Online Blackjack Terminology

A

Ace

An ace in blackjack refers to a card count worth 1 or 11. It is regarded as the most important card in the deck.

Ace Rich

An ace-rich game describes a blackjack game where the total number of dealt aces exceeds the expected number of aces.

Ace Poor

A game is described as an 'ace poor' game when the total number of dealt aces is less than the average expected number.

Action

Action refers to the sum of money that has been wagered either by a single player or every player at the table in a single play or a complete blackjack session.

Advantage

Also known as House Edge. Advantage refers to the edge a blackjack player has over his/her competitors.

Anchor

The Anchorman is the blackjack player who is the last to act at the table before the dealer. An anchor is also known as the Third base.

B

Bankroll

Bankroll is the total number of money a blackjack player plans to gamble with.

Basic Strategy

The basic strategy in blackjack refers to a framework that involves implementing certain betting actions to give players the best odds. Examples of these actions include; hitting or splitting at the right time.

Bet Sizing

Bet sizing in blackjack refers to a process where a blackjack player adjusts his/her wager amount based on the betting strategy that is presently being employed.

Bet Spread

Bet spread is the variation between a blackjack player's lowest and highest bet values.

Blackjack

Apart from being the game's name, blackjack is also used to describe a very important and perfect hand that can only be gotten by a combination of an ace and any 10-value card, making it 21 (natural blackjack).

Box

The box in blackjack refers to the region cut out for each player to place their bets.

Burn Card

Card burning is a common practice in blackjack where the dealer throws away the card on the top of the deck before he/she begins to deal.

Bust

A bust in blackjack occurs when a player's hand value is more than 21. This makes the player lose the bet.

Buy-in

To 'buy in' a virtual blackjack game means for a player to place his/her first bet.

C

Chip Down

To chip down in an online blackjack game means for a player to reduce his/her current bet amount, making it lower than the one he/she placed during the last play.

Chip Up

For a blackjack player to chip up means the player has to increase his/her wager, making it higher than the one he/she placed during the last hand.

Cold Deck

The cold deck describes a deck of cards that has been observed to constantly deal out bad hands in a blackjack round or session.

Color Up

To color up means for blackjack to swap his lower denomination chips for higher ones of the same value. It is a tradition for blackjack players to color up before leaving the table.

Cut

To cut in blackjack means for a blackjack player to divide the deck of cards before the dealer starts dealing.

D

Double After Split

Double after split means that a player can double down on his bet after he/she makes a split. It is an option in blackjack games only when a player is very confident in his bet.

Dealer

The dealer is an official in a blackjack game that every player plays against.

Deck Penetration

Deck penetration is a measure used to describe the number of hands that have been dealt before the dealer decides to reshuffle the deck of cards.

Double Down

To double down in blackjack means for a player to double his original wager on a hand that he/she is very sure of. If the outcome results in the player's favor, the payout is great; if the player loses, the stake is gone.

Double Exposure

Double exposure refers to a different form of blackjack game where the cards are dealt with the faces up. In a double-exposure blackjack game, there are no options like surrender, insurance, etc.

E

Early Surrender

An early surrender is an option that is offered in many online blackjack games. It allows the player to forfeit his/her hand and walk away with half of his/her original stake before the dealer starts checking for blackjack.

EV ( Expected Value)

Expected value is an equation that players employ to best optimize their betting strategy in a blackjack game.

Even Money

Even money is an option in blackjack that allows players to get a 1:1 payout on their bet. This option can only be cashed in when the player is with a blackjack, and the dealer, on the other hand, is with an ace.

F

Face Cards

Face cards in blackjack are used to describe cards that are normally dealt face up.

First Base

First base in blackjack is used to describe the player who is first to be dealt a card. The first base position is usually to the left of the dealer.

Flat Betting

Flat betting is a type of betting where the player consistently places the same bet amount throughout a blackjack game session.

H

Hand

Hand in blackjack refers to the set of cards a player has to play with for a single game round.

Hand Spreading

Hans spreading in blackjack involves playing two hands at the same time.

Hard Hand

A hard hand can be described as having no ace at all.

High Roller

High roller in blackjack refers to players who are known to always stake big amounts.

Hit

Hit is an option in blackjack that allows players to take another card when they don't believe their current hand value will beat the dealer. It is also called a draw.

Hole Card

A hole card can be described as a facedown card that the dealer receives.

Hot Deck

A hot deck describes a deck of cards that has been observed to constantly deal out great cards in a blackjack round or session.

House Edge

House edge describes the advantage the online blackjack casino has over the player.

I

Insurance Bet

An insurance bet is a blackjack side bet that protects a player's loss against a possible blackjack from the dealer. It is only possible when a player's upcard is an ace.

L

Late Surrender

Late surrender is an option in blackjack that allows players to surrender their hand after the dealer checks for blackjack.

Loaded Deck

A loaded deck can be described as a deck containing high-value cards.

M

Martingale System

Martingale system refers to a framework that allows players to keep doubling their bet after every loss in a bid to bid back the former losses and original wager.

N

NDAS

Short for No doubling after splitting.

No Win

A no-win game is used to describe a game that has no winner. The game either ended as a tie or the game was canceled.

No Resplitting Aces

No resplitting ace is a rule that restricts players from splitting an already splitter ace.

P

Paint

Paint in blackjack refers to a face card with a value of 10.

Pat Hand

A pat hand refers to a hand ( between 17-21) that doesn't need a hit.

Pair

Pair describes a hand with only two cards with equal value.

Ploppy

Ploppy in blackjack is used to describe a newbie or inexperienced blackjack player.

Push

Push describes a tie between the player and the dealer in a blackjack game. When a push occurs, the player gets his/her stake back without additional money. It is also known as a standoff.

R

ROR ( Risk of ruin)

Risk of ruin is used to calculate the likelihood of a player losing his/her bet.

S

Shoe

Shoe in blackjack is used to describe the box area of a blackjack table where cards are dealt from.

Soft Doubling

To soft double in blackjack means for a player to double a hand of cards that contains an ace.

Soft Hand

A soft hand can be described as a hand that contains an ace card.

Stand

To take a stand means for a blackjack player to decide not to take any extra card throughout a blackjack round or session.

Stuff

A stuff hand implies that a player's hand value is very close to 21. It is a very difficult hand to play with in a blackjack game.

T

Toke

Toke is also known as the tip in blackjack games.

U

Upcard

Upcard in blackjack refers to the dealer's first card that is faced upwards.