Full glossary of blackjack terms

Do you love blackjack and are wondering what distinguishes a DAS from an NDAS? Or are you simply looking to refine your lexicon to better understand the strategies or impress around the table? Whatever the word you have in mind, you'll find its meaning here. Follow the PepperMill Casino guide for a complete dive into blackjack lingo, from A to Z.

The glossary

Blackjack has a language all its own, with specific terms rarely used in other casino games. So before you start playing, it's a good idea to master the vocabulary of this iconic game.

21+3

21+3 is a secondary bet available on some blackjack tables. With this bet, the player's two cards and the dealer's face-up card are examined immediately after the first deal. The cards must form a winning combination (based on poker combinations) for the bet to pay off.

Bankroll

A player's bankroll is the money available for playing. Bankroll management is essential for playing safely.

Basic strategy

The basic strategy is a table detailing the recommended actions according to the value of the player's hand and the value of the dealer's visible card. Many versions are available online as it changes slightly depending on the specific rules of the version being played.

Bet behind

The bet behind is a bet on another player's hand. It allows many more players to participate than the maximum number of seats at the table.

Blackjack

Blackjack is the name of the game, but it also refers to a two-card hand with a value of 21, i.e. an Ace and a card worth 10 (10, Jack, Queen or King). This is also called a natural.

Box

A box is a position at the table. Some blackjack games allow a single player to occupy several boxes at once.

Burn card

The burn card is the first card in the shoe that is discarded in some versions of blackjack.

Busting

Busting means going over 21. This can happen to either the player or the dealer.

Card counting

Card counting is an advanced blackjack strategy that involves keeping track of the remaining high and low cards in the shoe by assigning a value to the cards dealt. This technique is difficult to learn but allows you to gain an advantage against the casino.

Continuous shuffling machine

A continuous shuffling machine (CSM) is a machine that automatically shuffles the cards so that play is not interrupted to shuffle the cards at the end of the shoe.

CSM

See “Continuous shuffling machine”.

Cut card

The cut card is a plastic card placed in the shoe to mark the end of the deal. Once it is reached, the cards are reshuffled.

DA2

DA2 stands for ‘double any 2 cards’. This is a rule that allows the player to double on any hand.

DAS

DAS stands for ‘double after split’. This is a rule that allows the player to double after splitting his hand. It can be very advantageous. It is the opposite of NDAS.

Discard tray

The place where cards are placed after being discarded.

Double after split

See ‘DAS’.

Double any 2 cards

See ‘DA2’.

Doubling

Doubling is one of the basic actions in blackjack. It allows the player to double his bet in exchange for a single additional card.

Even money

Even money is a specific blackjack rule, usually available at tables that offer insurance. If the player has blackjack and the dealer's face-up card is an Ace, the player can accept the Even money and finish the game without losing his bet.

Face cards

Face cards are the Jack, King and Queen cards. They are worth 10 points in blackjack.

Five card Charlie

Five card Charlie is a special rule where the player gets a bonus for having 5 cards in their hand without busting.

Hard hand

A hard hand is a hand that contains no Ace or an Ace that can only be worth 1 point.

Hi-Lo

Hi-Lo is a card counting system. It assigns a value to each card dealt: +1 to small cards (2 to 6), 0 to neutral cards (7 to 9) and -1 to big cards (10, tricks, aces). A positive count means an advantage for the player, who can therefore bet more.

Hitting

Hitting is one of the basic actions in blackjack. It allows the player to obtain an additional card as many times as he wishes until he reaches 21 or more.

Hole card

The hole card is the dealer's face-down card.

Insurance

Insurance is a wagering option that may be offered to the player when the dealer's face-up card is an Ace. If the player takes this option and the dealer has a blackjack, he loses his initial bet but recovers the insurance, thus limiting his losses.

Natural

See ‘Blackjack’.

NDAS

NDAS stands for ‘no double after split’. This is a rule that does not allow the player to double after splitting his hand. It is less advantageous than the DAS rule.

No double after split

See ‘NDAS’.

No resplitting aces allowed

No resplitting aces allowed (NRSA) is a rule that prohibits the player from splitting his hand a 2nd time if a pair of Aces is split and the player receives an Ace again. It is the opposite of RSA.

NRSA

See ‘No resplitting aces allowed’.

Pair

A pair is a starting hand with 2 cards of the same rank. These hands can be split.

Pat hand

A hand with a value between 17 and 20, on which the player is likely to stand.

Penetration

Penetration is the percentage of the shoe used before the cards are reshuffled. It is important for counting cards because the count is more accurate at the end of the shoe than at the beginning.

Perfect pair

Perfect pair is a secondary bet. To win, the player's first two cards must be of the same suit and value. In some cases, you also receive winnings if only the value or colour are the same.

Push

A push occurs when the player and the dealer have the same number of points between 17 and 21. In this case, your bet is returned to you.

Resplitting aces allowed

Resplitting aces allowed (RSA) is a rule that allows the hand to be split a 2nd time if a pair of Aces is split and the player receives an Ace again. It is the opposite of NRSA.

RSA

See ‘Resplitting aces allowed’.

Running count

The running count is an element of card counting. It is the total count of the values assigned to the cards dealt.

Shoe

The shoe is the container in which the deck or packs of cards are placed. They are designed to hold up to 8 packs of cards.

Soft hand

A soft hand is a hand that contains an Ace that can be worth 1 or 11 points. It is more flexible than a hard hand.

Splitting

Splitting is one of the basic actions in blackjack. It allows the player to divide a hand made up of two identical cards into two hands played separately.

Spread

The spread refers to the number of boxes used by a player.

Standing

Standing means not taking an additional card.

Stiff

The word stiff refers to a hand that is difficult to win. It is often a stiff hand with a value between 12 and 16.

Strong hand

See “Pat hand”.

Surrender

Surrendering is an option that may be offered to players depending on the rules of the blackjack game they are playing. This option allows the player to surrender the game after the first deal and get back half of their bet.

Tie

See “Push”.

Triple seven

Triple seven is a special rule in which a player wins 3:2 if they get 21 with three 7 cards.

True count

In the most commonly used card counting strategy, the true count is the running count divided by the number of decks used.

Upcard

The upcard is the dealer's face-up card.

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