Blackjack Terminology
Casino games have always had a rich history and culture. Naturally, with such pedigree a special vocabulary goes hand in hand. Unlike most other common vernacular however, terminology for card games such as Blackjack often proves surprisingly resilient. While the game itself is very easy to learn, we noticed that it's often the terminology - the names for different hands or moves throughout a round - that confuses even experienced players sometimes. This shall serve as a short overview and perhaps even an inspiration to try out different side bets the next time you feel like playing some Blackjack!
What is Blackjack?
Blackjack is a card game played against a dealer. The aim of the game is to never go over a hand value of 21 before the dealer's hand does in order to win. The term itself refers to a card hand holding an Ace and any 10 value card, such a combination is often referred to as "Blackjack" itself.
What is Blackjack terminology?
Terminology in Blackjack usually covers both specific terminology for game moves, bets, payouts, sidebets and so on. It also covers game-specific terms for the world of Blackjack as a whole, such as legendary players leaving their mark, casino-specific terms such as "black book" and similar aspects.
Blackjack Moves Explained
Let's start with terms used for moves and bets available to you during a given round of Blackjack.
Bust: In short, bust means having a hand total over 21.
Bust card: The card that made you go bust. We don't talk about it anymore.
DAS or Double After Split: Some casinos and online casinos allow for players to double down on any of their freshly slit hands.
Double: Also called "doubling down". Upon deciding to double your bet, the dealer is compelled to give you another card immediately. Think of it as doubling down on your hand and purchasing an extra card by doubling your bet. Only done when one is extremely confident in one's hand (usually on a hand worth 11). You put your extra chips to the left of your hand, the dealer will deal you one additional card and the result will be final.
Flat Bet: A strategy to always bet the same amount each round, regardless of your hand or the dealer's hand. No changes from your original bet whatsoever.
Hit: To hit means to request an additional card from the dealer.
Split: If your face cards are identical you may split them and ask for additional cards, ending up with two hands for that round. Individual bets for each are possible.
Stand: To refuse additional cards from the dealer.
Stand-off: You and the dealer have either Blackjack or both your face cards run up to the same value. This will be considered a draw, nobody wins or loses.
During any blackjack game a myriad of factors influence every player at the table, their decision making as well as the dealer's moves. What influence does your basic strategy have on your original bet? How deep into the deck are you? What's the dealer's first card? What could their second card be? Might anyone at the table be card counting? Did anyone catch a glimpse at the dealer's hole card perhaps? Am I ahead of the house edge with this hand? These and many other questions are not simply a matter of employing Blackjack terms correctly, they are an intergral part of any Blackjack game.
At a later date we will revisit this topic and present to you basic blackjack strategy, cover the topic of card counting, of lingo like "hole card" and many others aspects in a detailed exposition to help you enjoy your next Blackjack game on our casino platform even more!
International Blackjack Terms explained
Other than Blackjack terms explaining legal moves, the game has brought forth a rich vocabulary concerning items such as the cut card, the first card of every deck, "soft hand" or "hard hand" and many other aspects. We have compiled a short list of terms that are equally at home in land-based casinoes as well as online Blackjack. Feel free to try out your new found knowledge and see how other players at the table react to it!
Advantage: The theoretical edge one side has over the other based on empirical statistics. Blackjack favours the house, but experienced players may manage to pull the advantage onto their side when it counts!
Back Counting: Counting cards from behind the table as a spectator. Good to avoid or reduce the occurence of negative counts, but bad if you are getting caught. Even worse when you are being caught trying to communicate your count. Legends have been formed around able players using this to gain an edge. In the US this may also be called "wonging".
Back off: Being told to back off is similar to getting 86'd but you are merely asked to refrain from playing Blackjack for the remained of your visit. Often delivered in the form of a compliment ("You are too good for us" or "your game is too strong for us") but nevertheless very clear. Do not argue, take it as a win and move on! To back off may sometimes also refer to leaving a bet on the table after the dealer flipped a risky or unexpected card.
