Blackjack Terms: Glossary of Blackjack

William Hill

09 February 2023

Love playing Online Blackjack? Looking to boost your basic blackjack strategy? Take your blackjack game to the next level with our glossary of blackjack terms.

Don’t worry: you don’t need to know all these terms to have fun playing blackjack. That’s why we’ve divided this blackjack glossary into ‘beginner’ and ‘advanced’ terminology.

The more you know, the better control you’ll have when you next take to the blackjack table.

Blackjack Terms for Beginners

21

Here’s the most important rule: your cards need to total as close to 21 as possible without going over. This is also the alternative name for blackjack.

Ace

The most useful card in the deck. In blackjack, an ace card counts as both a value of 1 or 11. Land this with a ‘face card’ or 10 to win.

Action

The total amount of money bet over a certain period of time, either on a single hand or across an entire blackjack session.

Bankroll

The budget you have set aside for the blackjack session. Money management is important – always play within your limits.

Basic Strategy

The optimal playing strategy that will give you the best odds of winning; a perfect play.

Blackjack

The name of the game. Also known as ‘21’, which is the total of the highest hand you can receive – consisting of an ace and any 10-value card.

Bust/Break

When a player’s hand exceeds a total of 21, they lose the hand. When the dealer busts, all remaining players win the hand.

Buy-in

To buy-in to a game of blackjack, just make your first bet. Remember to always check the buy-in minimum to see if it suits your budget.

Dealer

In blackjack, you play against the dealer (as opposed to other players). This means the dealer has two functions: dealing the cards, and being your opponent.

Double Down

Double your bet for one additional card. Note: you can’t ‘hit’ after the additional card. This option is most effective if your hand has a value of 9, 10, or 11.

Face Cards

A card that is a Jack, Queen, or King of any suit. Each face card has a value of 10.

Hand

The cards you are holding for a round of blackjack. See ‘hard hand’ and ‘soft hand’ below.

Hard Hand/Hard Total

A hand that doesn’t contain an ace. Only has one possible value; a ‘hard total’.

Heads Up

A game played between one player and a dealer.

Hit

When you ask the dealer to give you another card. Remember: you’ll bust if your new card takes your hand value over 21.

Hole Card

A face-down card. Only the dealer has a hole card in blackjack. Opposite of an ‘upcard’.

House Edge

The mathematical advantage that the casino has over the player, often expressed as a percentage. Can be anywhere between 0.5% and 2% depending on the player’s skill level.

Insurance Bet

A side bet that becomes available when the dealer’s exposed card is an ace. It secures the player’s loss if the dealer gets a blackjack. Pays 2 to 1.

Natural/Natural Blackjack

A total of 21 comprised of an ace and a 10-value card, dealt immediately as the first two cards. Many blackjack games will give a higher value win for a natural blackjack (e.g. 3 to 2).

Pair

A hand with two cards of equal value.

Pat Hand

A hand that doesn’t require a ‘hit’ – usually containing a value between 17 to 21. They are also known as a ‘Standing Hand’.

Push

A draw between the player and the dealer. Occurs 8.48% of the time. The player’s bet is returned with no winnings. Also known as a ‘no win’ or ‘stand-off’.

Side Bet

A wager made on the game (not in it) – before any cards are dealt. Popular side bets in blackjack include ‘Insurance’ and ‘21+3’.

Soft Hand/Soft Total

A hand that contains an ace that doubles as a 1 or 11. Has two possible values: a ‘soft total’.

Split Play

An option available when your first two cards dealt are of equal value. E.g. A+A or K+10. It involves splitting the hand into two and adding a bet against each hand.

Stand

This stops the dealer from dealing you any additional cards (as opposed to ‘hit’).

Stiff

A hand valued between 12 and 16. This is the hardest hand to deal with in blackjack strategy, as you could go bust with another card.

Surrender

When a player forfeits half of their bet to get the other half back.

Win Rate

A percentage denoting how likely a player is to win a game. When played with strategy, the win rate in blackjack is 42.22%, while a push occurs 8.48% of the time.

Advanced Blackjack Terminology

21+3

A popular side bet. It involves betting on your two cards, plus the dealer’s ‘upcard’, to try and form a winning hand.

Ace Poor or Ace Rich

A counting term. Ace poor means fewer aces have been dealt than statistically expected. An ace-rich game is when an above-average number of aces have been dealt.

Anchor/Anchorman

The last player at a table to act before the dealer. Also known as the ‘third base’.

Bet Spread

The difference between a player’s highest and lowest bet values.

Box

The outlined area on the table where players place their cards and chips.

Burn Card

The card at the top of the deck. The dealer discards this top card after shuffling or switching dealers, to ensure the first player doesn’t know what this card will be.

Chip Up

When a player increases their bet amount from the previous round. Remember to set limits to stay in control of your budget.

Chip Down

When a player lowers their bet amount from the previous round. A good idea for playing it safe. Always avoid chasing losses.

Cold Deck

A deck of cards that has dealt several bad hands in a row. Opposite of a ‘Hot Deck’.

Colour Up

To exchange your low denomination chips (low value chips) for higher-value ones. This is considered proper etiquette before leaving a blackjack table.

Cut/Cut Card

When dealers split the deck of cards with a plastic card after they are shuffled.

D9

A rule where you can only double hands that value 9, 10 or 11. Cannot double on ‘soft hands’ (containing an ace).

DA2

A rule where you can double any two cards.

DAS/NDAS

‘Double After Split’. A rule where you can double down after you ‘split’ a hand. The opposite of this rule is NDAS, or ‘No Double After Split’.

Double Exposure

A blackjack variant where both the dealer’s cards are dealt face up.

First Base

The first player to receive cards – located on the dealer’s far left. Opposite to ‘anchor/anchorman’.

Five-Card Charlie

A Five-Card Charlie is a hand with five cards that total less than 21. Is often valued higher than an equal hand with fewer cards in the case of a draw.

Flat Betting

When a player bets the same amount consistently over a long period.

Late Surrender

A rule where a player can surrender their hand and half their bet after the dealer checks for blackjack. Available only in some blackjack variations.

RSA/NRSA

‘Resplitting Aces’. A rule where you can split your aces and potentially land more blackjacks. The opposite of this rule is NRSA, or ‘No Resplitting Aces’.