Have you run into a blackjack term that you haven’t seen before? While blackjack is a fairly easy game to play, there’s a lot of lingo that can seem almost foreign to a new player. We’ve put together a list of common blackjack terms and definitions that should get you up to speed.

• Craps Glossary
• Poker Glossary Freezeout
• Blackjack Glossary
• Poker Glossary
• Glossary Of Blackjack Terms
• Poker Glossary Of Terms

Basic Strategy: A collection of the mathematically best plays in every situation given the rules being used in a blackjack game. A basic strategy chart will tell the player what to do, given his hand and the dealer’s up card. However, it will not consider other cards seen or the current composition of the shoe, as done when card counting.

Take on the dealer with real money Blackjack! Available in a range of different variants, there's a game for everyone, and you can even play for free. Find out more about our Blackjack games here. Click below to play. When a player is dealt a Blackjack, and the dealer is showing an Ace, the player has the option of taking 1:1 or even money before the dealer demonstrates his or her card. When the player takes insurance and wins the insurance side bet (see Insurance). 86’d: Getting told that you are being trespassed from their property. Usually, this is the consequence of using your brain to make wise decisions.

Betting Spread: A common technique used by card counters to change their bet size without drawing attention from casinos.

Blackjack: Along with being the name of the game, a blackjack is also the name given to a hand consisting of an ace and a ten-point card. It is the best possible starting hand, and normally automatically wins for the player at odds of 3-2, though some casinos may offer lesser odds. If the dealer has a blackjack, all player hands immediately lose, except for blackjacks, which push.

1. Our Blackjack Glossary covers everything you could possibly need when playing online so discover the comprehensive list that will guide you to becoming a better player.
2. Blackjack Glossary. Blackjack is a game with a language all its own. If you find yourself unsure of some of the terms or blackjack lingo commonly used in the game, we recommend going over the complete list. More than just a blackjack dictionary, this is the fastest way to get a basic understanding of the language used by blackjack players.

Bust: A hand is said to bust when it reaches a point total of 22 or more. If a player busts by going over 21, he immediately loses all bets on that hand. If the dealer busts, all players still in the hand automatically win.

Card Counting: This is a process in which a player takes into account the cards that have already been removed from the shoe when determining their strategy. The most common adjustment made is to bet more money when the shoe is rich in cards that are good for the player, and bet less (or stop playing) when the remaining cards tilt the odds in favor of the house. However, card counters may also make adjustments to when they take insurance, when they surrender, or even to basic strategy plays based on the remaining cards in the shoe. These adjustments can leave the player with an advantage over the house.

Card counting is not illegal, but casinos may refuse to allow known card counters from playing blackjack. Card counting cannot be used in games that continuously shuffle the cards after each hand, such as in most online blackjack games.

Composition-dependent Strategies – Teaches players to deviate from basic blackjack strategy in certain blackjack circumstances.

Double Down: This option allows the player to make a second bet in exchange for one more card, after which they must stand. This is typically only allowed on the first two cards a player receives. This allows the player to wager more money in advantageous situations, such as when holding an 11-point hand against a lower dealer up card.

Hard: A hard hand is one in which there is not an ace, or where the ace is only worth one point. Contrast to a soft hand.

Hit: Taking an additional card for your hand is called hitting. This is one of the two main options a player can use when playing their hand; the other is standing. Typically, dealers must hit with hands of 16 or less.

Hole Card: The dealer card which the players cannot see until it is revealed at the end of the hand. In many casinos, the dealer will peak at the hole card at the beginning of the hand in order to check for a blackjack if the dealer up card is an ace or a ten.

House Advantage: The advantage or edge is what the casino holds over the players, expressed as a percentage of each initial bet the player makes. Usually, the house edge is given based on the optimal basic strategy; player mistakes can significantly increase the house edge. However, it also doesn’t consider card counting or other techniques that may tilt the odds in the player’s favor. Rule changes can also have a significant impact on the house edge.

