Online Game terminology explained

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When it comes to card games, Blackjack is one game that has earned the title of ‘classic’, due to its journey through the years and establishments within its lifetime.

Blackjack is a game that is all about the value of cards and trying to hold a higher hand value than the dealer. With this in mind, we wanted to show you just a few of the many Blackjack terms you need to know to understand the Blackjack lingo within live Blackjack games, both online and within brick-and-mortar establishments.

So, if you’re ready to start sounding like a pro, scroll down to find out more.

  • Hit: This means you want to draw another card from the deck. You can keep hitting until you decide to stand or until you bust.
  • Stand: When you stand, it means you are satisfied with your hand and do not want to draw any more cards.
  • Bust: This occurs when your hand’s total exceeds 21. If you bust, you automatically lose the hand.
  • Double down: After being dealt the initial two cards, you can double your original bet in exchange for committing to stand after receiving exactly one more card.
  • Split: If your first two cards have the same value, you can split them into two separate hands by placing an additional bet equal to your original bet.
  • Surrender: Some Blackjack games allow you to surrender your hand before you take any other action, which forfeits half your bet but allows you to avoid potentially losing the entire amount.
  • Insurance: If the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, you can take an insurance bet, which is a side bet that the dealer has Blackjack. If the dealer has Blackjack, the insurance pays 2:1.
  • Push: A push occurs when both your hand and the dealer’s hand have the same value, resulting in a tie. You get your original bet back.
  • Blackjack: This is the best possible hand in the game, consisting of an Ace and a 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen, or King) totalling 21.
  • Soft hand: A hand that contains an Ace counted as 11. For example, Ace-6 is a soft 17. A soft hand cannot bust by taking a single additional card.
  • Hard hand: A hand without an Ace or a hand in which the Ace is counted as one to avoid busting. For example, 10-8 is a hard 18.
  • Face cards: The Jack, Queen, and King in Blackjack. Each is worth 10 points.
  • Dealer upcard: The one card the dealer shows to players, which they use to make decisions on how to play their hand.
  • Hole card: The dealer’s facedown card that remains hidden until the dealer’s turn to play.
  • Six deck shoe: A device that holds multiple decks of cards (usually six) to deal out in Blackjack. It helps speed up the game and prevent cheating.
  • Deck penetration: Refers to how much of the deck has been dealt before the cards are reshuffled.
  • Counting cards: A strategy where players keep track of the high and low cards that have been dealt to try to predict the likelihood of certain cards being dealt in the future.
  • Natural: Another term for Blackjack—a hand totalling 21 with the first two cards.
  • Even money: When you have Blackjack and the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, you can take even money instead of the usual 3:2 payout for Blackjack to avoid the risk of a push if the dealer also has Blackjack.
  • Payout: The money you win based on your bet. The standard payout for Blackjack is 3:2, but other hands may pay out differently.
  • Hard 17 rule: This is a common rule in which the dealer must stand on any hand totalling 17, even if it is a soft 17.
  • Soft 17 rule: This rule requires the dealer to hit on a soft 17 (a hand totalling 17 with an Ace counting as 11).
  • No hole card: A rule variation in which the dealer does not draw a second card (the hole card) until after players have completed their hands.
  • Side bet: Additional bets placed beyond the main game, such as betting on whether the dealer’s upcard will match your cards.

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