Basic Blackjack Glossary of Terms
Blackjack is easy to learn. But just like any specialty field, the game has its own terminology. Make yourself a blackjack expert with these glossary of terms. Next time you hear any of these words in a casino, you will know what they mean.
Blackjack Glossary of Terms
Anchorman
The last player to act in a blackjack table, to the far right of the dealer.
Blackjack
A starting hand with an ace and any 10-valued card. Originally, a blackjack was an ace of spades and a jack of spades.
Bust
When a hand's total score exceeds 21. The player or dealer with this hand loses.
Card Counting
Keeping track of cards as they are played out. Not welcome in casinos but not illegal either.
Dealer
Casino staff who deals the cards to players and to himself or herself.
Dealer Tell
Signs in a dealer's behavior that give clues about their hole card.
Double Down
An option for the player to double their wager and hit for one last card.
Early Surrender
An option for the player to give up their hand along with half their bet while dealer sees if they a blackjack.
First Baseman
The first player to act in a blackjack table, at the dealer's far left.
Flat Bet
To wager the same amount per hand.
Floorman
A senior casino staff member who supervises the dealers in the casino.
Hand
Generally refers to the starting hand a player gets. That is, their first two cards.
Hard Total
A blackjack hand with no ace or where the ace counts as 1.
Head to Head
When a lone player is against the dealer in a blackjack table.
Hit
To draw (get) another card aside from the first two cards one is dealt.
Hole Card
The dealer's card which is kept face down while the player's hand is addressed.
House
The casino.
Insurance.
An optional side bet that the dealer has a blackjack.
Mucker
A cheating player who adds cards favorable to a player in a multiple deck blackjack game.
Natural
A blackjack.
Painted Card
Any court card--jack, queen or king.
Pat Hand
A hand with total of 17-21.
Penetration
The number of cards that a dealer will deal out before shuffling anew.
Pit Boss
A casino supervisor. This person can take out suspected cheaters and other undesirables out of the casino rooms.
Push
A tie between dealer and player.
Shoe
A box containing the decks in a multiple deck game.
Snapper
A blackjack.
Soft Card
A dealer's up card of 2 to 6.
Soft Total
Any hand with an ace with a value of 11.
Stiff Hand
A hand with a value of 12-16.
Surrender
Player gives up half their bet after the dealer has verified if there is a blackjack or not.
Ten Poor Deck
An unfavorable deck for the player, with most 10 valued cards already used. Such cards are better for the player.
Ten Valued Card
A 10, jack, queen or king.
Up Card
The dealer's card that is dealt face up.