BLACKJACK GLOSSARY – A LIST OF NECESSARY PHRASES FOR BLACKJACK GAME

Playing blackjack without knowing some key terms can impede your understanding of the game, and if you’re intent on becoming a true blackjack player, you’d want to brush up on your blackjack glossary!

That’s where we at HotSlots come in. In this post, we’ll not only fill you in on the latest blackjack terms you should know, but we’ll also explain why knowing them is important and how to use them in your blackjack strategy.

Without further ado, let’s dive in!

WHY KNOWING BASIC TERMS IS SO IMPORTANT IN BLACKJACK GAMES

Knowing basic terms in blackjack games is crucial because it helps players understand the rules and strategies involved, making the game more enjoyable and increasing the chances of winning.

Basic terms like “hit,” “stand,” “double down,” and “split” are fundamental actions that players need to comprehend to make informed decisions during the game.

Without a grasp of these terms, players may feel confused or make mistakes, leading to potential losses.

Additionally, understanding terms related to card values, such as “bust” and “blackjack,” is essential for recognising favourable situations and adjusting gameplay accordingly.

In short, knowing the basic terms in blackjack is like knowing the rules of any game, it empowers players to play smartly, enhancing their overall gaming experience.

THE MOST IMPORTANT TERMS USED AT THE BLACKJACK TABLE

Although you’ll only use a select number of words while playing blackjack games, discussions with other players and studying blackjack strategies will usually require you to know more nuanced terms.

To that end, here’s a list of terms you should be looking to add to your blackjack vocabulary.

A

• Ace: The card with a value of 1 or 11, crucial for achieving a blackjack (a 10-value card plus an Ace) or adjusting hand values.
• Ace-rich game: This refers to a situation where there is a higher proportion of aces remaining in the deck compared to other cards. This condition is advantageous for players because Aces can be valuable in creating blackjack (a 10-value card and an Ace) and in forming flexible “soft” hands.
• Advantage play: Advantage play in blackjack refers to employing strategies or techniques to gain a statistical edge over the casino. This can include card counting, exploiting favourable rules or conditions, like finding games with liberal doubling and splitting rules.

B

• Backed off: The casino has the option to prohibit players from playing a particular game, without barring them from the premises, if they feel that the player has the edge over the house, or for some other explanation. Often, the player can continue to play other games, just not the game that has caused them to be backed off.
• Back counting: Counting cards without playing; usually so that the card counter can decide an advantageous time to jump into the game, or call in another player to join the game.
• Bankroll: The designated amount of funds the player has allotted to gambling.
• Bankroll management: Refers to money management in the context of playing blackjack or any other gambling game played with real money. It’s important to always use bankroll management in every blackjack session you play.
• Barred: When a player is permanently prohibited from playing at, or entering, a casino.
• Basic strategy: A fundamental methodology and collection of actions that will offer the best odds off the top of the deck. These actions vary when different rules are applied to the game.
• Bet: The sum the player wagers on a hand of blackjack before the dealer deals any cards.
• Bet sizing: Optimally betting in relation to your advantage, i.e., betting higher when your hand has a greater probability of winning.
• Bet spread: This is the ratio between the player’s smallest and largest bets. For example, if your smallest wager is €10 and your biggest wager is €70, your bet spread would be 1 to 7.
• Big player: Card counters who makes large bets when the count is favourable.
• Black book: The casino’s list of players barred from the premises.
• Blackjack: The best possible hand in the game of blackjack, made up of an ace and a card valued at 10 (namely, 10, J, Q, K). Most casinos pay blackjacks at 3 to 2.
• Burn card: Before a dealer starts managing a fresh shoe of cards, or when another dealer assumes control over the table, the top card (burn card) on the deck will be discarded, or ‘burned’; hence the name ‘burn card’.
• Bust: When a dealer’s or a player’s hand exceeds a total value of 21, resulting in an automatic loss. If the dealer busts, the remaining players win their round.
• Bust card: This is the card that pushes the player over 21. So, if the player has 16 and draws a 7, the is the bust card.
• Buy-in: The exchange of cash for gambling chips at the (blackjack) table.

