Blackjack Vocabulary

Learn these commonly used Blackjack terms and feel more at home at an online blackjack table:

Hole Card

Players’ cards are dealt face up but the Dealer’s first card is kept face down until it’s the Dealer’s turn to play. The face down card is called the Hole Card. There is no Hole Card in European Blackjack.

Hit

The Hit button is one of the main player controls at an online blackjack table.  If you’d like another card to try and get closer to 21, click on the Hit button.

Stand

The other main player control is the Stand button. If you think your hand is better than what the Dealer will be dealt, don’t draw another card just keep what you have and click on Stand.

Bust (or Break)

This is a word that you don’t really want to hear when you’re playing Blackjack.  If you draw a card that brings your total to more than 21 you have Bust and have lost the hand (except in Vegas-style Blackjack where you might still have a chance of winning – see Types of Blackjack).

Split

If you are dealt two very good cards – two tens, face cards or Aces – you have the option to Split them and play them as two hands. Whatever you initially bet on your one hand will be wagered on each of the two hands. Your bet will be doubled but so will your chances of winning.

Double (or Double Down)

If your first two cards total 9, 10 or 11 (excluding Aces) you will have the option of doubling your bet before you draw a third card.

Insurance

If the Dealer’s hand is showing an Ace or a 10, then it is possible that the next card dealt could result in a Blackjack hand. In this case, you have the option of purchasing Insurance, essentially a side bet on whether or not the Dealer will get a Blackjack. Insurance costs half of what you wagered on the hand. You win double the insurance bet if the dealer does get a Blackjack, but you lose it if they don’t.  This way you do not lose your original bet (because you get the 2x half your original bet, plus the insurance amount back).

Surrender

Some Blackjack tables allow you to fold your hand after the first or second card. If you Surrender you only lose half of your wager. This has to be done before picking up a third card, Splitting or Doubling.