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Blackjack is a timeless casino favorite. At first glance, it seems like a simple game where players aim to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. However, there's a lot of depth to the game, from strategy to betting techniques. Whether you're new to blackjack or looking to sharpen your skills, understanding the terminology is key.
That's why we've compiled a comprehensive glossary of essential blackjack terms.
Ace - An Ace in blackjack can be counted as either 1 or 11, depending on what benefits the player’s hand.
Ace Poor - This refers to a situation where there are fewer Aces remaining in the deck, decreasing the chance of making blackjack (a natural 21).
Ace Rich - A deck or shoe with an above-average number of Aces remaining, increasing the likelihood of blackjack.
Action - The total amount of money a player bets during a session or game.
Advantage - The statistical edge one side has over the other. In blackjack, players seek to reduce the casino’s advantage or gain one through strategy.
Anchor / Anchorman - The player sitting in the last seat at the table before the dealer, also called "third base," as they make the final decision before the dealer’s turn.
Al Francesco - A blackjack player and pioneer of the team-based card counting strategy, which became famous through the MIT Blackjack Team.
Balanced Count - A card counting system where the total count ends at zero after counting all cards in the deck (e.g., Hi-Lo).
Bankroll - The total amount of money a player has set aside for gambling.
Back Off - When a casino asks a player to stop playing blackjack, usually due to suspected card counting, but not banned from the casino.
Barred - A player is banned from playing blackjack at a specific casino.
Basic Strategy - A mathematically optimal set of decisions to minimize the house edge in blackjack based on the player's hand and dealer's upcard.
Bet Sizing - Adjusting the amount wagered depending on the situation, often used in card counting.
Bet Spread - The range between the minimum and maximum bet a player uses during a game, often varying based on the card count.
Big Player - A skilled blackjack player brought in by a card counting team to place large bets when the count is favorable.
Black Book - A list of people barred from all Nevada casinos, typically for cheating or other violations.
Brown/Chocolate Chip - A casino chip denomination usually worth $5,000.
Box - A designated betting area on the blackjack table where a player places their bets.
Burn Card - The top card of a freshly shuffled deck that is discarded before play begins to avoid cheating.
Bust/Break - When a player’s or dealer’s hand exceeds 21 points, resulting in an automatic loss.
Buy-in - The amount of money a player exchanges for chips to play blackjack.
Camouflage - Actions or strategies used by skilled players (like card counters) to disguise their play and avoid detection by the casino.
Carnival Games - Unconventional or non-traditional casino games, usually with fun themes and high house edges (e.g., Spanish 21, Caribbean Stud).
Chip Down - Decreasing the amount of your bet during gameplay.
Chip Up - Increasing the amount of your bet, typically during a favorable situation.
Cold Deck - A deck that has consistently unfavorable cards for the player.
Colour Up - Exchanging smaller denomination chips for larger ones, often done when a player is cashing out.
Count / Counting Cards - A strategy where players keep track of the cards that have been dealt to estimate the likelihood of favorable cards remaining in the deck.
CSM (Continuous Shuffling Machine) - A device that continuously shuffles cards, making it more difficult for players to count cards.
Cut Card - A plastic card used by the dealer to mark the point in the deck where the cards will be cut before being dealt.
CVCX - A software tool used to simulate blackjack play, analyze betting strategies, and calculate expected value in card counting scenarios.
D9 - A rule where the player can double down only on hands totaling 9.
DA2 - Double on Any Two cards, a rule that allows players to double down regardless of their card values.
DAS (Double After Split) - A rule allowing players to double down after splitting a pair.
Dealer - The casino employee who deals the cards and manages the game.
Deck Penetration - The percentage of cards dealt from the shoe before a reshuffle.
Discards - Cards that have been played and are no longer in the deck.
Deviations - Departures from basic strategy, typically based on card counting.
DOA (Double on Any) - A rule that permits doubling down on any initial two-card hand.
Double Down - A move where the player doubles their initial bet and receives one additional card.
Double Exposure - A blackjack variant where both of the dealer’s cards are dealt face-up.
Early Surrender - A rule that allows players to forfeit half their bet before the dealer checks for blackjack.
Entry-Level Card Counting System - A simpler card-counting system designed for beginners, such as the Hi-Lo system, which assigns point values to different cards to track the deck's balance.