C

• Card counting: Card counting is a system used to keep track of the cards that have been played and discarded. Players who manage to count cards have an advantage over the house as it allows players to understand the probability of what card will be drawn next.
• Cashier’s Cage: The area in the casino where chips are exchanged for cash.
• Chips: Tokens used to make wagers in casino games; cash is exchanged for chips which are used at the table.
• Chip tray: The tray used to hold chips for the dealer.
• Cold deck: A cold deck refers to a situation where the remaining cards in the deck are unfavourable or disadvantageous for players, especially card counters. This is because there are fewer cards to achieve a strong blackjack hand, such as 20 or blackjack.
• Cut card: A plastic card used to indicate when it’s time to reshuffle. Only the dealer uses the cut card.

D

• Dealer: The casino employee who deals cards, dishes out chips and ensures the smooth running of the game.
• Dealer’s up-card: The dealer’s exposed card at the start of the round.
• Discard rack: A clear plastic device used to hold discarded cards.
• Double after split: Double after split is a blackjack rule that allows players to double their initial bet after splitting a pair. This means that if a player decides to split a pair of cards into two separate hands, and then receives a favorable card on either of those split hands, they have the option to double down on that hand.
• Double down: Having reviewed his hand, a player can ‘Double’ by placing an additional bet equal to their original wager, subsequently drawing one additional card only. Can only be used on the first two cards.
• Double Exposure: Double Exposure is a blackjack variant where both of the dealer’s initial cards are dealt face up.

E

• Early Surrender: An option that allows players to forfeit their hand and lose only half of their original wager before the dealer checks for blackjack. Forfeiting their hand before the dealer checks for blackjack is a strategy used to avoid money loss based on the dealer’s up-card.
• Even money: When the dealer shows an ace and the player has a blackjack, the player can opt to take their winnings before the dealer looks at his other card, for even money that is paid immediately at 1:1.

F

• Face cards: Cards that have pictures on them; a jack, queen, or king. These cards are valued at 10.
• Face Up Blackjack: A blackjack variant where both of the dealer’s initial cards are dealt face up, providing players with valuable information about the dealer’s blackjack hand.
• First base: The seat that is located to the dealer’s left; first to receive cards.
• Five Card Charlie: Five Card Charlie is a blackjack rule where a player automatically wins if they are dealt a total of five cards without busting, regardless of the dealer’s cards.
• Flat betting: Betting the same amount, hand after hand, regardless of the cards dealt.
• Free roll: A situation with no risk, i.e. a free bet/wager, normally offered by a casino to get players to the table.

H

• Handheld game: When the dealer holds the cards in their hands as opposed to a shoe.
• Hard hand: This refers to a hand where the ace has only one possible value, that is, 1.
• Hand value: The total value of the hand in question.
• Hard total: The value of the cards in a hand, with ace counting as 1.
• Head on or Heads up: One player alone at the table versus the dealer.
• Hi-Lo: A popular card-counting system
• Hit: To ask the dealer for another card.
• Hole card: A hole card is a face-down card. Only the dealer is dealt a face-down card. Trying to identify what the dealer’s hole card is is the very foundation of blackjack strategy.
• House edge: Also known as the house advantage, the house edge represents the statistical advantage the casino holds over players.

I

• Insurance bet: When the dealer shows an ace, the player can choose to place an insurance bet of up to half the value of the original bet. If the dealer has blackjack, the bet pays 2:1.

L

• Late Surrender: Late surrender in the game of blackjack is an option that allows players to forfeit their hand and lose only half of their original bet after the dealer checks for blackjack.
• Low-ace deck: A deck of cards with fewer aces.

M

• Marker: When the player runs out of cash and chips, they can sign an IOU to the casino in exchange for chips.
• Multi-deck: A blackjack game played with more than one deck of cards. Many blackjack games use multiple decks of cards to ensure card randomness.

N

• Natural (blackjack): A natural blackjack; a hand value of 21 with only two cards, typically an ace and a 10-value card.

O

• Online casino: An online casino (like HotSlots) is a casino that operates online, so there’s no need to dress up and leave your house to go to online casinos!

P

• Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
• Pat hand: A hand of 17 or over, because typically you’d stand pat.
• Pit boss: The casino supervisor for table games.
• Push: A tie; the player and dealer have the same hand value. In many games, the player has their wager returned if they have the same value as the dealer; neither winning nor losing money.

R

• Reds: Reds refer to low-denomination chips used for the lowest bet values when players play blackjack.
• Round: The round starts with no cards on the table and ends when all bets have been paid out.
• ROR: Abbreviation for Risk of Ruin. This mathematical chance of losing your entire bankroll.