Insurance: If the dealer has an ace as their up card, each player will be offered insurance for half the price of their initial bet. If the dealer has a blackjack, the insurance bets pay off at 2-1 odds, meaning that players who have made the insurance bets will break even (since they still lose their initial bet). This is also offered to players who have a blackjack, who can get even money on their blackjacks instead of 3-2; mathematically, this is exactly the same as the insurance bet offered to other players.

Push: If the dealer and the player have hands of the same value, the player’s bet neither wins or loses; instead, it is considered a push. In other words, the player keeps their bet, but doesn’t win any additional money.

Side Bets: Blackjack tables often times have additional games that can be played along side the blackjack game. It often costs an additional ante and the result is independent of the blackjack hand result.

Shoe: The device which holds the cards from which the blackjack game is dealt. In live casinos, shoes are typically made up of anywhere from 1-8 decks. In online blackjack, casinos may even have shoes made up of an infinite number of decks, meaning that removing a card from the shoe has no impact on which card is dealt next.

Soft: A hand that includes an ace that still counts as 11 points. Soft hands cannot bust by taking an additional card, since the ace can revert to counting as just one point if necessary. Contrast to hard hands.

Split: Players may split their hands if the first two cards they receive are of the same rank. If they do, the player makes a second bet, and the two cards are played as separate hands. Each hand is now dealt a second card, after which the hands may usually be played as normal.

Stand: The decision to stop taking more cards is known as standing. This ends the player’s ability to play their hand. In most casinos, dealers must stand with a hand of 17 or higher.

Surrender: In some casinos, players will have the option to surrender, giving up their hand and losing only half of their initial bet. This option is normally invoked in situations where the player has almost no hope of winning the hand. There are two versions of this rule: early surrender, where the player may surrender before the dealer checks for blackjack, and late surrender, where the dealer checks for blackjack before the player has the surrender option.

Blackjack Tournaments: Tournaments offer players the chance to compete against other players instead of against the house.

Up Card: The dealer’s exposed card is known as the up card. The rank of the up card is the only information the player has about the dealer’s hand, and is therefore an important factor in determining player strategy.

Video Blackjack: Similar to a video poker machine, it is a virtual game played without cards or a dealer and is similar to online blackjack. Video blackjack machines can be found at casinos and bars.

Translations: Begriffe

Blackjack Terms and Definitions - A Blackjack Dictionary

This page offers definitions of various blackjack related terms. It's meant to eventually become a complete dictionary or glossary of blackjack phrases, and will gradually grow larger over time as we add more words and definitions below.

Feedback - A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

A

A popular variant rule where a bonus payout for the ace and jack of spades is offered.

Changing the size of one's bet based on how many aces are left in the deck.

A simple card counting strategy that only counts aces and fives.

A count of how many aces have been played. This count is a 'side count' because it's kept separately from the main count.

Any card counting system that doesn't track aces. i.e. Aces count as 0 or null in the count.

A situation where the deck has fewer aces left in it than is statistically likely. A deck that's poor in aces.

A situation where the deck has more aces left in it than is statistically likely. A deck that's rich in aces.

The amount of money that's been bet. Can refer to an aggregate of the total amounts of bets made over a certain period of time, or it can refer to the amount in play on a particular wager.

The statistically theoretical edge one side has over the other, usually expressed as a percentage of the wager. Usually the casino has the advantage, but card counting can give the player the advantage.

A gambler who uses strategy to gain a mathematical advantage over the casino.

B

Craps Glossary

Counting cards from behind the table as a spectator. Counting cards in blackjack when you're not playing in the game.

A card counting system that has an equal number of cards valued at + and -. The sum of a count of all cards in a deck in a balanced count is always 0.

The amount of funds available for wagering. Sometimes refers to the total amount of money available to gamble with, but can also refer to the amount available in a given playing session.

To ban a player from playing at a casino. This term is almost always used to refer to blackjack card counters.

The optimum playing strategy for blackjack when not counting.

The amount of the maximum and minimum bets a player is making during a blackjack playing session. A 1-5 bet spread means that the player is betting a minimum of 1 unit per hand and a maximum of 5 units per hand.

How well a card counting system can take advantage of the theoretical advantage offered by that system.

