Blackjack Academy: Blackjack Terms Which You Sound Know
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By PAGE Editor
Blackjack is a casino game that attracts millions of players from all over the world every day. With the boom of online casinos, this game has become more accessible than ever. Due to its simple rules, people start playing it without a second thought. But, one needs to be more careful, especially with money on the line.
It is not all about reaching 21 and beating the dealer. This game has plenty of intricacies. To divulge its essence one needs to learn the language of the game. While blackjack has plenty of professional terms, some of it hides in slang. Players play blackjack online in all corners of the world so the vocabulary has quite expanded. Luckily for you, who read this article we have covered both. Let's start with the holy grail of this game:
Blackjack
Blackjack is the name of the game, but it is also the name of the ultimate hand. Blackjack or 21 is what every player strives for. While any combo of 21 is good, blackjack is only a combination of an Ace and 10 or any face card in a two-card draw. What makes it such a good draw is the fact that a straight-out blackjack pays 3:2 which means that your bet is not doubled but multiplied by 1.5.
Hit
In blackjack, once you put your bet you will receive two cards. If they are far away from the desired 21 you will seek an additional card. Asking for another card is called a hit. When you pull an 8 and 2 you need to hit and it's a safe bet. Yet, when you pull 9 and 8 it is a risky move as seventeen is close enough to win but another card could get you overboard.
Stand
When you draw two cards and you're satisfied with your cards you stand and wait for the dealer to draw his cards. The current hand is usually on the stand when you draw anything above 17 as it is a strong hand and the risk of busting is too high.
Bust
No one wants to bust. When you hit too much you're at risk of busting. A bust is every draw that gets you over 21. When you have a 10 and a 6 and you draw a 5 it's 21 and that's nice. But if you pull a face card you get to 26 and that's a bust and you lose your bet regardless of the dealer's hand.
Double Down
A bold move. When you have trust in your hand and your luck you do a double down. This move doubles your initial bet but you only get to draw one additional card. It is a power move that can double your winnings but can also lead to substantial losses if done too often.
Split
Blackjack has so many playing options that make it so amazing. One of the finest is split. When you draw two cards of a kind you need to split, but only in a case when it makes sense. Most players agree that 8s and Aces need to be split. But you can do the same with every face card. You split your cards and make an additional bet. The dealer draws two more cards for every one of those you split. You decide if you want to hit or stand after that.
Surrender
This is a move of cowardice some would say. We say it is a strategic move. If you feel like your hand is not going to be strong enough, you can always surrender and get half of your bet back. A mitigated loss, so to say.
Insurance
This is a form of a side bet in blackjack. You can put an insurance bet forth when the first card that the dealer pulls is an Ace. The insurance bet is your bet on the dealer getting a blackjack. It is a bet that has a 2:1 payout, which is good if you hit one or two, but in the long run, if you miss it leads to losses.
Push
Push is a draw in blackjack terms. When you have the same number in your hand as the dealer it is pushed and you neither win nor lose the bet. According to some players, this is the most frustrating outcome of a blackjack game.
House Edge
House edge is not a term tied only to blackjack. It is a general casino term. It refers to the advantage that the casino has over players. What makes blackjack so popular is the fact that its house edge is not favored against the player.
Basic Strategy
At the end of the day, blackjack is a game of strategy. You will always look to have the optimal set of cards in your hand, hit or stand based on it, and look at what the dealer has as his card turns face up. With the right strategy, you can further lower the house edge.
Card Counting
If you've seen the movies this is not something you should do. But, if you're playing live blackjack at an online casino, it is the strategy you can apply. Yes, you will have little time to do it, but by knowing which cards are out of the deck and which are left you can shift the odds in your favor. Don't go overboard with this strategy as it can backfire and get you banned from a casino.
Dealer Bust
A winning move. It doesn't matter how strong your hand is if the dealer busts. In the majority of new casinos, blackjack is played up until 17. This means that the dealer needs to push his hand up until he has at least 17. So, when you have 18 and the dealer has 17 he is going to hit. 5 or any bigger card will result in the dealer bust and the players win.
