Blackjack Terms

Action – in gambling this term refers to the total amount the player wagers through the series of bets.

Advantage Player – the player who uses blackjack strategy to gain advantage over the casino.

Bankroll – the total amount of money available for betting in a particular game session.

Basic Strategy – the most optimal playing strategy used by blackjack players.

Big Player – one of the members of the card counting team who places the big bet when the odds are on the player’s side.

Blackjack or Natural – the blackjack hand with the total count of 21 formed by an Ace and 10 or any Face card.

Bust – the player busts if his hand count goes over 21.

Buy – Double Down option at Pontoon blackjack.

Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart – the chart that reflects the basic blackjack strategy and helps the players to make right decisions.

Card-Counting – one of the most popular blackjack strategies based on the possibility to raise the player’s odds by tracking the ratio of low cards to low cards. There are many variations of card-counting strategy.

Cut Card – a colored plastic card that is given to one of the players with the purpose to cut the deck after shuffling. Cut Card is not used at the game for any other purposes.

Discards – the cards that have been already played and put aside.

Double Down – blackjack option that is offered in case the player has a good hand and he is sure that in one draw it will beat the dealer’s hand. Choosing this option the player doubles the bet and gets only one card.

Double Exposure – the blackjack variations in which both dealer’s cards are dealt face up.

Even Money – blackjack bet that is offered in case the player holds blackjack and the dealer's face up card is an Ace. This bet equals the half of the initial bet.

Early Surrender – the option that allows the player to save the half of the initial bet before the dealer checks his hand for blackjack.

Hard Hand – the blackjack hand that contains no aces or Aces valued as 1.

Hit – to take more cards.

Hole Card – any card dealt face down. At blackjack it refers to the dealer’s hidden card.

Eye in the Sky – the video camera which is used to track the dealer’s and player’s actions in order to reveal the cheaters.

Face Cards – Jack, Queen and King cards. At blackjack all Face cards are valued as 10.

First Base – the seat at blackjack table that is the next after the dealer’s position.

Five Card Trick – any five card hand with the count under 21 at Pontoon blackjack.

Face Up Card – the dealer’s card dealt face up.

Flat Bet – the bet the same amount of money on each hand.

Heads Up – blackjack game which involves two participants: the dealer and only one player.

House Edge – the casino’s advantage at any game.

Insurance – player’s option that is offered in case the dealer’s face up card is an Ace and allows to protect the player from the dealer getting blackjack.

Late Surrender – the option that allows the player to save the half of the initial bet after the dealer checks his hand for blackjack.

Pair – the player’s first two cards of the same value, for example, two 10s or two 8s.

Pat Hand – blackjack hand with the count of 17 or higher.

Pontoon – the blackjack hand at Pontoon.

Push – the situation when the dealer and player have the hands of the same value (that tie).

Resplit – to split the second pair after the hand has been already split.

Shoe – a special holder used at blackjack to hold the deck or several decks.

Split – the option offered when the player is dealt two cards of the same suit. It allows to split such hand and form two separate hands.

Stand – not to take any cards.

Stick – to Stand at Pontoon blackjack.

Stiff Hand – the blackjack hand with the count between 12 and 16.

Soft Hand – the blackjack hand that contains Aces valued as 11.

Surrender – the option that allows the player to save the half of the initial bet in case he considers his hand to be not good enough to win.

Twist – to Hit at Pontoon blackjack.

Vig – the house advantage on the bet.