bust – card totals exceeding 21; losing the game.

Card Counting
The ability of a player to mentally count and memorize the cards which have been played and to judge how many (usually high) cards are remaining in the deck. By counting the cards, a player can establish a conditional probability advantage on the rest of the cards against the house.

Cut
To split the deck of cards after shuffling, before being dealt.

Deal
To hand out the cards.

Discard Tray
A tray located on the right side of the dealer which holds all the cards already played.

Double Down
An option to double the original bet, but only getting a one-card hit. Usually this is a good move when a player feels confident that with only one card he can win the round.

Draw
To request additional cards for one’s current hand.

Early Surrender
Surrender which is allowed before the dealer checks his hand for a blackjack.

Even Money
Cashing in a bet immediately at an exact ratio when a player is dealt a natural blackjack, but the dealer is showing an Ace.

Face Cards
Jack, Queen and King.

Face Down Game
When the first card is placed face up, but the second card is placed face down.

Face Up Game
Both cards are placed face up.

First Base
The first seat to the dealers left, where the cards are first dealt.

Hard Count
The true face value of the cards.

Hard Hand (Total)
A hand with no Ace, or with an Ace that can only be counted as a 1 because of the other cards’ values.

Heads Up
A game between only one player and the dealer.

Hit
To request another card from the dealer.

Hole Card
A face down card, usually relating to the dealer’s single card placed face down.

Insurance
A side bet up to half the total of a player’s original bet against the dealer having a natural 21. This option is only offered when the dealer has an Ace exposed and pays double if the dealer does have a natural, and loses if not.

Late Surrender
Surrender which is allowed only if the dealer does not have a blackjack.

Natural
A two-card hand totaling exactly 21 points. This is an automatic win which pays 3-2.

Pat
A hand totaling between 17 – 21.

Point Count
Used in card counting systems, referring to the net value of the card count at the end of a round.

Press
To increase the amount of a wager.

Push
When both the player and the dealer have the same total. The player ends up keeping the bet.

Running Count
Used in card counting indicating the count from the beginning of the deck; the running count is adjusted to the value of the point count after every hand.

Shoe
A wooden box or case used to hold and dispense the cards to be dealt.

Shuffle Up
Premature shuffling by the dealer used to deter the practice of card counting.

Soft Hand
A hand of cards containing an Ace that can be used as a 1 or an 11.

Split Hand
The option of splitting a two card hand (of same face cards) and playing them separately.

Standing Hand
A hand which has a hard total of 17 or more, and is very likely to go bust if hit with another card – the player ‘stands’.

Stand/Stay
Not taking any more cards.

Stiff Hand
Hand with a small chance of winning.

Surrender
Giving up a hand and only losing half of the bet.

Third Base
Last seat taken at the dealer’s right hand side.

Toke
A tip given to the dealer.

True Count
In card counting systems whereby the running count is adjusted to suit the number of cards remaining in the deck still to be played.

Up Card
The dealer’s first dealt card, placed face up for the players to see.