Blackjack – Your guide to the game’s terminology

Blackjack is one of the most popular online and offline card games in the casino gaming landscape. For the best gaming experiences, it is essential to understand the terminology used in Blackjack, whether at a physical casino or live Blackjack. This guide will walk you through the key terms and phrases you need to know to play your next game!

Basic terminology 

• Hit: When a player asks for another card to be dealt from the deck this is done by tapping the table or saying “hit.”
• Stand: When a player decides to keep their current hand and not take more cards, which is indicated by waving a hand horizontally over the cards or saying “stand” or “stay.”
• Bust: When the total hand value exceeds 21, resulting in an automatic loss for the player.
• Push: When the player’s hand ties with the dealer’s hand, neither wins nor loses, and the player’s bet is returned.
• Double down: A move where the player doubles their original bet in exchange for committing to stand after receiving one additional card.
• Split: When a player’s first two cards have the same value, they can choose to split them into two separate hands, each with an additional bet equal to the original. 
• Surrender: Some casinos allow players to surrender half their bet and forfeit their hand if they believe they are unlikely to succeed. 
• Insurance: A side bet offered when the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace. =

Advanced terminology 

• Hard hand: A hand that either does not contain an Ace or contains an Ace that can only be counted as one without busting. For example, a hand with a 10 and a 7 is a hard 17.
• Soft hand: A hand that contains an Ace counted as 11 without busting. For example, a hand with an Ace and a 6 is a soft 17.
• Face-up game: A version of Blackjack where both of the dealer’s cards are dealt face up, as opposed to the standard game where one card is face up and the other is face down.
• Hole card: The dealer’s face-down card that is not revealed until after all players have completed their hands.
• Upcard: The dealer’s face-up card, which players use to make decisions about their hands.

Slang terminology 

• Stiff: A hand with a total value between 12 and 16, which has a high risk of busting with another hit.
• Snapper: A blackjack hand consisting of an Ace and a 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen, or King).
• Monkey: A card with a value of 10 (10, Jack, Queen, or King).
• Paint: Any face card (Jack, Queen, or King).
• Cold Deck: A deck that consistently deals bad hands to the players.
• Anchor: The last player to act before the dealer, also known as the “third base” position.
• Burn Card: The top card of the deck, which is discarded at the beginning of a round to prevent cheating.
• Flat Bet: Betting the same amount on every hand without variation.
• Shoe: The device used to hold multiple decks of cards that the dealer draws from.
• 5-card Charlie: A rare hand where the player has five cards without busting, often leading to an automatic win in some variations of the game.

Variations of Blackjack

• European Blackjack: In this variation, the dealer only receives one card face up at the beginning and draws the second card after the player has completed their hand.
• Spanish 21: This variation removes the 10 cards from the deck, making it more difficult for players to get 21. However, it offers more liberal rules for doubling down and splitting.
• Pontoon: A British version of Blackjack where both of the dealer’s cards are dealt face down, and the terminology differs slightly.
• Blackjack Switch: Players are dealt two hands and can switch the top two cards between their hands to create better hands.

Understanding Blackjack terminology is essential for anyone looking to properly enjoy the game. From understanding basic terms like hit and stand to more advanced terminology, knowing the language of Blackjack allows players to make better decisions and have a better gaming experience.