Push 22
This is a rule in some casinos that works against the players. It's quite simple. If a dealer busts with 22 it is not seen as a bust. Instead, it is classified as a push. If you're new to the game and know only the basic rules you need to avoid games that have this rule, as it can surprise you unpleasantly.
Soft Hand
A soft hand is the one that has an Ace which is counted as an 11. When you pull an Ace it can be either 1 or 11. Depending on your other cards it can be one of those options, and if you leave it to be 11 your hand is called a soft hand. Its flexibility is what can be detrimental to your strategy.
Hard Hand
A hard hand is the one that doesn't have an Ace forming it. Because you don't have a flexible card, this hand is called a hard one. When you have a hard hand your decision-making process alters compared to the one you've had with a soft hand and affects the outcome that way.
Upcard
The card that starts it all. This is the first card that the dealer pulls and shows to the players. When out, this card sets the tone for the round. Based on what the dealer pulled and what you have at the table you decide to either hit or stand.
Downcard
The downcard is the card that the dealer keeps hidden from the players. It is opened the moment you either hit 21 or decide to stand. In case you bust the dealer doesn't have to show his hidden card. When a dealer doesn't have a strong enough card or 17 he continues to draw even after showing the downcard.
Pit Boss
You will hear this expression a lot when you start visiting casino rooms. A pit boss is a casino operator who is in charge of ensuring that games run according to rules and that there are no issues during the gameplay. When there is an issue during the gameplay a pit boss can step in and sort any misunderstandings with both the player and the dealer.
Table Minimum/Maximum
Not all casino tables and rooms are the same. The amount of money you can take in and out differs. Table minimum is the lowest amount you need to sit at the table and bet. Some tables have the top end also so you can't bring all the money you want and you can't bet over a certain limit. These rules are important due to the bankroll of your own and the strategy you want to apply.
Shuffling
This is a process in the game of blackjack when the decks are shuffled before the game starts. Proper shuffling is all about providing fair play to both the players and the casino. Modern casinos use two decks. They shuffle them and only use half of the cards before a switch and another shuffling.
Shoes
Have you heard of shoes? No, we're not talking about footwear. It is a device that holds the cards during the game. Thanks to them the game is more streamlined and the chances of card counting are lowered.
Push Bet
A push bet is a bet that makes your hand equal to the one of the dealer resulting in a draw that gives no winner and no loser. Your initial bet is returned in the case of a push.
Side Bets
There are plenty of ways to bet on blackjack. One of those that players love to practice is side bets. You put those next to the main bet aiming either to get perfect pairs or 21+3. Side best increases your odds, provides more chances of a bigger win, and massive payouts. They of course push the house edge to the side of a casino as side bets are hard to hit, but the payout is good enough to risk it.
Perfect Pair
This is a continuation of the previous chapter. It is a side bet that gives you a win in case you get a pair of the same rank. Statistically, you are not favored to hit this one, but if you do the payout is great. Many players who engage in crypto gambling try to fill their wallets additionally by engaging in side bets like these.
21+3
This is where blackjack enters the domain of poker. It is a side bet that combines your two cards with the dealer's upcard. The house edge spikes here in the favor of the casino but the payout when hit is good enough to try it from time to time, especially if you're a fan of poker.
Late Surrender/Early Surrender
Blackjack is not a game that forces you to do anything. If you feel that your hand is not good enough and that you can't push the dealer blackjack you have an option of a late surrender. If you are sure that you're failing from the start you can hit an early surrender button and get half of your bet back.
Push or Win
When you know the dealer's hand and you believe that you can still come out on top, you decide to either win or push. This is a power move when you feel that you can push both yourself and the dealer to the limits. With side bets, the dealer's hand impacts your results so you need to decide carefully on win or push.
Summary
Blackjack is a game for ages. Due to its simplicity, it managed to last for centuries before being adapted to online casinos. You could even argue that it had the easiest transition. This is why outlets such as Stake have many different variations in their offering. With the terms we have shared with you above you have a nice little vocabulary that should be of help when starting a blackjack career at an online casino.
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