Glossary of Blackjack

Table of Contents

Blackjack may be one of the easiest games at Xgtiger Casino for a beginner, but a fair amount of jargon is still involved in advanced play. Below is our blackjack glossary of all the terms you may encounter while at the tables.

Advantage Play:

A style of play that uses certain quirks of the game to give the player an advantage over the casino or dealer. Advantage playing is notable because it’s not against the rules, but it’s still not encouraged. Repeated or successful advantage players may be banned or removed from the casino. See Card Counting.

Basic Strategy

Blackjack can be played in a perfect way. This means taking certain films in certain situations. This differs from Advantage Play in that Basic Strategy cannot be used to overcome the House Edge. Basic Strategy can help the play learn when to hit, stand, or double down, for example.

The bankroll is how much money the player must bet. Of course, it varies from person to person but effective bankroll management is one of the most important skills for beginners to learn, no matter how much money they have.

Blackjack

A hand worth 21. This term describes the combination of a card worth ten (10, K, Q, J) and an Ace. This is a winning hand. See also Natural.

Box

The physical area in front of a player where cards and chips are placed. The box will have frames to place the cards inside both online blackjack and the game played in brick and mortar casinos.

Burn Card 

This is the dealer’s first card, face down. At the beginning of the game, the player is not allowed to see the value of the burn card. See also, Up Card.

Bust 

A hand with a value greater than 21. This is a losing hand.

Card Counting

This is a way of keeping track of which cards have been dealt by memorizing them. Card counting is based on the idea that low value cards, such as 2, 3, 4 etc., give the dealer a greater chance of winning, while high value cards such as 10, K, Q, etc., benefit the player.

The cards that have been played determine the player’s next move.

Cold Deck

One of a pair of relatively unscientific blackjack terms that describe a type of deck. This one is unlucky. See also, Hot Deck.

Dealer 

In blackjack, the dealer is both the source of each card and the player’s opponent. A dealer is allowed to make many of the same moves as the player.

Double Down 

Place a bet equal to the amount of the original stake (double it) because you can only draw one more card. Players only have one chance to use this move on the first two cards. Find out the best time to double down from our blackjack strategy guide.

Even Money 

A type of Insurance bet.

Hand

The cards you have to play.

Hard Hands

In a hard hand, an Ace should be counted as a card with a value of 1 to prevent the player from busting. Alternatively, this term can also describe a hand without an ace. See also, Gentle Hands.

Hit

A request for an additional card. The player’s hand must not exceed 21.

Hot Deck

A deck of cards considered lucky.

House Edge 

In every casino game, the house has a small advantage over the player. Although usually a fixed number, the house edge can vary with the skill of the player, as a newcomer who does not use basic strategy will have a lower chance of winning than someone who is already. In blackjack, the house edge is usually around 1%.

Insurance

A bet on whether the dealer has a hand worth 21 or nothing. This bet can be placed if the dealer shows an ace. The bet must be a maximum of half of their initial bet. The player wins 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack but loses if they have a different value. The player can also opt for Even Money if they have blackjack and the dealer shows an ace. This returns a payout of 1:1 if the dealer also ends up with a blackjack.

Natural 

Also known as blackjack, this is a two-card hand with a value of 21.

Ploppy

Like fish in poker, ploppies are poor or inexperienced blackjack players.

push

A tie. All bets are returned.

Side Bet 

The only definition of blackjack on this list that doesn’t actually involve playing blackjack, a side bet is a bet on the outcome of a blackjack game.

A good example is a 21+3 bet, where a spectator bets on a pair of player cards and a single dealer card. A side bet must be made before the game starts.

Split 

If a player is dealt two cards of the same value, they can be split. This means splitting their hand in two and placing a bet on each.

shoes

A shoe is a wooden or plastic box that contains multiple decks of cards. Devices like these and continuous shuffling machines are designed to increase fairness and prevent the dealer or player from influencing the game.

Stand up

Don’t ask for more cards.

Soft Hands

In contrast to a hard hand, where an Ace is worth 1, a soft hand includes an ace worth 11.

Surrender

Players surrender when they surrender on the first turn. This move is not possible later in the game. Offered players return half of their stake.

Up Card 

The Up Card in online casino Blackjack is the opposite of the Burn Card. This is the one card in the dealer’s hand that the player is allowed to see.

Conclusion

Are you an avid gaming fan and wondering how to bet on online casino games? At Xgtiger Casino, you will get the latest information on this year’s best casino games and a variety of gaming options, all in one place.

To start your online gambling journey, all you need to do is create an account on the site, deposit funds and you will be ready to bet on the best and most anticipated casino games.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can bet on every roll of the dice. If 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 rolls, you win. All numbers pay even money except 2 and 12, which pay double. If 5, 6, 7, or 8 rolls, you lose.
 
the pass bet
 
The simplest, most fundamental bet in the game of craps, the pass bet, is also one of the very safest, with a low house edge of 1.41%. Pass bets pay even money – in other words, if you bet $10, you win $10. With a pass bet, if the come out roll is 7 or 11, you win, while if the come out roll is 2, 3, or 12, you lose.