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Blackjack terms
The words you will hear at a blackjack table, A to Z.
- Ace
- Counts 1 or 11, whichever helps the hand.
- Anchor (third base)
- The seat on the dealer's right, the last player to act.
- Basic strategy
- The best move for every hand against every dealer upcard. Free chart at blackjackcheatsheet.app.
- Blackjack (natural)
- An ace and a ten-value card as the first two cards. Pays 3 to 2.
- Burn card
- The first card after a shuffle, set aside without being played.
- Bust
- A hand over 21. It loses.
- Cut card
- A plastic card placed in the shoe. When it comes out, the dealer shuffles after the hand.
- Double down
- Doubling your bet on your first two cards for exactly one more card.
- Even money
- Taking 1 to 1 on your blackjack when the dealer shows an ace.
- First base
- The seat on the dealer's left, the first player to act.
- Hard hand
- A hand with no ace, or with an ace that must count 1.
- H17
- Dealer hits soft 17.
- Hit
- Take another card.
- Hole card
- The dealer's face-down card.
- Insurance
- A side bet that the dealer has blackjack, offered when the dealer shows an ace. Pays 2 to 1.
- Peek
- The dealer checking the hole card for blackjack with an ace or 10 showing.
- Penetration
- How much of the shoe is dealt before the shuffle.
- Push
- A tie with the dealer. Your bet comes back.
- S17
- Dealer stands on all 17s.
- Shoe
- The box that holds several decks, usually 6 or 8.
- Soft hand
- A hand with an ace counted as 11, like ace and 6 (soft 17).
- Split
- Turning a pair into two hands, with a second bet.
- Stand
- Keep your total and end your turn.
- Stiff
- A hard 12 to 16, a hand one card can bust.
- Surrender
- Giving up your first two cards for half your bet back, where the table allows it.
- Upcard
- The dealer's face-up card.
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Questions
What does push mean in blackjack?
A tie with the dealer. Your bet comes back and nobody wins.
What does hit mean in blackjack?
Take another card.
What is a stiff hand?
A hard 12 to 16, a total that one more card can bust.
More: Blackjack rules · How to play blackjack · Card values in blackjack · How to deal blackjack · Blackjack odds and payouts · Blackjack insurance · Soft 17 in blackjack · Blackjack hand signals