As fun and exciting as the game of Blackjack is, it is important to remember that it is a very strategic game. If you want to make money, you must know how to play your cards correctly, but you must ensure that you familiarize yourself with Blackjack terms as well.

• Basic Strategy – This is a strategy that, if played correctly, reduces the house edge and increases the Player’s chances of winning. Players can optimize their game play and determine when is the most optimum moment to hit, split, stand or double.
• Bust – A score of greater than 21 means that the Player or the dealer has bust. A bust is an automatic loss.

• Double down – Double is only offered on the first 2 cards or on the first 2 cards after a Split. You will receive only one more card. This doubles your initial bet amount. You must stand after doubling whether your hand is good or bad.
• Hard Hand – Any hand that is not a Soft Hand.
• Hit – To take a card in an attempt to make the best possible hand. You may continue to hit until you decide to stand or until you bust.
• Hole Card – This is the Dealer’s Face Down card.
• Insurance – Insurance is a side bet, placed separately on a special portion of the table, where the Player is offered 2:1 odds that the Dealer’s hole card is valued at 10 when his face up card is an Ace. The Player desirous of taking Insurance can bet up to half of his original bet.
• Pair – Two cards of one rank.
• Push – A tie is commonly referred to as a Push and occurs when neither the Player nor the Dealer wins. In this instance, the Player’s bet is returned.
• Shoe – A box that is used to deal the cards.
• Soft Hand – This is a hand that consists of an Ace, which can either be counted as a 1 or an 11. An Ace and an 8 can either be counted as 9 or a soft 19.
• Split – If your first 2 dealt cards are of the same value, you may opt to Split the w cards and play them as 2 separate hands. Both hands must have bets equal to the initial bet. In most cases, up to 3 Splits is allowed. Doubling down after a Split is often but not always allowed.
• Stand – If the Player is satisfied with his cards, he may Stand, meaning not to take any more cards.
• Stiff – A hand where the draw of one card will cause you to bust is referred to as a Stiff. Examples of a Stiff hand are 13 and 15. In the case of 13, the draw of a 9, 10, or any Face Card will cause a Bust. In the case of 15, the draw of a 7, 8, 9, 10, or any Face Card will cause a Bust.
• Surrender – This option allows you to forfeit your hand and half of your bet. It is common to use this option after seeing your first 2 cards and the dealer’s face up card and weighing your chances of winning.
• Upcard – The Face Up card for the Dealer.