Blackjack - The Jargon Explained

Bust, hit, push. What does it all mean? We cut through the jargon to find out what these, and other blackjack terms, mean.

Blackjack - An Ace and either a 10, Jack, Queen or King. This results in a hand of 21.

Breaking Hand - A hand of 12 or more that can bust off a single hit (also referred to as a stiff).

Bust - If a players hand exceeds 21.

Double down - When a player doubles their stake in return for a single hit.

Draw - Any card dealt to the player after the first two.

Insurance - A side bet that pays two to one if the dealer gets Blackjack.

Hand - The cards the player receives in each round of the game.

Hit - To ask for another card from the dealer (also referred to as a twist).

Pat Hand - A hand totaling 17 or more (or 18 or more from a soft hand).

Push - When both the player and the dealer have the same total. The result is a draw and no money changes hands. The only exception is if the player has 21 from more than 2 cards, and the dealer draws blackjack.

Soft Hand - A hand with an Ac, that can't be busted with a single card.

Split - An option that allows the player to play both halves of their pair as separate hands.

Stack - The total number of chips a player has in front of them.

Stick - When a player is happy with the card total in front of them they should stick (also referred to as stand).

Ten - Any card with a face value of ten - Ten, Jack, Queen and King.

Upcard - The dealer's face up card.