Blackjack Player's Guide Menu

Blackjack Glossary

Basic Strategy
A math based strategy that you use to play every blackjack hand to receive the highest expected value per play.
Blackjack
This is the name of the game as well as the objective. You need two cards offering a total of 21 to get the natural Blackjack.
Burn Card
This is the first card that is removed from the top of the deck or shoe. It is placed in the discard try.
Bust
When a player or dealer goes over a total of 21. The hand loses instantly.
Card Counting
When you count cards you are doing some in your mind by remembering what cards have been played and discarded, to help you figure out the probability of the next card.
Cut
A method for splitting the deck and placing the cards back together.
Cut Card
This plastic card helps to cut the cards after a shuffle has been completed.
Discard Tray
This is the place the discarded cards will be placed after a hand is completed.
Double Down
To double down means you are going to place a second bet on the table based on the cards you have in your hand. You may also receive one more card, but no more than that.
Draw
Is when you obtain another card, in blackjack this is usually referred to as a hit.
Early Surrender
In Blackjack you may surrender your bet before the dealer looks for a Blackjack in their hand.
Even Money
In blackjack you can decide to take your pay if you have a natural hand and the dealer is showing an ace. This means the dealer doesn't look at their cards and you get 1 to 1 on the payout.
Face Cards
In a deck of cards you have 4 jacks, 4 queens, and 4 kings
Face Up Game
In this round the cards will always be dealt face up.
First Base
First base is the first seat an individual sits in on the dealers left. You would be the first person to get a card.
Hard Hand
This is referred to as Hard Total as well. It is a hand without an ace. The ace is a value of 1 in a hard hand, if you receive one during play.
Hit
This is when you take another card to help you towards the objective of 21.
Hole Card
The face down card the dealer gets is the hole card.
Insurance
Insurance on your bet is made if the dealer has an ace card face up. It is a secondary bet to the overall game in which you bet whether the dealer has a natural 21.
Late Surrender
This is an option in some games when the dealer doesn't have blackjack and you give up half your bet not to continue play.
Natural
For Blackjack you need to have 21 total points. With a natural hand you are dealt 21 in two cards on the initial deal.
Pat
This is a hand with a value of at least 17 and the player will not take another card.
Push
This is a tie in which both the dealer and the player have the same total points. The player does not lose or win their bet.
Shoe
This is a box used to hold the deck for dealing.
Shuffle
When the cards are mixed in a random fashion by the dealer.
Soft Hand
A hand in which the Ace can be counted as a 1 or and 11. You can not bust hitting a soft hand.
Split Hand
When you have a pair such as two eights you can split the cards to play two hands. A new wager must be made for the second hand to be played and the bet must be the same amount wagered on the first bet.
Stand or Stay
You will not take another card.
Standing Hand
It is commonly referred to as stand, where you will hold on 17 and higher. You will not take another card.
Stiff Hand
Usually this is a value of 12 through 16 points on your first two cards.
Surrender
In this case you fold, but will get half your bet back.
Third Base
The last seat at the table to the dealers right. The last position to act.
Upcard
This is a card that is face up on the table and often the dealer's first card, so that players can see the options and whether they want to continue to play.