Blackjack Terminology For Beginners

Blackjack terms for beginners

21 

Some people call the game 21. It’s the magical total you want your hand to be close to without going over and busting.  

Ace 

An ace is the most desired card in the deck. It counts as two numbers, which gives you a slight edge. You can use it as a one or an 11, and an ace and a ten or face card rewards you with an instant blackjack. 

Bankroll 

One of the golden rules of gambling is sticking to a budget known as your available bankroll. It’s one of the most crucial aspects of gambling, money management, and playing within your financial limits is vital. 

Blackjack 

Yes, it’s the name of the game, but it’s also the name for the best two cards you can be dealt. Get an ace and a ten or a picture card, and you have an unbeatable blackjack. 

Bust 

If you hear a player saying they have bust, it means they have gone over 21 and lost the hand. If the dealer busts, any players still in the hand will automatically win the hand.  

Buy-in 

The buy-in is the minimum amount you must wager to play on a particular table. The beauty of blackjack is that there are multiple tables to choose from, so check to see if the wager amounts align with your budget.  

Dealer 

When playing live blackjack, you will play against a real dealer. On our RNG games, like First Person Blackjack, it is a virtual dealer. A dealer has three functions: dealing with the cards, paying out winnings, and being your opponent (in blackjack, you play against the dealer, not against other players).   

Double Down 

After receiving your first two cards, you can elect to double down. You must double your initial bet and will receive one more card. It’s a great option if you have a good starting total, like 9, 10, or 11.  

Face Cards 

The face cards consist of kings, queens and jacks of any suit. These are the second most popular cards behind the ace, and they count as a 10.  

Hand 

Your hand is the cards you or the dealer hold during your current round of blackjack.  

Hard Hand 

A hard hand signifies a hand that doesn’t have an ace. An example is a hand consisting of a 10 and a 7 and is therefore known as a hard hand or also a hard total 17.   

Heads Up 

The term heads up is where it’s a blackjack game just between you and the dealer. There are no other players at the table.  

Hit 

One of the most common terms used in blackjack is this one. Hit signifies when you request a new card from the dealer, hoping to nudge your total closer to 21.  

Hole Card 

Only a dealer will have a hole card, which is their face-down card and is the opposite of the upcard.  

House Edge 

The house edge is the casino’s advantage, typically a percentage. The average is 2%, which means for every £100 of wagers, the house over an extended period will retain £2, and the player will keep £98.  

Insurance Bet 

An insurance bet is a side bet you can pay if the dealer’s upcard is an ace. It secures your loss if they get a blackjack and will pay a rate of 2 to 1. 

Natural/Natural Blackjack 

Hitting a natural blackjack is when you hit 21, with a 10-value card and the ace on your first two cards. Most blackjack tables offer higher payouts on a natural blackjack of 3 to 2.  

Pair 

A pair is a straightforward one with two cards of equal value in your hand. 

Pat/Standing Hand 

A hand that doesn’t require another card and it will usually contain a value between 17 to 21.  

Push 

There is a tie between the dealer and the players 8.48% of the time. Your original bet is returned, but you win no money. Other terms commonly used are a no-win or a stand-off.   

Side Bet 

A side bet is a wager made on the game before any cards get dealt. Some popular side bets you will find in blackjack include bets like Pairs and 21+3. 

Soft Hand/Soft Total 

Any hand that contains an ace is known as a soft hand or soft total. The ace can count as a 1 or 11.  

Split  

You can use this option when your first two cards have equal value—for example, two aces or a king and a queen. You can split the hand into two and place a bet on each hand. 

Stand 

The terms stand tells the dealer you don’t want more cards and will stick with your current hand. It’s the opposite of a hit.   

Stiff 

A stiff hand is one of the worst hands to deal with in blackjack and contains a value of between 12 and 16. It’s the one players struggle with the most, as another card could easily cause you to bust.  

Surrender 

A player can choose to surrender, forfeit half of their bet, and receive the other half back. Only some versions of blackjack games offer this feature. 

Win Rate 

The probability that a player will win a game is expressed as a percentage. According to statistics, 42.22% of blackjack players win with strategy, while 8.48% reach a push. 

Advanced Blackjack Terms  

21+3 

This is one of the most popular side bets. You bet the two cards you hold will link with the dealer’s upcard to create a winning hand.  

Ace Poor or Ace Rich 

Some players like to try and count the cards, and when they say ace poor, it means there have been fewer dealt than expected. When you hear the term Ace rich, it means an above-average number of Aces are already dealt.   

Anchor/Anchorman 

The anchor or anchorman refers to the last player at a table to make their choices before the dealer does. 

Bet Spread 

A bet spread is straightforward and refers to the variation between your top and the low bet values. 

Box 

The box is the table space or area where you can place your cards and chips. 

Burn Card 

The burn card is at the one at the top of the deck. This top card gets discarded after shuffling or during a dealer switch so that the first player getting dealt first can’t get a glance at the top card’s value.  

Chip Up 

A chip-up is when a player chooses to increase their wager on their last round 

Chip Down 

A chip down is the opposite of a chip up and is when a player decreases their bet from the previous round.  

Cut 

To cut is the process of the dealers splitting the deck with a plastic card once the shuffling is complete.  

D9 

This refers to the blackjack rule, which only allows you to double hands with values of 9, 10, or 11. This rule doesn’t let you double on any soft hands, i.e., ones that include an Ace.  

DA2 

In this rule, you can double any two cards regardless of their value. 

DAS/NDAS 

This rule is where you can double after splitting a hand, known as Double After Split. The exact opposite of the DAS rule is NDAS, which is for a No Double After Split. 

Double Exposure 

This is not common, but it is a blackjack variant where the dealer cards are both dealt face up. 

First Base 

This refers to the first player to receive cards, which you will find to the left of the dealer and the opposite of the anchor/anchorman. 

Five-Card Charlie 

The Five-Card Charlie is where a hand has five cards totalling less than 21. In most blackjack game versions, this means nothing to the gameplay. 

Flat Betting 

Flat betting refers to players who consistently bet the same amount over an extended period.  

Late Surrender 

Late surrender is a rule in some blackjack variations where you can surrender your hand and half your bet after the dealer checks for blackjack.  

RSA/NRSA 

RSA involves resplitting Aces, which can potentially result in more blackjacks. The direct opposite of this rule is the no resplitting Aces, known as NRSA. 

Shoe 

The dealer uses the shoe, which is the box that contains the shuffled cards and deals directly from it.
 

Play Blackjack at Parimatch 

At Parimatch, we have a good mix of RNG and live dealer blackjack games. You can choose which type you prefer from our library of RNG titles like Arena All Bets Blackjack or Hi-Lo Blackjack. 

For the thrill of live dealer games and a Vegas vibe, you can join two of our top tables, Blackjack Riga or One Blackjack.  

At Parimatch, we also promote safer gambling practices, and we have a whole section with tools and tips for our players to use to ensure a fun and safe gambling experience.