S

• Shoe: The device containing the deck of cards that are to be used in the game.
• Side bet: An additional (optional) bet placed on an outcome separate from the main blackjack game, such as predicting the suits or ranks of the cards. A side bet is a real-money bet, just like the first bet placed. Although a side bet can net you a higher value win compared to standard bets, they come with a higher house edge.
• Single-deck game: A blackjack table where only one deck of cards is used, impacting the odds and strategy compared to multiple-deck games.
• Soft double: Doubling down when holding an ace in the initial hand, allowing for flexibility in the value of the ace.
• Soft hand: A soft hand is one containing an ace that can be valued as either 1 or 11 without busting, providing strategic advantages in gameplay.
• Split play: Dividing a pair of cards of equal value into two separate hands, each with its own bet, in order to play two independent hands in the same round. The cards must be of equal value to split.
• Stand off: A stand off is a tie between the player and the dealer, resulting in a push where the player’s bet is returned without winnings.
• Stiff: A hand with a high risk of busting, typically a hand totaling 12 to 16 in blackjack.
• Surrender: To give up your hand and recover half your initial bet.

U

• Up-card: The dealer’s card that is face up.

BASIC TERMS OF CARD COUNTING IN BLACKJACK

If you’re one the many card counters that play blackjack, you won’t be left out! Here are some must-know terms about card counting.

• Running Count: The ongoing tally of the card values as they are dealt.
• True Count: Adjusted running count that considers the number of decks remaining in the shoe.
• Positive Count: When the running or true count is favourable, indicating a higher ratio of high-value cards.
• Negative Count: When the running or true count is unfavourable, suggesting more low-value cards in the deck.
• Bet Spread: Varying bet sizes based on the count to maximize advantage.
• Hi-Lo System: A popular card counting strategy assigning values of +1, 0, and -1 to cards.
• Back-Counting: Observing a game without actively participating until the count becomes favorable.
• Shoe Penetration: Percentage of the deck or decks dealt before reshuffling.
• Wonging: Entering and leaving the game based on favourable counts.
• Cover Play: Adjusting strategy to appear as a typical recreational player and avoid detection.

LIST OF BLACKJACK TERMS THAT EVERY BEGINNER BLACKJACK PLAYERS MUST KNOW

Are you a recreational player who needs a hand with blackjack terms before finding a blackjack table? You’re in luck!

In this section, we’ll fill you in on the blackjack terms that you really must know before trying your hand at basic strategy or even testing a side bet or two.

• Hit: Requesting an additional card to improve the hand total.
• Stand: Choosing not to take any more cards and keeping the current hand.
• Double Down: Doubling the original wager after receiving the first two cards, usually followed by receiving only one more card.
• Split: Dividing a pair of cards into two separate hands. This involves betting on them both (with the same value) and playing them separately.
• Bust: When a hand’s total value exceeds 21, resulting in an automatic loss.
• Surrender: Forfeiting the hand and losing only half of the bet.
• Hard Hand: A hand without an Ace or with an Ace valued only as 1.
• Soft Hand: A hand containing an Ace that can be valued as 1 or 11.
• Push: A tie between the player and the dealer, resulting in a return of the bet without winnings.
• House Edge: The casino’s statistical advantage over players in the long run.
• Bankroll: The amount of money a player sets aside for gambling.

HOW TO USE BASIC TERMS IN BLACKJACK STRATEGY?

Using blackjack terms is essential for applying basic strategy and making informed decisions during the game. When you receive your initial two cards, you might decide to “hit” if you need additional cards to improve your hand total or “stand” if you’re satisfied with your current cards.

If you have a strong starting hand, you may choose to “double down,” doubling your original wager and receiving only one more card. When dealt a pair, you have the option to “split,” creating two separate hands with individual bets.

Understanding the terms “hard hand” and “soft hand” is crucial. A “hard hand” lacks an ace or has an ace counted only as 1, while a “soft hand” includes an ace that can be valued as either 1 or 11. Knowing when to hit or stand depends on your hand type and the dealer’s upcard.

Terms like “surrender” allow you to forfeit a hand and lose only half your bet in unfavourable situations. “Insurance” is a side bet to protect against the dealer having a blackjack, which pays even money.

It’s essential to grasp these terms to develop a solid blackjack basic strategy, considering factors like the house edge and adjusting your bets based on the game’s progression.

Whether it’s recognising the significance of a “push” or managing your “bankroll,” incorporating these basic terms into your gameplay improves your overall understanding and enjoyment of blackjack.