Blackjack : A Handy Guide to Key Terms

Blackjack – the ultimate game of skill

With a history dating all the way back to France in the 1700s, it is fair to say that the game of blackjack has stood the test of time. It has develop trough time and has also reach the virtual world.  It can be consider one of the most popular games to play at a an online platform. 

The simplicity of blackjack is undoubtedly one of its major attractions, with players required to beat the dealer’s hand without going over 21.

If the dealer has cards totalling over 21, or you get closer to 21 than the dealer, you win – it really is that easy! However, much like every other popular casino game, there is a plethora of terminology associated with blackjack.

Understanding these terms gives players a much greater chance of securing a blackjack payout during the game. Read on as we look at the most popular blackjack terms.

Action and Bankroll

Action is the amount of money that has been bet and can refer either to a single hand or the aggregate of wagers made over a period of time. Bankroll refers to the funds that a player sets aside to play with. Managing your bankroll effectively and staying within your limits is hugely important in blackjack.

Betting Limits 

These are the minimum and maximum amounts that can be wagered. Betting limits can be as little as $1, while some operators accept bets of $10,000.

Blackjack

Blackjack is the highest winning hand in the game which is comprised of an ace and a 10-valued card. The payout for hitting blackjack is generally 3:2.

Bust and Card Counting

Going bust is what every blackjack player strives to avoid as it is a hand where the total value exceeds 21. However, this is good news when it happens to the dealer. A tactic that is frowned upon by casinos, card counting is used by some players to track the cards that have been dealt to boost their chances of making winning bets.

Dealer and Double Down

The dealer is the casino employee that is responsible for dealing the cards at a blackjack table. The individual is also your direct opponent in each hand. After receiving the first two cards, each player can choose to make a secondary wager up to the original bet amount and receive just one further draw card.

Hit or Draw

Hitting or drawing is where the player requests another card from the dealer in the hope of improving their hand. 

Hole Card

The hole card is the single face down card of the dealer which the players cannot see until this is revealed when it is the dealer’s turn to play.

House Edge

The house edge in blackjack is around 0.5 percent if a player uses perfect basic strategy. This figure increases the further way from the strategy a player deviates. 

Insurance

This is a side bet that the dealer has a blackjack. Players can make this wager when the dealer’s up-card is an ace. If the dealer has blackjack, the insurance bet is paid at 2:1.

Push or Tie and Split

This is a situation where the player’s final hand is the same total as the dealer’s. in the event of a ‘push’ or ‘tie’ the chips wagered on the hand stay in the betting pot. If a player is dealt two cards of the same value, they can choose to split them. This allows them to make two separate hands which they can place wagers on.

Soft Total

A soft total can be applied to any hand containing an Ace which can use its 11 value without exceeding 21. For instance, Ace-Three can be a soft 14 or a hard 4.

Stand

This is where the player tells the dealer that they wish to stick with their current hand. The dealer generally stands when their cards total 17, although they can hit with a soft 17 (Ace-Six).

Surrender

Surrender is a decision that allows the player to give up half of their bet, in order to not continue playing the hand and losing their entire stake.

These are the basic terms of Blackjack, hope you enjoyed them and good luck on your next game.