If you’re an avid Blackjack player or are looking to pull up a seat at the Blackjack table for the first time – virtually or in person – you may want to learn some essential terminology words and phrases before you play your next game.
This will help you sound more like a pro, as well as understand the lingo flying across the table when the gameplay is in full swing.
So, if you’re looking to get to grips with some Blackjack terminology when you play online casino games, or visit a land-based casino establishment, we’ve gathered some Blackjack lingo below, to help you start sounding like a pro in no time.
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Anchorman
A player who’s sitting at the Blackjack table, and is last to play the dealer, is also known as an Anchorman.
Blackjack
Not only is Blackjack the name of the game, but it’s also the name given to a ‘perfect hand’. In Blackjack, if the two original cards you’re dealt consist of an Ace and a 10 (numbered or Royal card), this is known as a perfect hand – the hand totals 21 without having to add any additional cards.
Cold Deck
If the box holding all the cards, also known as a shoe, is dishing out awful cards, causing players to lose too much, this is known as a cold deck.
Discard
After cards have been used within a game, they’re placed into a pile to one side until a new shoe is needed. These discarded cards will then be reshuffled and placed into a new show, ready for re-use.
Hit
If you wish to add another card to your hand to help you reach a total of 21, you can ask the dealer to ‘hit’ you with another card.
Flat Betting
If a player is wagering the same amount each game, hand after hand, game after game, they’re considered to be ‘flat betting’.
There’s nothing wrong with doing this and it’s perfectly legal to do. It’s just known as a non-adventurous bet.
Split
If you’re dealt two cards of the same value, you’re given the option to either stick or split, matching your initial wager.
If you split, you’ll be playing with two separate hands.
Stand
Whenever you reach a point within gameplay where you’re happy with the hand of cards you have, and you wish to stick with what you have, tell the dealer you wish to stand, meaning you require no further cards.
You can tell the dealer this after your first two cards have been dealt, or after you’ve added additional cards to your deck – whenever you’re happy with your hand.
Up Card
This term refers to the fact that you can only see one of the dealer’s cards as you play your hand. One of their cards is faceup, the ‘up card’, and the other of their cards is facedown.
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Now you know some Blackjack lingo, will you be using any yourself when you next take a seat at the table?