Below are many of the most common terms
used in the game of blackjack. Youy may click on any letter below
to go directly to the terms listed under that letter.
A B C D E
F G H I J K L
M N O P
Q R S T U
V W X Y Z
“21”
– Twenty-One is the total of a winning hand featuring an ace
and a face card or ten and another name for the game of blackjack.
Action –The total amount of money wagered during a specific
amount of time.
B
Bankroll – The amount of money a player will
use to bet. Many times a player will break up their total bankroll
into smaller amounts that they will use for individual sessions.
Basic Strategy – A tested computer generated
method for playing blackjack that if followed may sometimes reduce
the casino’s advantage to nearly zero.
Black Chip – $100 chip.
Blackjack – A total of 21 on your initial two
cards. Blackjack consists of an ace with either a face card or a ten.
A standard blackjack game pays 3 to 2.
Break – When the dealer or player’s hand
equals 22 or more.
Breaking Hand – A hand that will most likely
go over 21 with another card. Usually consists of a hand with a hard
total of 12 – 16.
Burn Card – A single card taken from the top
of the deck or the first card in a shoe that is placed into the discard
tray.
Bust – When a hand equals 22 or more.
C
Cage – Slang for the cashier's cage. All chip
and cash transactions take place at the cage.
Card Counting – A system that allows a player
to keep track of the cards played and improves their odds of winning.
When the deck is rich in high cards (10-Ace) a player has the advantage.
Comp – Short for the term complimentary. When
you use a player’s card, a casino tracks your betting and you
may become eligible for a free room, free food, or free show tickets.
Counter – A blackjack player who counts cards.
Counting – The ability of a blackjack player
to keep a mental record of the cards that have already been played
from the deck. When a player has a good idea of the remaining cards
in a deck, it is possible for them to have an advantage over the casino.
Cut – To split the deck randomly.
Cut Card – A solid colored plastic card which
is given to a player by the dealer to cut the deck after a shuffle.
D
Double Down – To bet an additional amount equal
to your original bet when a player feels they will get a winning hand
with only one more card. Typical doubling hands include a hard total
of 10 or 11. There are many more doubling hands that vary based on
basic strategy. When a player bets less then their original bet they
are “doubling for less”.
Double for Less – When a player bets less then
their initial wager and ask for only one more card
Draw – When a player wants one or more cards
in addition to their two original cards.
Drop – That amount of a player's money that
the casino will win due to the house percentage.
E
Early Surrender – When a player is allowed
to Surrender before the dealer checks for blackjack.
Even Money – When a player is dealt a blackjack
and the dealer an ace, a player can insure his hand by being paid
at a rate of 1:1 before the dealer checks their hole card.
F
Face Card – Any King, Queen or Jack that
have a value of 10.
Face Down Game - When the player’s first
two cards dealt down. The player will use one hand to pick up their
cards.
Face Up Game - When the player’s first two
cards dealt up. The player is not allowed to touch their cards.
First Base – The first seat at the table
to the dealer's left. The dealer starts dealing from this position
first.
Flat Bet – When a player does not vary their
bet. If a player starts with a five dollar bet, they continue betting
five dollars.
Foreign Chip – A casino chip issued by one
casino that can be traded in by another. Casino’s are not
obligated to accept chips from other casinos.
G
Green Chip – $25 chip.
H
Hard Count – The total of the actual face
value of the cards being played.
Hard Hand – A hand that does not contain
an ace, or a hand with an ace that can only have a value of one.
Heads Up – To play alone against the dealer.
Heat – When a casino or pit boss focuses
all of their attention on a winning player, specifically someone
who is suspected of being a card counter or cheater.
High Roller – A player who bets a lot of
money. The amount of money needed to be considered a high roller
varies between casinos. (See Whale).
Hit – To add another card to a players hand.
A player can ask for another card by saying “hit me”
or by brushing their hand or cards against the felt.
Hole Card – The dealer's face down card.
House – The casino.
House Percentage – The casino's advantage
in a particular game.
Insurance – A side bet offered to a player when the dealer's
face-up card is an ace. An insurance bet is up to half of a player’s
initial wager and pays 2 to 1.
L
Late Surrender - Surrender allowed only if the
dealer does not have blackjack. It is called late surrender because
it is offered after the dealer has check his hole card for an ace
or ten if their up card is an ace or ten.
M
Marker – A line of credit offered to a player
by the casino which is usually back by a player’s checking
account.
Mechanic – A dealer who can manipulate the
cards to the casino’s advantage.
N
Natural – A total of 21 on the first two
cards dealt to a player (See Blackjack).
O
Over/Under - Side bet that the initial hand total
will exceed or not exceed 13.
P
Pair – When a player's first two cards are
numerically identical (ie:, 8,8).
Pat Hand – A hand total of 17 to 21.
Pit – The area behind a group of gaming tables.
When gaming tables are arranged in an elliptical manner, the space
inside the perimeter is the pit.
Pit Boss – An employee of the casino whose
job is to supervise the players, dealers, and other floor personnel.
Point Count – The value of the card count
at the end of a hand.
Preferential Shuffling – When the dealer stops play and shuffles
the deck because the remaining cards are favorable to players
Press – When a player adds their winnings
to their original bet.
Purple Chip – A $500 chip.
Push – When a player and the dealer have
not busted and have the same hand. A player’s initial bet
is returned to them.
R
Red Chip – $5 chip.
RFB – Room, Food, and Beverage. Depending
on their betting level, a player may qualify for one or all of these
comps at a casino.
Running Count – The count from the beginning
of the deck or shoe. The running count is updated by the value of
the cards dealt after each hand.
S
Shill – A casino employee who pretends to
be a player to attract customers to an empty table.
Shoe – An acrylic box that can hold up to
eight decks of cards which allows the dealer to slide out the cards
one at a time.
Shuffle Up - Premature shuffling from the dealer
to counter act card counting.
Soft Hand – A hand with an ace, which can
be counted as 11.
Spanish 21 – A variation of the game of blackjack
where all 10 value cards are removed form the deck.
Split Hand - Split one hand into two and play them
separately - available only when your two first cards are of equal
value.
Splitting Pairs – An option the player has
when their original two cards are of the same denomination. The
player places another bet equal to their original wager allowing
them to play two separate hands.
Stand – When a player signals the dealer
by waving their hand over their cards that they do not want any
more cards.
Stiff – A hand with a reduced chance of winning.
Stiff hands consist of any hard hand 12-16.
Surrender – When a player is allowed to give
up half of their bet when the player believes they cannot beat the
dealer with their original two cards.
T
Third Base - The last seat at the blackjack table
immediately to the right of the dealer.
Toke – A tip or gratuity given to a dealer.
Tough Player – a player who can hurt the
casino monetarily with his or her play.
True Count – The running count adjusted to
account for the number of cards left in the deck or shoe to be played.
U
Up Card – The dealer's first dealt card,
placed face up.
W
Whale – The biggest of all high rollers.
There are approximately only 150 – 250 whales in the entire
world who wager a minimum one million dollars on every trip.
Y
Yellow Chip – $1000 chip.
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