Terms and Definitions

Basic strategy- This strategy is not based on card counting, shuffle tracking or dealer tells. It is meant to increase your advantage over the house as much as possible. Although it is not based on card counting, it is a good starting point. Basic strategy is used by card counters and non-card counters alike.

Burn cards- The dealer will shuffle the cards and then one player is chosen to cut the deck. Before any cards are dealt, some of these cards are discarded. These discarded cards are known as burn cards.

Bust- As a direct result of asking for a hit your card total exceeds 21. Your hand is called "bust".

Card counting- By using card counting the player is supposed to know when the deck is in his favor and when it is favorable for the house. Certain values are attributed to each card. As cards are dealt out of the deck the player counts those values attributed to each card. If the count is high, then the deck is favorable for him and he will place large wagers. If the count is low, then place small wagers. Card counting is also useful in making strategy changes.

Cut card- After the dealer has shuffled the cards, one player will cut the deck. The card used for cutting the deck is known as a cut card.

Double Down-Another option after being dealt your first two cards is to double down. If you do so your betting amount will be doubled, but the dealer will give you only one more card and then you have to stand and see if your hand beats the dealer's. Some casinos may allow you to double a split hand, but most casinos allow doubling down only on your initial two cards.

Double for less- Most of the times you do not have to actually double your initial wager. You may increase your bet up to the same value as your initial one, but not exceed it.

Early surrender- If the dealer gets a natural Blackjack, the player is allowed to surrender. This is a great advantage for the player, but casinos rarely allow early surrender.

Even money- If you have a blackjack and take an insurance bet, you will win the value of one bet. In some casinos you do not even have to place the insurance bet when you have a blackjack. The casinos will pay directly as if you had taken insurance. This is known as "taking even money".

First base- The first player to receive cards from the dealer. This is also known as the "first base" seat.

Flat bet- Placing the same amount of money on each and every hand.

Hard hand- A hand that is not soft.

Heads up- You are the only one playing at that blackjack table.

Hit- You ask for another card and the dealer will give you one. The value of that card will add to the values of the other cards in your hand.

Hole card- The card that the dealer has dealt to himself and that is face down.

Insurance- Whenever the dealer's face up card is an Ace you may buy insurance. Insurance costs half your initial wager, but if the dealer gets a Blackjack insurance pays 2-to-1. You just lose your initial wager. If the dealer doesn't get a Blackjack you lose your insurance and the game continues.

Late surrender- The player may give up his hand if he doesn't have a card total of 21. If the player doesn't have a blackjack he may late surrender and lose half his initial wager. But if he does have a blackjack then he will lose all his wagers.

Natural- The card total of your initial two cards is 21.

Over / under- You place a side bet that your card total will be under or over 13. Aces will be counted as 1, not as 11.

Preferential shuffling- When the deck is favorable for the player it will be shuffled. But when it is favorable for the house, shuffling will be avoided.

Push- Your card total is equal to the dealer's card total. You will win nothing, you will only get your initial bet back.

Shoe- when playing a multi deck game, the dealer can't manually hold all the cards. So a special box called "the shoe" is used to keep all the cards.

Soft hand- You have an Ace in your and if we count it as 11, your card total will not exceed 21. Since Aces can also be counted as 1, you can always hit on a soft total.

Split hand- You have the option of splitting your hand if you are dealt a pair, such as 2 Jacks or 2 Aces. You will then have two separate hands to play, but must place a second bet, equal to the one of the first hand.

Spread- You may place more than just one bet. Placing your bets must be done before the cards are dealt.

Stand- You do not want any more cards. You signal the dealer not to give you cards.

Stiff (hand) - Hands usually from 12-16 that have a high statistical chance of losing. No matter how you will play those hands you are more likely to lose than win.

Surrender- Not many casinos allow surrender. Surrender means that the player is allowed to give up the first two cards that he is dealt. Surrender costs half your initial wager. You should surrender only as a last resort, for example when giving up your hand is more profitable than playing it.

Up card- The dealer will always give himself two cards. The card that is face up is called an "up card". Blackjack is a game of decisions, and most of these decisions are based on the dealer's up card.