blackjack

Blackjack Terminology

Learn what happens when you Bust, Double Down, Hit, Buy Insurance, Push, Stand or Surrender your hand in the game of blackjack.  Learn the game play by knowing what each of the above means and how they affect your game play at the blackjack tables.

Quick Links
What is a Bust in blackjack?
What is Doubling in blackjack?
What it means to Hit?
What is Insurance in a blackjack game?
What is a Push in Blackjack?
What it means to Stand?
What does it mean to Surrender in Blackjack?



What does Bust mean in Blackjack?

When you or the dealer goes bust it means that the value of the hand went over twenty-one.  When you bust you lose, when the dealer busts you will win (assuming that you haven't busted or surrendered before the dealer played its hand).

A busted hand in progress
Your initial cards
7 Six
You decide to hit your hand.

Your completed hand
7 Six king
You have 23, you bust!  If you bust you will lose your wager, if the dealer busts you will win if you hand is still alive.  If you and the dealer both bust it is not a push, you lose no matter what if you bust.


What is Doubling in Blackjack?

When you double down you will receive one more card and only one more card.  When you double you will be doubling your wager as well.

How doubling down works

Your initial cards and wager
bet
4 7


If you double down, you will receive one (and only one) card and your wager will be doubled
bet
4 7 King
If you beat the dealer you will be paid out 2x your original wager, if you tie your hand will be a push and if you lose you will lose 2x your wagers.


Your Completed Hand
4 7 King

Dealer's Completed Hand
7 Ace

You win! You will be paid out your original wager + the double bet. For example: $5 (wager) + $5 (double bet) = $10 winnings!

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What does it mean to "Hit"?

When you hit you are asking the dealer for an additional card.  You can keep on hitting until you have 21 or over.

How to hit a hand in blackjack

Your initial cards
7 4

After you have decided to hit your and you will receive an additional card.

King
If you beat the dealer you will be paid out your wager, if you tie your hand will be a push and if you lose you will lose your wager.

Your Completed Hand
7 4 King

Dealer's Completed Hand
Ace 7

You win!  You will be paid out your wager.  For example: $5 (wager) = $5 winnings!

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What does it mean to buy "Insurance"?

Buying insurance is a side bet which is available when the dealer's up card is an Ace.  When you are buying insurance you placing a bet that the dealer has an face card in the hole, giving the dealer a Blackjack.  The bet is equal to half your initial wager.  The dealer will pay out the insurance bets once the dealer has checked his hole card to see if he has a Blackjack.  If the dealer doesn't have a Blackjack all the insurance bets will be collected and the game will proceed like a normal hand.  There is a house advantage in buying insurance so it is recommended to not buy insurance at the Blackjack tables.

Buying insurance

Dealers Up Card
King

You decide to buy insurance

Dealer's Completed Hand
King Ace

The dealer has a BJ, you win the insurance bet, but lose your wager!

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What is a "Push"?

A push is when you and the dealer have the same hand value.  When this happens your bet will be returned.  You don't win anything and you don't lose anything.  To see what a pushed hand in blackjack looks like, check out our demonstration below.

Your initial cards
King 7
You decide to stand

Your Completed Hand
King 7

Dealer's Completed Hand
Six 7 4

Both hands have 17, you push!  If you push, you will have all the chips you spent returned, including your initial wager, chips spent on splitting pairs and doubling down.

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What does it mean to "Stand"?

When you stand you are telling the dealer that you do not want anymore cards.

How standing works in Blackjack

Your initial wager
five dollar bet

Your initial cards
7 Ace
If you choose to stand, you will receive no more cards.  If you beat the dealer you will win an amount equal to your wager, a tie will be a push and if the dealer beats you, you will lose your wager.

Your Completed Hand
7 Ace
Dealer's Hand
King seven

You win! You will be paid out an amount equal to your original wager.
For example: $5 (wager) = $5 winnings!

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What does it mean to "Surrender"?

Some types of Blackjack games, you will have the choice to save half your wager by surrendering your hand.  When you surrender you are essentially folding your hand, in order to get back half your wager.  There is only a handful of situations when you should surrender your hand.  You should only surrender when you have a less than 25% chance of winning your hand.


When to surrender in Blackjack

If you don't think you can remember when to surrender, just remember this one hand.  A sixteen hand, when the dealer up card is a ten or face card is the worst possible hand to have and should always be surrendered.



Your Hand

Dealer's up Card

9

10

Ace

15

Hit

Surrender

Hit

16

Surrender

Surrender

Surrender


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