Blackjack Terms

There are a few dozen terms in blackjack which are frequently used by players and dealers when playing the game and it's important that you know what they mean. If you're sitting at the table confused about what everyone is talking about then chances are you're also not making money. Spend a little time and learn the blackjack terms that I've compiled below for you.

Action - This is a general gambling term which refers to the total amount of money bet in a specific period of time. Ten bets of 15 dollars each is $150 of action.

Basic Strategy - A playing system that provides a long-run and is an optimal way to play.

Blackjack - A blackjack occurs when the two cards you're dealt total 21.

Bust - A bust occurs when you have gone over the total of 21 with your hand.

Buy - If you play Pontoon Blackjack then buy is the equivalent of doubling down in regular blackjack.

Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart - A chart that assists players learn all the possible outcomes in blackjack.

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Counting - An aged blackjack strategy which is frowned upon by all casinos, involved counting cards.

Cut Card - A solid colored card, typically a piece of plastic which is given to a player by the dealer for the purpose of cutting the deck(s) after a shuffle.

Double Down - A double down is a move which allows you to double your bet and receive one card only.

Even Money - A bet which you can make when you have blackjack and the dealer is showing an ace.

Early Surrender - A move which surrenders your hand before the dealer checks his cards for a blackjack.

Hard Hand - A hard hand is any hand in blackjack without an ace or with two or more aces.

Hit - To request another card.

Hole Card - Any face down card. The definition most often refers to the dealer's single face down card however.

Hit - The most common move made in blackjack which signals you want another card in your hand.

First Base - The seat which gets the first card from the dealer at the start of each hand.

Five Card Trick - When playing Pontoon Blackjack a five card trick is any five card hand that isn't over 21.

Face Up Card - The dealer's card which is dealt face up for everyone to see.

Flat Bet - A bet which you do not vary ie, if you are flat betting five dollars, you are betting $5 each and every hand without changing the betting amount.

Hard Hand - A hand in which any Ace is counted as a 1 and not as an 11, or a hand without an Ace. If your hand consists of an Ace, 7, or 9, you have a hard 17.

House Percentage - The casino's advantage in a particular game of chance.

Insurance - If dealer is showing an ace you can buy insurance to protect yourself from a dealer blackjack.

Late Surrender - Surrendering the hand after the dealer has checked his hand for a blackjack.

Pair - When a player's first two cards are numerically identical.

Pat Hand - A hand with a total of 17 to 21.

Pontoon - Pontoon means a blackjack when playing Pontoon Blackjack.

Push - When you and the dealer tie the hand without busting it's a push and split pot.

Shoe - A device that can hold up to eight decks of cards which allows the dealer to slide out the cards one at a time.

Split - A split is when you're dealt a pair and you want to make two separate hands for two separate bets.

Stand - Stand is a signal which means you don't want anymore cards in your hand.

Twist - When playing Pontoon Blackjack twist means you'd like to hit or take a card.

Soft Hand - A hand in which any Ace is counted as an 11 and not as a 1. If your hand consists of an Ace and a 6, you have a soft 17.

Stick - When playing Pontoon Blackjack stick means you'd like to stand or not take anymore cards.

Soft Hand - Any hand in blackjack that uses an ace as 11.

Stand - To decline another card.

Surrender - A casino rule which allows a player to discontinue play after receiving the 1st two cards by losing half of the amount wagered. Rarely seen online.

This list covers most of the terminology you'll need to know when playing blackjack either at the casino or online in a casino. There are some other terms out there, but you'll learn those on your own, but make sure you learn this list as it's the essential terms used when playing the game. Once you read through the list most of them should be easy to remember, but you should bookmark the list anyways so you can come back if you forget any of them.