Blackjack
Glossary (Terms and Slang) |
As a new player, you will often hear blackjack players
using lots of blackjack terms and
slang, so we've created this list of terms
to be used as a blackjack glossary or blackjack dictionary.
You can simply use this as a reference when you hear a term
you are unfamiliar with or just read through the list and familiarize
yourself with the blackjack terms.
Anchorman
- the player in the last seat of the table, on the
dealer's far right, who is last to act.
Barring
a Player - a casino refusing to allow a player to play
in a blackjack game.
Blackjack
- an automatic winning hand containing both an Ace
and a 10 value card.
Bust
- having a hand totalling more than 21 points, an automatic
loser.
Card
Counter - a skilled player who keeps track of the cards
as they are dealt.
Card
Counting - the act of keeping track of the value of
the cards dealt at a table.
Dealer
- the casino employee, facing the players, who deals the cards
at the table.
Deck
- a standard deck of 52 cards used in blackjack.
Double
Down - the option for a player to double his bet with
only one card to come.
Draw
a Card - drawing an extra card, on top of the original
hand.
Early
Surrender - player's option to surrender half his bet
while the dealer checks for blackjack.
Favorable
Deck - the cards left in the deck are in the player's
favor.
First
Baseman - the player in the first seat of the table,
on the dealer's far left, who is first to act.
Flat
Bet - to bet the same amount each hand, without variation.
Floorman
- the casino supervisor who oversees the dealers.
Hand
- the original cards dealt to each player.
Hard
Total - any hand where there is no ace, or the ace
counts as one.
Head-to-Head
- playing the dealer one-on-one with no other players at the
table.
High
Roller - a player who bets large amounts of money.
Hit
- drawing an extra card, on top of the original hand.
Hole
Card - the dealer's unseen card.
House
- another term for the casino.
Insurance
- optional bet that can be made when the dealer is showing an
ace.
Marker
- an IOU, signed by a player who has casino credit.
Mucker
- a cheater who adds favorable cards to a multiple
deck game.
Multiple-Deck
- a game consisting of more than one deck of cards
in a shoe.
Natural
- slang for a blackjack.
Nickels
- slang for $5 casino chips.
Paint
- any Jack, Queen, or King (all painted pictures).
Pat
Hand - an original holding of hard 17 or higher.
Penetration
- number of cards the dealer deals out before shuffling.
Pit
Boss - casino supervisor who is in charge of the entire
blackjack pit.
Push
- a tie between the dealer and the player, no one wins
or loses.
Quarters
- slang for $25 chips.
Round
- complete series of play in which everyone has acted
on their hands.
Shoe
- box containing decks of cards, made to deal one at
a time.
Shuffle
- mixing up the cards before dealing them.
Single-Deck
- a game of blackjack in which only one deck of cards
is used.
Snapper
- slang for a blackjack.
Soft
Total - any hand containing an ace which has a value
of 11.
Splitting
Pairs - option to split identically ranked cards to
play as seperate hands.
Stand,
Stand Pat - the player's decision to not take any more
cards.
Stiff
Card - a card ranked from 2 to 6, which may force the
dealer to hit.
Stiff
Hand - any hand totalling 12-16, which will bust on
a 10-value card hit.
Surrender
- option of a player to forfeit half his bet after
the dealer checks for blackjack.
Ten-Poor
Deck - a deck in which more 10-value cards have been
dealt.
Ten-Rich
Deck - a deck in which less 10-value cards have been
dealt.
Ten-Value
Card - any card worth 10 points, a 10, Jack, Queen,
or King.
Third
Baseman - the player in the last seat of the table, on the dealer's
far right, who is last to act.
Tip
or Toke - a gratuity given to a dealer by a player.
Twenty-One
- another name for the game of blackjack.
Unfavorable
Deck - a deck with remaining cards favoring the casino,
not the player.
Unit
- a standard bet size.
Upcard
- the dealer's exposed card, seen by all players.