A member of a card counting team who makes a big bet when the count is favorable.

A casino chip worth $100.

Refers to the game of 21, but also refers to a natural total of 21 on the first two cards. A blackjack always consists of an ace and a face card or a ten. Blackjack usually pays better than even odds. The most common payoff on a blackjack is 3 to 2, but some single deck blackjack games have a 6 to 5 payout. And sometimes you'll get lucky and find a casino offering 2 to 1 payouts on blackjacks. A blackjack is also called a 'natural'.

The first card of a new deck after the shuffle and cut. The card is discarded and placed on the bottom of the deck.

To get a total greater than 21. Automatically a loss.

C

Where the casino cashier is located.

Any strategy meant to cover up card counting.

A strategy for getting the edge at blackjack by tracking the ratio of high cards to low cards that have already been played. A card counter raises his bet when the deck offers favorable odds to the player, and lowers his bet when the deck offers less-than-favorable odds to the player. There are multiple card counting systems with varying degrees of efficiency.

Poker Glossary Freezeout

Refers to a deck with a bad ratio of cards for the player.

To exchange lower denomination chips for higher denomination chips.

Free food, room, beverage, and travel offered by casinos to encourage big players to gamble more.

A plastic card used to cut the deck after shuffling. The dealer reshuffles the deck after reaching the cut card when dealing hands.

D

A dealer cheating method. The dealer deals the 2nd card from the top if the top card would help the player.

The percentage of cards played out of a deck or a shoe before reshuffling.

The cards that have already been played and thrown away.

Blackjack played out of two decks which are shuffled together. (As opposed to single deck, four deck, six deck, eight deck, etc.)

To double the initial bet and take one and exactly one more card. Usually doubling down is only allowed after the first two cards are dealt. Some casinos allow doubling after splitting and some don't. Some casinos only allowing doubling down when the first two cards total 10 or 11.

A blackjack variant where both of the dealer's cards are played face up. Usually players lose all pushes and blackjack pays even money in this variant.

The older area of Vegas. The casinos in Downtown Vegas generally offer better rules for the player, and the phrase is used to refer to blackjack games with those beneficial rules.

Same as to hit. Taking additional cards in an attempt to get closer to a total of 21.

The total wagered in a casino.

E

Giving up on the first two cards before the dealer checks his hole card for an ace. The player only loses 50% of his wager in this situation.

Expresses the percentage advantage the player or casino has in a given situation.

A bet that pays off at the same amount it would lose. e.g., betting $5 to potentially win $5 is an even money bet.

Usually expressed as a percentage, refers to the amount a player can expect to win or lose, statistically.

The video camera above the casino floor which is used to watch the dealers and players to catch cheating.

F

The jack, queen, and king. They're each worth 10 points.

A dealer cheating method which doesn't really randomize the deck of cards.

The position of the player at the blackjack table who gets his cards first. If you're standing behind the table, the player at the far right is in first base.

To bet the same amount on every hand.

The deviations from expectation in a player's bankroll.

G

A book of suspected card counters and casino cheaters provided to casinos by Griffin Investigations.

A private investigator corporation which specializes in casino cheating and card counters.

H

Any hand without an ace. Also any hand with an ace where the ace must be counted as a 1 to avoid busting.

The total of a hard hand.

Playing alone against a dealer.

Pressure and intimidation used by a casino to discourage card counters.

A card counting system. 2 through 6 counts +1 and faces and aces count as -1.

A card counting system promoted in The World's Greatest Blackjack Book. 3-6 count as +1, and tens (including faces) count as -1.

Also known as a 'whale'. Someone who bets a lot of money.

To take another card.

The dealer's face down card.

A deck where the player has an edge or favorable situation.

The percentage advantage the casino has over the player on a particular bet.

Blackjack Glossary

I

The total count that warrants a deviation from basic strategy.

A side bet that the dealer has a blackjack. The maximum insurance bet is half of your original wager. Insurance is almost always a negative expectation bet.

J

A casino subsidized travel package for a group of gamblers.

