The terms below are to provided to help you understand and enjoy the game of
blackjack better, there may be terms we have overlooked however, feel free to contact us with any known omissions or corrections you may like to contribute.
The amount of money risked by a player during a playing session.
This commonly refers to the edge (
house edge) a casino has over a player on a given bet.
The player closest to the dealer's right, a good position if you are card counting.
Refers to the available amount in which the
player has to gamble.
Refers to a playing system for any given situation to minimize the
house edge and without using any advanced techniques.
Also referred to as a
wager, is used to described the action of a player that places his
chips down in blackjack in hope of a favourable outcome.
Each table will have an established minimum and maximum limit which can be wagered on one bet.
A name used in reference to a $100 chip.
1) The name of the game, the strategy of which is to for the player to get closer than the
dealer to the count of 21 without going over 2) A term used to describe a total of 21 on the initial two-card hand.
A burn card or burning a card refers to the process in which a
dealer, a the beginning of a new deck after it has been shuffled, takes a card from the top of the deck and either places it at the bottom of the deck or slides the card across the table and places it into the discard tray.
A termed used to describe a hand's value whether dealer or player, that exceeds 21, a loosing situation.
The cashier's cage where you can buy chips or redeem them for cash your
chips.
If a player adds money by placing additional chips to a winning situation whilst the dealer is distracted, this is referred to as "capping a bet", this obviously is illegal.
A method used by some players in which all cards which are played are recorded in memory to ascertain the odds of the remaining cards in the deck favor either the player or the dealer.
A place of business that houses a selection of
gambling activities involving licensed games where
players can wager on the outcome of the those games for potential profit.
A term for tokens issued by the
casino used instead for money.
A french term for the english word
dealer.
A casino term for the employees that staff the games tables at the casino.
A solid coloured plastic card used to cut the deck.
The dealer is a casino employee that handles all bets and transactions on behalf of the
player, also know as a
croupier.
A standard deck of 52 playing cards used in
blackjack, as with the game of poker.
A method in which all the cards that would be favourable to a player are placed at the bottom of the deck so as to remove them from play, this obviously is cheating.
To double the size of your initial
bet, generally only accepted if you have received your first two cards, you can hit one card only.
To increase the size of your initial bet but for less than double the original wager, generally only accepted if you have received your first two cards, you can hit one card only.
To add a extra card to your current hand, the same as
Hit.
A method in which a player chooses to surrender after receiving his first two cards before the dealer checks for
blackjack, the player loses only half their original bet.
A bet that returns the equal amount of money wagered, plus your original wager if the bet is won.
The face cards are the Kings, Queens or Jacks.
A dealing style in which the first card is placed face up and the second face down.
A dealing style in which both cards are placed face up.
First seat to the dealer's left and is also the first player to receive cards as the dealer deal them.
To 'flat bet' is an expression used to describe a players betting style that doesn't vary during the playing session, ie: to bet the same amount the entire time.
A
casino employee who supervises a section of the pit.
A chip that is from another casino, a casino may and may not honor them.
Is an action a player takes when he risks an amount of money against the
casino or
game for a desired outcome.
The game of
blackjack is played on a table
layout, the object of the game is have either the hand 'blackjack' or the higest number closest to 21 without exceeding it.
Gaming encompasses many different sectors of the
casino industry, such as fixed-odds
gambling, horse racing, sports betting, casino games and lottery.
A name used in reference to a $25 chip.
A player to bets and makes money in small increments.
The cards dealt by a dealer and held by the player.
Any
hand where there is no ace, or the ace counts as one.
An expression used when one player plays one-on-one with the dealer, when no other players are at the table.
The pressure put on a player by a casino if they suspect they are counting cards, casino personnel watching a player closely would be an indication they suspect card counting.
A term for a player who wagers big money at a
casino. Also referred to as a VIP.
A player's request for another card.
A dealer's first card dealt, which is always face down.
Refers to the advantage that a casino has over a
player.
The opportunity to purchase insurance arises when the dealer's first card is an ace, he will call for insurance, it is possible to take out insurance against his hand, by laying down half of your original bet on the table. If the dealer has
blackjack, the insurance bet pays off at 2 to 1, thus you don't lose any money in the hand, however if the dealer does not hit a blackjack but still beats your hand, you will lose your original bet and the insurance amount.
An organized group of gamblers, usually subsidized by a
casino, that travel to the casino together to gamble.
A rule in
blackjack which allow a player to surrender half of his original bet after seeing the dealer's up card, he is allowed only to surrender if the dealer doesn't have blackjack.
A signed credit note or slip, (IOU) in which stipulates money owned by the
player for the purpose of continuing or commencing a
wager and is held by the casino until the marker is paid.
A term used by both
dealer and player when declaring that a player has put money down but doesn't want the money changed into
chips.
A term used when the first two cards dealt total 21, also called
Blackjack.
A term used when a player's first two cards are numerically identical.
A hand which is hard 17 or great and does not require a
hit.
A casino employee who supervises all floor personnel in the
blackjack gaming area.
A term used to described a person who places bets (gambles) in
casino or card room, also referred to as the customer.
Net value of the card count at the end of a hand is the point count.
An act performed by the dealer who shuffles the cards early to minimise the advantage of players who may be card-counting.
A term used when both the player and the dealer have the card total, same as
tie or
stand-off.
A location on the table where the house chips are kept.
The count from the beginning of the deck which is updated by the value of the
point count after each hand.
The resolution of a bet where the dealer pays the player or collects the player's chips.
A casino employee who pretends to be a
player at a empty tables to attract customers.
Generally a transparent or wooden device that can hold up to eight decks of cards and is used to dispense cards to be dealt quickly.
A dealer may shuffle cards prematurely if he suspects a player is
card counting and also as a cautionary measure to discourage such activity.
The term "soft" means the value can be changed, any hand in which an ace is counted as an 11 and not as 1 is a soft hand.
Also known as spliting pairs, is only allowed when the initial two cards dealt are of equal value, the player splits the matched pairs and plays them as a separate hand.
An illegal act whereas a person standing away from the
blackjack table identifies the dealer's down card or hole card and conveys that information to a partner sitting in on the game.
A player's decision not to draw any further cards or hits, also known as
stay.
A situation where both the player and dealer have the same hand total, also known as
push or
tie.
A player's decision not to draw any more cards, also known as
stand.
A
player's hand which has little chance of winning, usually a hard 12-16.
A preset limit of the amount of money a player is prepared to lose before ceasing the
game.
An option that is usually only allowed after receiving your first two cards and before the dealer checks for
blackjack, the dealer will collect your cards and you will lose only half your original
bet. Also known as early surrender.
The act of observing the dealer's body language to determine his hand.
The last seat to the right of the
dealer.
A situation where both the player and dealer have the same hand total, also known as push or stand off.
Another expression for tipping the dealer or a
casino employee.
An intelligent player who can make quick money against the casino.
The dealer's first dealt card which is placed face up.
(1) Refers to the
dealer paying out the player the winnings of bet. (2) The player cashing out his
chips with the casino.
A term used to described a person who places bets (gambles) in
casino or card room, also referred to as the customer or punto.
Also referred to as a
bet is used to described the action of a player that risks money in return for a favourable outcome in the game.
