Online Blackjack Terms Explained in Simple Language
Created At05.09.2024
Last Updated19.10.2024
The aim of this article is to explain the main blackjack terms such as 'hit,' 'stand,' 'split,' 'double down,' and more. Understanding these terms will help you learn the game and gain the confidence to play blackjack like a pro. So, let's dive in and master the terms.
Our comprehensive Blackjack glossary is designed to give you a thorough understanding of the game's terminology, making you feel well-informed and confident while playing. We have compiled 34 blackjack terms and explained them in an easy-to-understand language. Whether you're new to the game or have been playing for a while, our blackjack glossary has something for everyone.
To create this article, our casino experts dedicated 6 hours to researching and verifying the information. To be as specific and accurate as possible, we used official sources such as blackjackapprenticeship.com and blackjackinfo.com.
To learn more about this classic card game, read our guide to online blackjack. There, you'll find more comprehensive information, including the history of blackjack, a guide on how to play it, its variations, and the different types of bets.
With that out of the way, let's start with the basic blackjack terms.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
Blackjack | The strongest hand in the game, made up of an Ace and a card worth 10 (a Jack, Queen, or King). It pays 3:2 or 6:5, depending on the operator. Talking money, if your bet is ₹100 and the payout is 3:2, you win ₹150. |
Bankroll | The amount of funds available for betting. |
Card Counting | The technique of tracking the cards in blackjack. If you master it, it can give you pointers towards making better bets. A simple example of card counting is noticing that many low cards (2-6) have been played. Ergo, this can only mean that high cards (10s, Jacks, Queens, Kings, Aces) are more likely to be dealt in subsequent hands. However, this does not guarantee a win. |
Bust | Exceed the value of 21 and lose your bet. If you have a 10 and an 8 for a total of 18, and then take an extra 4, you will have a total of 22 and therefore bust. |
Double Down | Double your initial bet after receiving the first two cards, reserving the right to take only one additional card. For example, if your first two cards are 5 and 6 (a total of 11), you can double your bet and take one additional card. If you get 10, you will have a total of 21 and automatically win. |
Insurance | An optional bet you can make in case the dealer's first card is an Ace. The insurance bet usually pays out 2 to 1 and wins if the dealer has a blackjack. |
Payout Ratio | The ratio at which winnings are paid. For having a blackjack, the payout ratio is usually 3:2 or 6:5. |
Anchor | The last player to act before the dealer. |
Soft Hand | A hand that contains an Ace card, which can be counted as 1 or 11. |
Unfavourable Count | State of play in which the prevailing low cards favour the dealer. During a round, you may notice that many high cards (10s, Jacks, Queens, Kings, Aces) have left the deck. This can mean the dealer has a better chance of getting a strong hand. |
Shoe | A device that holds multiple decks of cards and is used for fast and effective dealing. |
Penetration | Percentage of cards played before the shuffle. |
Flat Betting | Betting the same amount on every hand. |
Upcard | The dealer's first card, dealt face up and visible to all players. |
Surrender | Fold the hand and lose half your bet. However, surrendering is not a feature in every online casino. |
Favorable Count | State of play in which the prevailing high cards favour the players. For example, when lots of low cards (2-6) have already left the deck. |
Push | Situation in which the player and the dealer have the same hand total, resulting in the bet being returned. If you have 20 (for example, two 10s) and the dealer has 20, the game ends in a tie, and your bet is returned. |
Even Money | Rule by which if you have a blackjack, and at the same time the dealer's upcard card is an Ace, you can request a 1 to 1 payout. |
Soft Total | The total of a hand, with an Ace that can be counted as 1 or 11. |
Stand | Refuse to take additional cards. |
Split | The ability to split your original hand into two separate hands of equal value and bet separately on each. You can make a split if, for instance, you get two eights (8 and 8) in play. You split the eights into two separate hands, placing an additional bet on the second hand. |
Hard Hand | A hand that doesn't have an Ace. Or rather, has an Ace counted as 1 to avoid exceeding 21. |
Deck | A set of 52 cards used in the game. |
Third Base | The last sitting position at the table. The player sitting in third base makes the final decision before the dealer. |
True Count | Card counting method that provides a more accurate assessment of the game situation. To successfully perform true count, divide your Running Count by the number of decks not yet played. |
Hard Total | The hand's total without an Ace or with an Ace that counts as 1. |
Hit | Slang used for requesting an additional card. |
Hole Card | The dealer's second card, dealt face down and not visible for the rest of the game. |
Shuffle | Blackjack slang for shuffling the cards before the game starts. |
Shuffle Up | An early shuffle of the cards, usually performed to counter any card count based on the previous round. |
Multiple Deck | Using more than one set of cards in a blackjack game. |
Win | Winning with your hand with the total equal to or closer to 21 than the dealer's. |
Lose | Losing when the dealer's hand is equal to or closer to 21. |
Draw/Push | A situation where the value of the player's hand is equal to the value of the dealer's hand, resulting in a tie. |
Final Words
Understanding these blackjack terms will help you be more proficient and relaxed during the game. It will also free you up to try different strategies or bets in blackjack.
We strongly recommend putting your knowledge to the test in the free version of the game. This will not only reinforce your understanding of the blackjack terms, but also boost your confidence. And if you're hungry for more knowledge, our detailed guide is always at your disposal.
And remember, even if you know all the blackjack terms and strategies, casino games are primarily based on luck, and winnings are far from guaranteed. For this reason, you should play responsibly and never bet more than you can afford to lose.
Author
Casino Expert
Biljana Lukovic
Biljana began her online casino adventure in 2020 during the pandemic and has never regretted her decision, quickly becoming captivated by the dazzling world of casino games. She works with Indicasino.com on a freelance basis and has undergone extensive training to ensure the high quality of any content created for us.
She started by writing news, blog posts, and short casino reviews. However, her passion for deeply understanding the complexities of online casino gaming for Indian players quickly helped her become an expert in the field.
Biljana is one of our team members who is constantly on the hunt to learn new things, absorbing every detail she can about the iGaming industry. This knowledge has become the foundation of her long-term goal: empowering Indian players with the most relevant and accurate gambling information.
In her spare time, Biljana enjoys learning more about Indian culture and traditions. She is particularly fascinated by Indian cuisine and loves treating herself to some nice meals. She also has a passion for traveling, and after visiting Delhi, her next destination is Mumbai, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
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