The Blackjack language consists of different words and phrases and, in order to play the game well, you should familiarize yourself with these terms. Now you will know what the computer means when it says ‘Bust’ or ‘Draw’ or if you happen to be playing in a land-based casino or with friends, you can spice up the game by adding some of the Blackjack lingo that you learned at BJRM2000.

Ace count – A card counting strategy that counts only Aces and Fives

Action – The amount of money bet during a game session

Advantage – The Player’s expected win or loss. It is shown as a percentage and is based on the total amount of money put into action

Advantage Player – A Player who uses strategy to gain an advantage over the casino

Balanced count – A card counting system that has an equal number of cards valued at + and -.

Bankroll – The amount of money you have for wagering. Also known to be the amount of money available in a game session

Ban – To be disbarred from a casino permanently

Bar – Same as ban

Basic Strategy – Optimal plays for any given hand. Computer simulation is used to determine optimal plays. The strategies may vary depending on game variations and total number of decks

Blackjack – A hand consisting of an Ace and Face Card or 10-card to bring the total of the two cards to 21. The payoff is usually 3:2

Black Chip – Casino chip worth $100

Break – Same as Bust

Breaking hand – A hand that is likely to go Bust if 'Hit'

Bust – Going over 21; constitutes an immediate loss

Capping (of bets) – Placing additional chips on the bet stack after the deal has begun. This is a serious form of cheating in land-based casinos. It is very easy to spot with video surveillance.

Card Counting – A strategy Players employ to get an advantage over the casino by tracking the ratio of high cards to low cards already played.

Comp – A courtesy of the casino to Players who they would like to bet more. Comps can be given in the form of drinks, food, accommodation and travel in the case of land-based casinos and usually extra betting chips in the case of online casinos.

Dealing Seconds – Used by dealers in land-based casinos and involves dealing the cards starting with the second card from the top.

Double Down – To double the original wager and take only one more card to complete the hand. Doubling Down rules vary by casino.

Double Exposure – A Blackjack game variation where the dealer’s cards are played face up. In this variation, a hand consisting of a Blackjack pays even money (1:1).

Draw – To take more cards in an attempt to get 21 or as close to it as possible

Early Surrender – A move made by the Player to ensure he does not lose all his wager on a possible losing hand. The Player will give up the hand on his first 2 cards before the dealer checks his cards for an Ace in the hole. The Player will only lose 50% of his wager in this instance.

Edge – Can mean same as Advantage.

Even Money – A bet that pays the same as it would lose. In Double Exposure, a Blackjack pays 1:1.

Face Card – A Jack, Queen, or King card. Each is worth 10 points. Along with an Ace, one of these cards forms a Blackjack.

First Base – The first left position at the Blackjack table. Players at First Base are dealt cards first.

Flat Betting – Betting the same amount of money on every hand.

Hard Hand – Any hand without an Ace. Can also be a hand containing an Ace but, in this case, the Ace is counted as a 1 and not 11.

Hard Total – The total of a Hard Hand.

Heads Up – Playing alone against a dealer.

Heat – Intimidation used by a casino to deter card counters.

Hi-lo Count – Card counting system where 2 through to 6 count as plus 1 (+1) and Aces and Face Cards count as negative 1 (-1).

Hi-Opt 1 – Card counting system where 3 through to 6 count as plus 1 (+1) and Tens and Face Cards count as negative 1 (-1).

Hit – Same as Draw

Hole Card – The Dealer’s face down card

House Edge – The advantage a casino has over a Player

Insurance – A side bet highly advantageous to the House (casino). If the dealer’s Up card is a 10, a Player can take Insurance by betting 50% of his original bet that the dealer’s hole card is a Ten or Face Card and consequently a Blackjack. Insurance bets pay 2:1.

Junket – A travel package for a group of Players that is subsidized by the casino.

Late Surrender – The Player gives up his cards after seeing the dealer’s hole card.

Level – The number of values in a card counting system. A Level 1 card counting system uses +1 and -1 values while a Level 2 uses +1, +2, -1, -2 etc.

Mechanic – Dealer who cheats by dealing cards illegally (for e.g. Dealing Seconds).

Multiple Deck – Using 2 or more decks of cards in a single game of Blackjack

Paint – Same as Face Card

Pair – Two cards of the same value

Pat Hand – A hand totalling 17

Pit Boss – The casino employee responsible for overseeing the dealers and the table games.

Point Count – The total value of the count whether it be positive (+) or negative (-)

Push – When the Player and the dealer both have the same hand total, the game is said to be a Push and the Player’s money is returned.

Red Chip – Casino chip worth $5

Resplit – To Split a second Pair of cards that was received after the first pair was dealt. It is often disallowed.

Risk of Ruin – A mathematical chance of losing the entire bankroll.

Session – The period of time used to bet.

Shill – An employee of the Casino who is pretending to be a Player.

Side Count - An additional count of a particular set of cards, kept in addition to the point count.

Soft Hand – A hand containing an Ace, which could be counted as 1 or 11.

Soft Double – Doubling down on a Soft hand

Stand – To decline additional cards and keep your current hand

Stiff Hand – Hard Hand totalling between 12 and 16.

Surrender – Not playing with the hand you were dealt by the dealer

Third Base – The Player to the far right of the dealer who receives cards last.

Up Card – The first Face Up card that the dealer deals to himself.

Unit – A bet amount

Unbalanced Count – A system where the number of positive and negative cards in not equal.

Vig – The House Edge

Win Rate – How much money a Player wins per hour

Zen Count – A Level 2 card counting system.

See how many of these terms you can find while playing Blackjack at our Recommended Blackjack rooms.

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