K

Betting a percentage of your bankroll equal to your percentage advantage. This is the optimal bet size.

An unbalanced card counting system promoted by Olaf Vancura and Ken Fuchs. 2-7 count as +1 and aces and tens count as -1. The count does not start at 0 but starts at a number determined by the number of decks in play. Also known as the 'KO count'.

L

The rules most commonly used on the Las Vegas strip, as opposed to Downtown Las Vegas. These rules are generally less favorable to the player and use more decks.

An optional rule where the player can surrender after seeing the dealer's hole card.

The number of values used in a card counting system. A level one counting system only uses +1 and -1, but a level two system would use +1, +2, -1 and -2, and so on. The higher the level, the harder the system is to use in practice.

M

Someone who uses sleight-of-hand in order to cheat at cards.

A system a player uses to decide how to handle his bankroll. Kelly betting is one money management system that works. Stop loss limits is a money management system that doesn't work.

A casino rule which allows players to wager actual cash instead of chips.

Using more than one deck in a game of blackjack. As opposed to a single deck game.

N

A blackjack.

O

P

A face card. (Jacks, queens, and kings.)

Poker Glossary

A method of cheating where a player posts additional money to his wager after seeing the results of the hand.

A total of 17 or more. Don't hit pat hands.

The area in the casino which is surrounded by the table games.

A casino employee in the pit who oversees the table games and the dealers.

The rules variations in effect at a casino. Playing conditions include whether or not a player can double down after a split, how many decks are in use, etc.

Another name for the Hi lo counting system.

The total value of the count, positive or negative, at any given time.

Refers to the player and the dealer having the same total. Usually the player's bet is returned when there is a push.

Q

R

Putting chips in your pocket or purse so the casino doesn't see how much you're winning.

Describes a player who's a professional. Card counters prefer NOT to be rated. Can also refer to a rating given by casino hosts based on the amount lost, in which case the rating determines what comps are awarded to the player.

Glossary Of Blackjack Terms

$5 chip.

Poker Glossary Of Terms

Splitting a second pair after receiving another pair after the initial deal. (Resplitting is often not allowed.)

A bet made by another player on someone's hand. This bet is placed behind the original bet.

The mathematical chance of losing one's entire bankroll.

Same as the point count.

S

A period of time spent gambling.

A casino employee who pretends to be a player. Shills often play at empty tables in order to attract action.

A blackjack game dealt from a shoe. Multiple deck games are almost always shoe games, while single deck games are often dealt by hand.

A company which manufactures automatic shuffling machines which constantly shuffle the blackjack decks. Shuffle Master machines generally prevent card counting, since the deck is shuffled after every hand.

An advantage play technique in blackjack where a player keeps track of where the high cards are in the deck, then cuts into the deck so that the concentration of high cards is played by the dealer.

An additional count of a particular set of cards, kept in addition to the point count. Aces are often tracked in a side count.

A hand in which an ace can be counted as an 11 or as a 1 without the hand being considered a bust.

To double down on a soft hand.

To decline additional cards and keep your existing total.

The amount of deviation from the statistical expectation.

Hard hands that total between 12 and 16. Stiff hand are likely to bust when drawn to.

An amount of money that a gambler is willing to lose in a situation. Once the stop loss limit is reached, the gambler stops playing that session.

Deciding not to play the hand you've been dealt. You get to keep half your bet if you surrender. Not all casinos offer surrender as an option.

T

Advantage play or card counting when executed by multiple people who often share a single bankroll.

The person who receives cards last in a blackjack game. If you're standing behind the players, the person in third base is the farthest to the left.

Any tip to a dealer or other casino employee.

The running count divided by the number of decks in he shoe.

U

The dealer's card that is played face up. This is the first card the dealer plays to himself.

An amount of a bet.

A card counting system where the number of positive cards and negative cards is not equal.

V

The amount of deviation from the expectation you can expect.

The house edge on a bet.

W

To back count and only bet when you have the edge. Named for Stanford Wong.

How much a player wins per hour.

See high roller.

XYZ

A card counting system made popular by Arnold Snyder. The zen count is a level two counting system.

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