Blackjack glossary

A to D

Blackjack (natural)

An ace and a 10-value card as your first two cards. Paid 3 to 2 at good tables.

Bust

Going over 21. The player loses right away, even if the dealer busts later.

Cut card

Plastic card placed in the shoe: when it comes out, the cards are shuffled after the current round.

CSM (continuous shuffler)

A machine that reshuffles after every round, making card counting useless.

DAS (double after split)

Rule that lets you double a hand that came from a split. Good for the player.

Deviation

A play that departs from basic strategy because the true count justifies it (e.g. standing on 16 against 10 from a count of 0).

Double down

Double your bet on your first two cards and take exactly one card. When to double.

E to P

Even money

When you have blackjack and the dealer shows an ace, you are offered a 1 to 1 payout right away. It is the same as insurance: decline it.

Hard hand

A hand with no ace, or with an ace that can only count as 1. 10,6 = hard 16.

H17 / S17

H17: the dealer hits soft 17 (worse for you, about +0.2% for the house). S17: the dealer stands on every 17.

Hi-Lo

The most popular counting system: small cards +1, neutral cards (7, 8, 9) 0, big cards -1.

Hit

Ask for another card.

Hole card

The dealer's face-down second card. In European blackjack there is none: the dealer draws his second card after the players.

House edge

What the casino wins on average, as a percentage of bets. About 0.5% with basic strategy.

Insurance

Side bet offered when the dealer shows an ace: half your bet, paid 2 to 1 if he has blackjack. Loses about 7% on average. The math.

Penetration

How much of the shoe is dealt before the shuffle (e.g. 75%). The deeper, the better counting works.

Push

Same total as the dealer: your bet is returned.

R to Z

Resplit

Splitting again a hand that came from a split, if it forms a new pair.

Running count

The Hi-Lo total of every card seen since the shuffle.

Shoe

The box holding the shuffled decks (often 6 or 8) that the dealer draws from.

Soft hand

A hand with an ace counted as 11: it can't bust with one card. A,6 = soft 17.

Split

Cut a pair into two hands, with a second bet. When to split.

Stand

Take no more cards and keep your total.

Basic strategy

The mathematically best play for every hand and dealer card. The full chart.

Surrender

Give up your hand right after the deal and get half your bet back. "Late": only after the dealer has checked for blackjack.

True count

Running count divided by the number of decks left. It tells you the edge. Card counting.

Unit

A counter's base bet. He bets several units when the true count is favourable.

6:5

Reduced blackjack payout (12 for a 10 bet instead of 15). Adds about 1.4% to the house edge.