Glossary of Terms

A glossary of blackjack terms can be very useful, especially if you are new to the game and find yourself wondering what various blackjack terms mean. This glossary focuses on the most important words and terms so that you can quickly find the definition you need and get back to playing without any delay.

Blackjack
A two card hand totalling 21 (necessarily consisting of an ace and any 10-value card). A blackjack is the best hand one can get, hence the name of the game.

Bust
The term used to describe a hand that totals more than 21 and is therefore an automatic loser.

Dealer
The person who deals the cards to the players.

Double Down
The act of doubling the original stake on one extra card to add to the original two card hand. The player must always stand on the resulting three card hand.

Draw
A word synonymous with Hit, which is defined elsewhere in this glossary.

Even Money
A term used to describe odds of 1/1. When a player has Blackjack, and the dealer’s up card is Ace, the player will be offered “even money”. If he accepts he forfeits the chance to be paid one-and-a-half times the bet if the dealer does not have Blackjack.

Hit
To request an additional card. Some players use the word Draw to mean the same.

Insurance
Insurance is a side bet that the dealer has a blackjack. It is only offered if the dealer’s up-card is an ace. When the dealer does have a blackjack the player’s original bet loses and the insurance bet is paid two to one. The insurance bet offers poor value and is generally avoided by the most serious players.

Push
A push is a hand in which the player and the dealer are evenly matched, and is the blackjack equivalent of a tie. When a push is declared, the player’s original bet is refunded.

Shoe
The container used to hold the cards that are dealt. A shoe typically holds four to eight decks of playing cards

Splitting Pairs
If a player has two cards of the same value he may “split” the pair into two separate hands and play each of the new hands individually. Each split costs an additional bet of the same value as the original bet.

Stand
To stand means to keep the hand as it is without taking any further cards or action.

Stick
A word some players use instead of Stand.

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