EV (Expected Value) - The average amount a player can expect to win or lose per bet in the long run, based on probability.
Even Money - A bet that pays 1:1, often used when a player with blackjack accepts a payout equal to their bet when the dealer shows an Ace.
Face Cards - The cards with pictures on them—King, Queen, and Jack—each valued at 10 points in blackjack.
First Base - The first seat at the blackjack table, directly to the dealer's left, where the first card is dealt.
Five-Card Charlie - A rare rule where a player automatically wins if they draw five cards without going over 21.
Flat Betting - Placing the same bet amount on every hand, without increasing or decreasing the wager based on wins or losses.
Hand - The set of cards held by a player or dealer during a round of blackjack.
Hand Spreading - Placing bets on multiple hands simultaneously during a single round.
Half-Shoe - When roughly half the cards in the shoe have been dealt, typically used to describe deck penetration.
Hard Hand - A hand without an Ace, or where the Ace must count as 1 because counting it as 11 would bust.
Hard Total - The total value of a hand without an Ace or with an Ace counted as 1.
Heads Up - A game where there is only one player at the table playing against the dealer.
High Roller - A player who wagers large sums of money on each hand.
Hi-Lo Counting - A popular card-counting system that assigns a +1, 0, or -1 value to cards to estimate the remaining high-value cards in the deck.
Hit - To request another card to be added to your hand, aiming to get closer to 21.
Hit 17 / H17 - A rule where the dealer must hit on a soft 17 (a hand containing an Ace counted as 11).
Hole Card - The dealer's facedown card that is revealed after all players have acted on their hands.
Hot Deck - A deck that is considered favorable to the player, usually when it is rich in high cards like 10s and Aces.
House Edge - The mathematical advantage the casino has over players, expressed as a percentage of the player’s original bet.
Illustrious 18 - A set of 18 key index plays used by card counters, considered the most important for gaining an edge in blackjack.
Index Number - A number used in card counting to determine when to deviate from basic strategy based on the count.
Insurance Bet - A side bet offered when the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, allowing the player to wager that the dealer has a blackjack. The bet typically pays 2:1, but is generally considered a poor play.
Kelly Betting - A betting strategy that involves adjusting the size of the wager based on the player's edge or advantage in the game. The idea is to bet more when the player has a higher advantage and less when the edge is smaller, maximizing long-term gains while managing risk.
Knock Out Count (KO Count) - A simplified, unbalanced card counting system used in blackjack. Unlike other counting systems, it doesn’t require adjustments for the number of decks in play, making it easier for beginners to use.
Late Surrender (LS) - A rule in blackjack where a player can surrender their hand and forfeit half of their bet after the dealer checks for a natural blackjack. It is a way to minimize losses in unfavorable situations.
Loaded Deck - A term referring to a deck of cards that has been manipulated or tampered with to favor one party, often used in cheating. This is illegal in all legitimate casino games.
Martingale System - A betting strategy where a player doubles their bet after every loss in hopes of recovering previous losses with a single win. It’s considered high risk due to its potential for large losses.
Money Management - A strategic approach to managing a player's bankroll by controlling the amount wagered to minimize losses and maximize profits over time.
Monkey - A slang term in blackjack used to refer to a face card (Jack, Queen, King) or a 10.
Multi-deck - Refers to a blackjack game using multiple decks of cards, typically ranging from 4 to 8 decks.
MSE (Mean Squared Error) - In blackjack, this term can be used in the context of statistical analysis or simulations to measure the accuracy of predictions related to game outcomes or strategies.
Natural Blackjack / Natural - A "Natural" in blackjack refers to a hand consisting of an Ace and a 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen, King), totaling 21. It's an automatic win unless the dealer also has a natural, resulting in a push.
NDAS (No Double After Split) - A rule in blackjack where players are not allowed to double down on a hand after they have split a pair.
Negative Count - In card counting, a negative count indicates a deck that favors the dealer, suggesting more low cards are left in the shoe.
No Win - In blackjack, this term could indicate a push, meaning neither the player nor the dealer wins the hand.
NRSA (No Re-Splitting Aces) - A rule where a player is not allowed to re-split Aces after initially splitting them into two separate hands.
