basic blackjack strategy
a simple playing strategy used to minimize the house edge without using complex techniques such as card counting, shuffle tracking, or dealer tells. Many basic playing strategies are the foundation to card counting, but these basic strategies are also suggested for non- card counters.
burn card(s)
cards that are taken out of the shoe without being dealt to the players or the dealer. After the cards are shuffled by the dealer, one or more of the cards may be "burned" before the cards are dealt.
bust
after being dealt an extra card, the player is said to "bust" if the new card causes the player's hand to total more than 21.
blackjack card counting
a system used to lower the house edge. Most systems assign "weights" to each card. The "count" indicates when the game is favorable or unfavorable for the player. Based on the count a player can place larger or smaller bets and/or make changes in playing strategy.
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cut card
a special card that is usually made of plastic that is used to cut the cards after the dealer shuffles.
double down
a player’s option to double the initial wager and to be dealt exactly one more card. The option to “double down” is only usually permitted after the player has been dealt the first two cards, however some casinos do permit the player to “double down” after splitting a pair.
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double for less
a player’s option to increase the initial wager for less than two times the original bet. In this situation a player is basically making a “double down” wager for a smaller amount than the original bet.
early surrender
a player’s option to surrender a hand and only loose half off the original wager even when the dealer has a “Blackjack”.
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even money
an "Even Money" bet is the same as an "Insurance" bet but is named differently when a player has a Blackjack.
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flat bet
when a set amount is played on every hand.
hard hand
any hand containing an Ace valued at 1 is known as a "hard Hand".
heads up
when there is only one person at any particular table.
hit
if a player decides to hit, the dealer will deal that player another card. A player can continue hitting until satisfied with the hand total or until the value of the hand exceeds 21.
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hole card
the dealer's card that is face down, and unknown until a player finishes playing their hand.
insurance
If the dealers up card is an ace, a player will normally be offered "Insurance" to protect themselves from a dealer Blackjack. Simply meaning that if the dealers up card is an ace you are given an option to bet that the dealers down card will value 10.
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late surrender
in a game of late surrender Blackjack the dealer will check his down card first, and if the dealer has a blackjack the player can not surrender.
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natural
if the first two cards dealt to a player consist of an ace and a card valuing 10, this is known as a "Blackjack" or a "Natural".
over/under
a wager that is made before the first two cards are dealt. A player bets that his cards will value over 13, or under 13
preferential shuffling
when the dealer shuffles the deck when it is favorable to the players.
push
in the case where a player and dealer tie nobody wins, this situation is known as a push or a stand off
shoe
a box of cards containing multiple decks used by the dealer.
soft hand
a hand that contains an ace valued at 11 is known as a "soft hand"
split hand
When dealt a matching pair of cards the player has the option of splitting the hand into two separate hands.
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spread
to make more than one bet before the cards are dealt is known as a “spread bet” or “spread betting”.
stand
if a player decides to stand this means they are happy with the total value of their hand and do not want to be dealt any additional cards.
stiff hand
a hand that has a low chance of winning. A hand valuing 12 –16 can be described as a “stiff hand”.
surrender
to surrender is basically a player's option of backing out of the initial wager. By surrendering the player only looses half of the original bet.
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third base
the last player at any given table to play a hand is said to be sitting at third base.
upcard
the dealer’s card that is dealt face up.
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