The Blackjack Man's Blackjack Glossary

A newcomer to the game of blackjack may notice some odd terms being used at a blackjack table. The Blackjack Man want you to able to not only play like a professional blackjack player, we want you to sound like one. Take a look at the terms below and see if you have what it takes.

Action- The action is the amount of money a player puts on the line during a blackjack game.

Basic Strategy- Making a decision on what do based solely on your cards, not taking into account what the dealer has.

Betting Limits- Like many casino games limits can be made to restrict or encourage betting.

Blackjack- Every blackjack players favorite word, Blackjack means your first two cards is equal to 21. This also means you don’t want anymore cards.

Burn Card- A card that is discarded after a shuffle and cut.

Bust/Break- To exceed 21.

Card Counting- When you keep a running tally of the cards revealed after the deal.

Chip/Check- Another term for money used to wager at a blackjack table
Color Up/Out- When you exchange multiple smaller chips for one of greater value.

Cut- When you split the deck of card into two parts during the deal.
Early Surrender- If you don’t your two cards at the beginning you can forfeit the hand. This will mean you lose half of the chips invested in the pot.

Expected Win Rate- A guess towards how much money a player expects to win during a blackjack session.

Face Cards- Face cards are Jack, Queen and King, in blackjack each of these cards are worth 10.

First Base- The position to the dealer’s left.

Hard Hand- Any hand does not have an ace in it.

Hit- To get another card from the dealer.

Hole Card- The dealer reveals one of his cards during the game, this is called the hole card.

Insurance- When the dealer’s Hole Card is an ace a player has an option to make an insurance bet. If the dealer has a natural 21 the player’s insurance bet doubles, otherwise the house keeps the pot.

Natural- Another term for a Blackjack

Push/Tie- When a dealer and player have the same point total and neither has busted it’s a tie and no money is lost or gained.
Soft Hand- When a blackjack player has an ace in their hand.
Stand- When your happy with what you have and don’t want anymore cards it’s called a stand.

Tip (Toke)- Many players will offer the blackjack dealer a tip after a good run at the blackjack table.
Upcard- Another term for Hole Card.