Blackjack Lingo & Terminology

Bet – A bet is the money that you will place in front of you to show the dealer that you want to play the next hand.

Blackjack – A Blackjack no longer has to be the Ace of Spades and the Ace of Jacks, instead, a Blackjack is any time the first 2 cards you are dealt total 21. Meaning it must be an Ace and a 10 or a face card (K, Q, J).

Bust – To bust means that your cards total 22 or higher and you lose your total bet.

Dealer – The dealer is the only person at the table that you will be playing against and trying to beat. The dealer is also the person that will deal out all of the cards and pay winners.

Double Down – You can choose to double down once you have your first  two cards (the dealer will only give you one more card. Doubling down means that you think the next card will make your hand a winner (you are showing an 11 or ten and you are playing the odds that the next card will be a face card or an ace), so you want to double your bet for greater returns on the fact that it will.

Hard 17 – A hard 17 means that the dealer's cards equal 17 without the use of an Ace.

Hit – When you choose to hit in Blackjack, you are telling the dealer that you are not quite happy with your hand and would like another card to hopefully better your hand.

Insurance – The only time you will have an opportunity to purchase insurance is if the dealer's face up card is an Ace. Buying insurance means that you think the dealer has a Blackjack and the insurance bet, being the same amount as your original bet, will keep you from losing money.

Push – A push is the same thing as a tie. The difference is, where with most ties, the money is split, when playing Blackjack, if you push with the dealer, you only lose your bonus bet if played otherise you keep your original bet.

Soft 17 – A soft 17 is the opposite of a hard 17, meaning that the dealer's hand totals 17 by using the Ace as 11 to make the 17.

Split – If you have a pair of anything after the deal, you can choose to ’split’ those cards and play two hands (you are required to place a second bet of the same amount for the second hand).  The dealer will then flip a second card on your first split card and you will have the option to split, hit or stand.  Once you have busted or stayed on your first hand the dealer will then flip a second card onto the second split card and you will begin another round of actions until you have stayed or busted.

Stand – When you choose to stand in Blackjack, you are telling the dealer that you do not want any more cards to better your hand, that you think your hand will beat theirs.