Blackjack Glossary

Also known as Twenty One, the object of playing Blackjack is to form a hand of cards that counts as close as possible to 21, ideally exactly that sum, beating the dealer's hand.

Alternatively, a winning hand of 21 formed with only two cards is called Blackjack.

As Blackjack is played from a limited number of cards, a deck, two decks or even more, by keeping track of the cards that have already been played the player puts himself in better position to know when the remaining cards give him an advantage. The player may then make larger bets, choose to double down, or other actions, based on the situation.

Card counting may not necessarily assure winning, but it can bring the house advantage to a minimum, especially when playing with a single deck. While legal, card counting may be grounds to have the player removed from a casino table. This is not a concern when playing online.

A betting option in Blackjack allowing the player to receive one card, and only one card, to try to beat the dealer. The potential winning is greater in this bet. Would the player's hand beat the dealer's, the player would receive double the original wager placed.

Asking to be dealt another card in Blackjack, Poker or other card games.

This is a good bet only if card counting is in place. Otherwise, the house edge is too great to consider the insurance option. Insurance is the case in which the player puts aside a sum, up to half the original bet, betting on the dealer receiving a natural 21. This is done before the dealer checks the hole card, only in case the face up card revealed to all is an Ace. Insurance pays the player 2:1, thus winning the same amount as the Blackjack wager.

Another term for a win in Craps, a 7 or 11 rolled on the initial, come out roll.

Also a two card hand in Blackjack that equals 21.

The English variation of Blackjack is called Pontoon. Pontoon is also played in Australia, where the rules are like the American variant called Spanish 21.

A hand in Blackjack containing an Ace that may be counted either as 1 or as 11.

A Soft 17, for example, is a hand in Blackjack that can be counted as 7 or 17 points by adding a 6 and an ace. Blackjack game rules vary in whether the dealer must hit or may stand on a Soft 17. The dealer standing is to the player's advantage.

Also called an 'upcard', it is the dealer's face up card in the initial stage of Blackjack. The other card of the two is dealt face down, and is called 'hole card'.