Balanced Count: This refers to a card counting system where the sum of negative cards is equal to the sum of positive cards. If the count at the end of a deck is zero, then you got yourself a balanced count. Maybe not exactly something you wish to bring up while sitting at a Blackjack table.
Bankroll: Simply put, it's the total sum of your funds available for playing Blackjack. This can also mean the amount of funds you entered the game with, or sat down at the table with. Figuring out the right bankroll for your next game of Blackjack can already be a very important aspect of your overall Blackjack strategy.
Basic strategy: Basic strategy of Blackjack is based on probability tables and some rule of thumb. If you want to figure out what your other players are thinking, ask them what to do with a soft 18 for example.
Bet Spread: The total variety of bets you as the player are making across a Blackjack session. 1 - 3 spread would mean you making between 1 and 3 units per hand. Experienced players expect to make more off of Blackjack the larger their spread. Card counters also refer to their spread as an integral part of their approach.
Black Book: A joking term for a list of banned players. Nowadays casinos list players in a networked database. It's not uncommon for players to end up not welcomed in an entire city for transgressions stemming from a single night at a single casino!
Burn Card: The very first (or top) card in a new deck straight after the shuffle and cut. The dealer will put the burn card straight onto the discard tray face down. Every time a new dealer sits down they usually also grab the top card and burn it.
Card counting: A strategy some people might use in order to beat the house edge. Card counters try tracking the high and low cards that have already been played in order to adapt their bets in subsequent rounds.
Cut Card. A plastic card used to mark a point in the deck where it should be reshuffled.
DAS: Double after split. This is a special rule in some casinos and online casinos allowing players to double down on either hand after splitting their initial hand.
Deck Penetration: Often just called "pen" refers to the amount of cards having been played from the deck before everything getting reshuffled.
First Base: The left-most seat from the point of view of the dealer. First base is always dealt first.
Half-Shoe: The dealer is being instructed by the house to cut the shoe in half, destroying any accumulated edge in the process.
Hard Hand: A hand without an Ace or an Ace with the value of 1.
Hard Total: The hand total counting Aces as only 1.
Hit: A move instruction the dealer to deal you another card.
Hit 17: A very common rule in both regular casinos and online casinos, forcing the dealer to take a hit when they are on a soft 17. Players need to stand on a soft 17.
Insurance: This refers to a sidebet - the dealer is sitting on a natural 21. It comes with a fixed 2:1 rate and is available in some casinos when the dealer's face-side up card is an Ace.
Natural: Player receives an Ace and a 10 as their initial hand. Also called "natural 21" or simply "blackjack". Depending on existing house rules, this hand may instantly pay out at increased rates.
NDAS: No Double After Split. see DAS.
NRSA: No Resplit Aces.
Round: In Blackjack a round starts with bets being placed before the dealer deals everybody their initial hand. It ends as soon as every hand on the table has been resolved and prizes have been paid out.
RSA: Resplit Aces.
Shoe: A dealing shoe or dealer's shoe is a gaming machine used to hold multiple decks of cards.
Shoe Game: A game of Blackjack dealt from the shoe. Multiple deck games are basically always shoe games, while single deck games are usually dealt by hand.
Soft Hand: A hand holding an Ace on either 1 or 11. Basically there is no way you bust if you hit.
Soft Total: Total number of cards in your hand where an Ace could be used as 11 without busting.
Stand 17: Similar to Hit 17 above, this rule may require the dealer to stand whenever they hit a Soft 17.
Two-Round: A special series of games where the dealer is instructed to only ever deal two rounds before reshuffling the deck.
Wonging: To count cards and only bet when you have the edge. Named after Stanford Wong and extremely, extremely hard to accomplish.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does a dealer blackjack beat 21?
No. Both your hands are considered blackjack and the round is a draw.
What is stand in Blackjack?
To stand means to not request any further cards and wait for the dealer's next card to see who won. If the dealer gets closer to 21 than you, you lose. If the dealer goes over 21, you won.
Does online Blackjack use the same rules as normal casinos?
Absolutely! Most online casinos even use special rules like Stand 17, Hit 17, Double After Split or other side bet options! No matter if it's a live Blackjack table, an app or a lobby!
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