By Fiona.

Blackjack is one of the most popular games in the casino world. What may surprise many is to learn that the card game dates back to an incredibly early time in human history, having been played for centuries. With a long and storied history behind it, it isn’t a surprise that the game remains such a huge hit to this day.

It is likely that many gamblers will be introduced to the world of online casinos through slots. However, if they want to diversify, then blackjack is the most likely candidate. Before playing, it is worth getting ready for the game, and to do that, it is best to learn some of the key terminology that every blackjack player should know.

Hit & Stand

The two key words in blackjack are hit and stand. If you will learn no other terms, then learn these two, because without knowing them, it is impossible to play at the best online blackjack sites, and even in land-based gambling establishments. So, what does it mean to hit and to stand.

It is actually really simple; when the player wants an extra card deal, because they believe they can get closer to 21 without exceeding the sum, they ask for a hit. Basically, a hit is an indication that the player wants more cards. Knowing that, you can probably guess what stand is.

To stand means the exact opposite. When a player’s cards have already hit a high sum, and they don’t want to keep going, they ask to stand. The dealer then knows not to deal any more cards to this particular player.

Bust

The goal in blackjack, as many may already know, is beat the dealer.  You can do this by accumulating cards in one’s hand until the total sum of them is as close to 21 as possible or allow the dealer to play out his hand and go over 21. 

A bust is what happens when a player asks for a hit, and gets a card which takes the total sum of their hand over 21.  The same goes for the dealer.  However, if the player busts first it doesn’t matter what the dealer does.

The term is quite popular and has entered popular lexicon. For example, you might hear somebody say that their plans are a bust, in reference to the fact that they didn’t work out.

Double Down

Gambling is all about taking risks. That is where the idea of doubling down comes from. Much like bust, this term has also entered the popular lexicon, and is often used to mean somebody who has an opinion that they are very stubborn about. However, in blackjack, it means something different.

A doubling down in blackjack is what happens when a player doubles their bet after the initial two cards have been dealt. The stipulation is that afterwards, the player can only get one more card. Anyone who has read books on blackjack knows that doubling down is a high-risk, high-reward strategy.¹⁾EDITOR NOTE: I would argue that correct doubling down and/or splitting a pair in blackjack is “not” a typical high-risk/high-reward bet.  What is, are the many blackjack side-bets that are now possible in many casinos.  Most of these bets have a high casino advantage (i.e., >5%) and are usually not recommended.  Insurance is also considered a side-bet with a house advantage between 5.8-7.5%.  Stick to the base game of blackjack with a 3/2 blackjack payoff and you will usually enjoy a game with less than a 1% house advantage.   Speaking of which…

High-Risk/High-Reward

This term should be in every gambler’s vocabulary. High-risk and high-reward are staples of gambling. Usually, it is experienced gamblers with years under their belts who indulge in these types of wagers. But, what does it mean?

Well, it is pretty self-explanatory. A high-risk/high-reward wager is one where the chance of winning is significantly low. However, if the gambler manages to beat the odds and actually win, then the payout is much bigger than it would normally be.

Blackjack

We saved the best for last. Of course, blackjack is the name of the game. But it is also a term within the game. In fact, blackjack is the best possible hand that one can score when playing blackjack. But, what does the hand consist of? That is what we are going to answer in this section.

A blackjack is a hand that is consisting of an Ace (11) and a 10-value card. Usually, it would be called a blackjack if the card is the Jack of Spades. However, in modern iterations of the game, any 10-value card paired with an Ace makes up a blackjack. Which means, Ace paired with a 10, Jack, Queen or King is all blackjack.

IMAGE CREDIT: Unsplash.com

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