Paint - Refers to any face card in blackjack (Jack, Queen, or King), as they have illustrated "painted" faces.
Pair - Two cards of the same rank (e.g., two 8s or two Kings), which can be split into two separate hands.
Pat Hand - A hand that totals 17 or more and doesn't typically require further action, like hitting.
Perfect Play - Optimal strategy in blackjack that maximizes expected value, often based on basic strategy and counting.
Pit - The designated area in a casino where table games like blackjack are played, overseen by a pit boss.
Ploppy - A casual, often inexperienced blackjack player who doesn't use strategy and makes poor betting decisions.
Poor - Refers to a deck or shoe in blackjack that is unfavorable for players, typically because there are fewer high-value cards remaining.
Positive Count - In card counting, this indicates the deck is rich in high-value cards, favoring the player.
Preferential Shuffle - When a dealer shuffles the cards earlier than normal, often to disrupt a card counter's advantage.
Progressive Betting - A betting strategy where the player increases their wager after a win, aiming to capitalize on streaks.
Push - A tie between the player and the dealer, where no money is lost or won, and the original bet is returned to the player.
Re Splits - When a player splits a pair and then receives another pair in one of the hands, they can choose to split again, creating multiple hands.
Rich - Refers to a deck or shoe that is favorable for players, typically because it contains a higher concentration of high-value cards (10s, Jacks, Queens, Kings, Aces).
Risk of Ruin (RoR) - The probability that a player will lose their entire bankroll over the course of their play.
RSA (Re-Splitting Aces) - The rule that allows players to split Aces more than once after the initial split.
Running Count - The ongoing total in card counting where the player adds or subtracts values based on the cards dealt to keep track of the deck composition.
Shoe - A device that holds multiple decks of cards, from which the dealer deals cards in games like blackjack.
Side Bet - An additional bet placed alongside the main game, offering extra chances to win based on specific card combinations.
Single Deck - A blackjack game played with only one deck of cards, which usually has a lower house edge.
Sit and Go - A poker-style tournament format that begins when enough players are seated, not at a scheduled time.
Soft Double - Doubling down on a soft hand, meaning a hand with an Ace counted as 11.
Soft Hand - A hand that contains an Ace counted as 11. For example, an Ace and a 6 make a soft 17.
Soft Total - The total of a hand with an Ace counted as 11, giving the hand flexibility since the Ace can be worth either 1 or 11.
Split Play - When a player splits two identical cards into two separate hands, playing them independently.
Stand - To keep your current hand without taking any more cards.
Stand 17 - A rule where the dealer must stand on any total of 17, including soft 17.
Standing Hand - A hand that does not need to be hit, usually because it has a strong total (like 17 or higher).
Stand-Off - When the dealer and player have the same hand total, resulting in a push where the player's bet is returned.
Stiff - A weak hand that is likely to bust if hit, typically a total of 12-16.
Surrender - A player forfeits half their bet and ends the hand early, a strategy used when the player's hand has a low chance of winning.
Third Base - The seat at the blackjack table to the dealer’s right, which is the last position to act before the dealer plays their hand.
Toke - A tip given to the dealer, often after a player wins a hand.
True Count - In card counting, the true count adjusts the running count by factoring in the number of decks remaining in the shoe, providing a more accurate prediction of the remaining card values.
Unbalanced Card-Counting System - A card-counting method where the count doesn't return to zero at the end of a shoe, simplifying the tracking process (e.g., Knock-Out system).
Up Card - The dealer's face-up card in blackjack, which provides critical information to players when determining their strategy.
Variance - A measure of the fluctuations in results a player may experience over time, reflecting the difference between expected outcomes and actual outcomes.
Whale - A high-stakes gambler who wagers extremely large sums of money at the casino, often attracting special attention and perks from the casino.
Wonging - A blackjack strategy where a player watches the game without playing and only joins in when the count becomes favorable, usually named after blackjack expert Stanford Wong.
Win Rate - The expected amount of money a player wins (or loses) over a specific period of time, often measured per hour or per 100 hands played.
Zen Count - is an advanced card-counting system used in blackjack, designed to improve accuracy in tracking the card composition of a deck. It is a balanced counting system, meaning that when all cards are dealt, the count returns to zero.