Learn the most commonly used Blackjack terms right here. If you would like to add more terms, please send us an email with your contributions and we will gladly post them. Thanks for helping to make our site one of the most comprehensive and reader-worthy online casino sites.

Action - The total amount of money a player bets in a game, during a specific period of time.

Advantage player - A player who only wagers money when he has a mathmatical edge over the opponent.

Bank - Usually refers to a single player's bankroll.

Bankroll - The total amount of money a player sets aside for playing in a game or session. In effect, it is the total amount of money a player can expect to lose.

Basic strategy - A strategy used by players to maximize their returns. Basic Strategy is based upon the total of the player's hand and the dealer's upcard. It can also be based upon the number of decks used and the rules of the blackjack variant.

Blackjack - Besides being the name of the game, it also refers to a winning hand, which includes an Ace and a Ten valued card. It is the best hand that a player can get.

Bust - A losing hand where the final card total is greater than 21 is said to 'bust'.

Card counting - A strategy used by players to keep track of the cards in an effort to increase their chances of winning. A value is assigned to certain cards in teh deck; such as assigning a value of +1 to cards 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and a value of -1 to Jacks, Quees, Kings, and Aces as in the case of the Hi-Lo card counting system.

Check - A casino chip.

Chip - A betting token used to represent a certain monetary value.

Comp - A reward given to a player to entice him to continue betting. Complimentary casino chips are usually the preferred comp awarded by casinos but other gifts or cash may be given as well.

Deal - The issuing of cards to a player during a game. Cards are dealt by the dealer.

Dealer - The one who deals the cards during a game.

Deck - The playing cards used in a game of Blackjack. There are 52 playing cards in a single deck. Some Blackjack variants use multiple decks.

Doubling after Splits - This is a rule whereby a player is allowed to double down after splitting a pair. Depending on the Blackjack variant, this rule may or may not be in effect.

Double Down - This is a type of strategy where a player can double the size of his initial bet before taking one more card. After doubling down, a player can only receive one more card only.

Double exposure - A game of blackjack in which the dealer is required to expose both of the cards originally dealt to him.

Early surrender - A rule allowing a player the opportunity to surrender half of his bet after the dealer deals his Upcard and before the dealer checks for a Blackjack.

Face card - A Jack, Queen, or King card.

Flat betting - When a player wagers the same amount of money on each bet during the same game or session.

Fluctuations - A term used to describe the ups and downs of a player's bankroll.

Gorilla - A heavy bettor who is not knowledgeable of Basic Strategy or other player advantage techniques. Sometimes the term Gorilla may refer to simply a person who bets big.

Hand - This term refers to the cards used to form a complete play. It can also a completed round of play.

Hard - A hand that does not include an Ace or where the Ace is counted as 1 instead of 11.

Heads up - A game between 1 player and the dealer.

Hi-Lo count - A card counting system where a value of +1 is assigned to cards 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and a value of -1 is assigned to Face cards. Many of the standard references to the count in games use the Hi-Lo system count as a basis.

Hit - To get another card from the dealer.

Hole Card - The face down card for the dealer.

Insurance - A side bet where a player may choose to bet up to half of his original bet when the dealer's face up card shows an Ace. In this case, the player believes that the dealer has a Blackjack hand. It pays 2:1. A player is never advised to place an Insurance bet which is a no-win situation for him. If the dealer does not have Blackjack, the player loses his original bet and his Insurance bet. Read more about Basic Blackjack Strategy.

Late surrender - A blackjack rule where a player is allowed to forfeit half of his bet after seeing the dealer's upcard. This does not apply if the the dealer has a Blackjack, because he will lose his entire bet.

Multiple deck - A game where more than 1 deck of cards is used.

Natural - Another name for Blackjack.

Push - A tie between a player and the dealer. In Classic Blackjack games, the player will receive his original bet back in the case of a push. In Double Exposure games, the player loses his bet to a push.

Split - When 2 cards of the same rank are dealt (such as a 2,2), a Player may Split these cards, thereby playing 2 separate hands instead of one.

Surrender - See Early Surrender and Late Surrender.

Tie - See Push.

Twenty-one - Another name for Blackjack.

Upcard - Also known as Face up card, this is the upturned card of the dealer.

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