As you might expect of a game that has been popular across centuries and remains fully part of the cultural landscape, blackjack has built up a significant lexicon over the years.
Like all games, the terms and acronyms can make the game feel inaccessible to beginners, yet there is also a logic to it, as the language of the game has evolved over time.
Below, we highlight some of the important terms, acronyms and slang of the world’s most popular casino game:
General Play Terms
Blackjack – the name of the game. A card game where the goal is to achieve a score of 21 or as close to 21 as possible while beating the dealer’s score. Blackjack is also the name for the game’s best hand, making 21 with two cards; also called a “natural”.
Hand – Your cards.
Hole card – the dealer’s (face-down) card that you can’t see until the end of the game.
Upcard – the dealer’s card that you can see.
Hit – receive another card.
Stand – conclude the game without receiving any more cards.
Bust – exceed a score of 21, losing the game.
Double down – double the wager and receive one final card.
Split – split a hand into two separate hands. This requires an additional bet and is only available under certain circumstances.
Push – when the game is declared a tie as the player and dealer have the same score at the end. Bets are returned.
Insurance – a side bet on the prospect of the dealer having blackjack
Surrender – a strategy to quit the game while forfeiting only half the bet.
Blackjack Acronyms
CSM – Continuous Shuffling Machine. A gadget that constantly shuffles the cards; not desirable when you are card counting.
HE – House Edge. The theoretical advantage that the casino has over the player. Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges, which explains its popularity.
RTP – Return to Player. More applicable to online blackjack games, RTP is the theoretical expected return to the player over time.
EV – Expected Value. The expected return of a specific game decision over time. An important metric for blackjack strategy.
BS – Basic Strategy. Simple blackjack strategy.
PP – Perfect Pairs. A type of side bet hand. Perfect Pairs refer to two cards of the same value and suit, e.g., two Jacks of Diamonds.
DAS – Double After Split. The game rules allow you to double down on split hands.
NDAS – No Double After Split. As above, when the game doesn’t allow doubling down on split hands.
Cultural Terms & Blackjack Slang
86’d – being banned from a casino for success.
Action – the amount of money being bet
Bankroll – the amount of money you have
Pat Hand – a strong hand made up of two cards, e.g., a 10 and a 9, that doesn’t require an additional card.
Stiff Hand – a weak hand made up of two cards, usually valued between 12 and 16. This is undesirable.
Hot Deck/Cold Deck – A hot deck has dealt several good hands (for the players) in a row. A cold deck is the opposite.
First Base – the player immediately to the dealer’s right who receives the first cards and acts first. Third base refers to the player who acts last.
Card Counting – a strategy based on keeping a tally of the cards dealt, allowing you to make educated guesses based on the probability of what comes next from the deck. Despite movies like Rain Man making it out to be taboo, it’s not illegal. Also, basic card counting strategies are not that difficult.
Wonging – an advanced blackjack strategy, named after John Ferguson (who went by the pseudonym Stanford Wong), a legendary blackjack player, author and game theorist.
Ploppy – a poor/unskilled player.
Pressing – increasing your bet after you win.
Paint – a slang term for a face card, e.g., Jack or Queen.
Monster – a very strong starting hand, such as 20.