Blackjack Glossary

While it ultimately comes down to luck, there’s still an element of strategy involved when playing blackjack. And the best place to start is making sure you’re up to speed with the different terminology used in the game.

Whether you’re a blackjack newbie or a seasoned player, there’s always room for improvement! You’ll find a detailed list of blackjack definitions in our glossary below.

Blackjack Glossary

• Ace – A playing card of any suit with a single pip. In blackjack, this card is worth either 1 or 11. 
• Blackjack – As well as the name of the game, this refers to a hand with an Ace and a 10-point card, for an exact total of 21. Also called a ‘natural’.
• Blackjack Strategy – A set of rules that players can follow, indicating the mathematically ‘best’ action to take for a given hand. Examples include ‘always split Aces’ and ‘stand on hard 17 and up’. Consult our blackjack strategy guide for more information.
• Blackjack Switch – A variant of blackjack invented by Geoff Hall, where players are dealt two hands and can switch the top cards of each hand to improve their chances of winning. 
• Bust – When a hand has a total value of more than 21.
• Card Counting – A strategy used to gain an advantage over the house by tracking the ratio of high-value to low-value cards in the deck.
• Dealer – The player’s opponent in a standard game of blackjack. When playing live blackjack online or at a casino, this is also the person who controls the game and deals the cards. 
• Dealer Hits On – The rule that dictates when the dealer must take another card. In standard blackjack, the dealer must hit on any hand worth 16 or below, and stand on any hard 17 (a hand worth 17 with no Aces). Whether the dealer hits on soft 17 (a hand worth 17 with an Ace) depends on the rules of the game you’re playing. 
• Deck – Blackjack uses a standard deck of playing cards — 52 in total. Most games use multiple decks to increase the house edge. Anywhere between two and eight decks is common. Those seeking the lowest house edge may want to try single-deck blackjack.
• Double Down – In certain situations, a player can double their bet and receive an additional card. In basic blackjack strategy, for example, it’s recommended to double down when your hand is worth 11. 
• Double Exposure – A variant of blackjack where both the dealer’s cards are dealt face up, giving the player a slight advantage, although this advantage is often mitigated by other less favourable rules.
• Face Card – Any Jack, Queen, or King, which is worth 10 points. 
• Hard Hand – A hand that doesn’t contain an Ace, or contains an Ace counted as 1 point. 
• Hit – When a player asks to be dealt another card to improve their hand.
• Hole Card – The dealer’s face-down card. There’s no hole card in Double Exposure blackjack. 
• House Edge – The mathematical advantage the casino has over the player. In other words, it’s the amount a player can expect to lose in the long run, on average. Blackjack is known for its low house edge of around 0.5% or lower when played with perfect strategy.
• Insurance – A side bet that can be placed in certain blackjack variants when the dealer’s up card is an Ace. It’s usually paid out at 2/1, allowing the player to break even if the dealer’s hole card is a 10, thus giving them a Blackjack.
• Lightning Blackjack – A popular variant of live blackjack developed by Evolution, where players can win increased payouts based on random multipliers. 
• Live Blackjack – This usually refers to a blackjack game that’s run by a professional dealer in a purpose-built studio. The game is streamed to players’ devices using HD cameras, and they can bet using an interactive interface. Live blackjack uses authentic casino equipment to deal cards rather than virtual or RNG software. 
• Multi-hand Blackjack – A version of blackjack where players can play multiple hands at the same time. 
• Natural – Another word for ‘blackjack’, where a two-card hand is equal to 21.
• Pat Hand – A hand with a hard value of 17 or higher.  
• Penetration – The percentage of cards dealt from the shoe before a shuffle takes place. 
• Perfect Pairs – A variant of blackjack with the Perfect Pairs side bet, which pays out if a player’s first two cards make a pair. A Perfect Pair is two cards of the same value and suit, and pays out at 30/1. A Coloured Pair is two cards of the same value and same colour, and pays out at 10/1. A Mixed Pair is two cards of the same value and mixed colours, and pays out at 5/1. 
• Push – Another name for a tie, when the player and dealer have the same total and the player receives their stake back. Depending on the game’s rules, a round sometimes ends in a push if the dealer draws 22. 
• RNG – Stands for ‘random number generator’, the software responsible for randomly dealing cards in virtual blackjack and other casino games.
• RTP – Stands for ‘return to player’. This is essentially the inverse of house edge and refers to the average amount of money returned to players from what is wagered.
• Side bet – An optional bet placed in addition to the main bet, where players can receive additional payouts based on certain outcomes. Examples include Perfect Pairs, 21+3, and Insurance. Many side bets come with high house edges and may not be worthwhile if you’re looking for the best value. 
• Single-deck Blackjack – A version of the game played with only one deck, resulting in a lower house edge. Keep in mind this advantage is often mitigated by other less favourable rules. 
• Six Card Charlie – An additional rule in some blackjack variants where a player hand of six cards that doesn’t bust automatically wins. 
• Shoe – A device used in live or in-person blackjack that’s used to store and deal multiple decks of cards.
• Shuffle – This is where the cards are mixed randomly before they’re dealt. How often the cards are shuffled depends on the rules of the game you’re playing. See ‘penetration’. 
• Soft Hand – Any hand containing an Ace that can be counted as 11 points. 
• Spanish 21 – A variant of blackjack where all 10-point cards are removed from the deck, resulting in a higher house edge.
• Speed Blackjack – A version of the game with a faster pace. In Evolution’s Speed Blackjack, players receive their next card as soon as they make a decision.
• Split – Where a player divides a single hand into two separate hands and places an additional bet, usually only allowed when holding two of the same card. Blackjack strategy recommends always splitting Aces and Eights.
• Stake – The amount a player wagers on a hand, in accordance with the table limits — the minimum and maximum bets. Side bets or actions like splitting and doubling down require additional stakes to be placed.
• Stand/Stick – When your hand totals 17 or more in blackjack, to stand or stick means to end your turn and hold your total. In person, this decision is often made with a horizontal hand wave.
• Suit – Each number and face card can be one of four suits: hearts, diamonds, spades, or clubs. A card’s suit doesn’t matter in standard blackjack but may be involved when placing side bets like Perfect Pairs. 
• Super Sevens – A side bet on whether the player’s first card is a seven, with higher payouts for subsequent sevens.
• Surrender – Only allowed in certain games and under certain circumstances, a player can forfeit their hand along with half their stake. Early surrender is offered before the dealer checks for blackjack, while late surrender is offered afterwards.
• Stand-off – Another term for a tie or push.
• Up-card – The dealer’s face-up card. In Double Exposure blackjack, both the dealer’s cards are dealt face up. 
• Vegas Downtown – A version of blackjack played with two decks of cards and more liberal rules for doubling down and splitting hands. 
• Vegas Strip – A blackjack variant popularised on the eponymous Vegas Strip, using four decks of cards and a number of other rule variations.  
• 21+3 – A blackjack side bet that combines the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up-card to form a three-card poker hand. Payouts are based on the strength of the hand, such as Flush, Straight, or Three of a Kind, or Straight Flush.

Play Blackjack at a UK Online Casino

Now you’re up to speed with the ins and outs of online blackjack, you’re ready to play. To get started, why not take a look at our list of UK blackjack casinos? Our experts have picked out the very best to make your search easy. Better still, you’ll get to claim a welcome bonus when you sign up — this is a great way to familiarise yourself with the game before betting real money. Once you’ve found your perfect match, head through to sign up and make your first deposit.