Blackjack Terms
Blackjack Terms for BeginnersSoft and Hard Hands
An ace can be worth 1 point or 11 in blackjack. Depending on which number you are using to add up your score, your hand can have a soft or hard total.
With a Soft Total you have room for manouevre: your ace is counted as 11, but you have the option of reducing its value to 1 if the total of your hand exceeds 21 when you get your next card.
Hit or Stand
When you Hit you ask for another card from the dealer. When you Stand, you stick with your current hand.
Bust
If your hand total goes over 21 when you reeive a card, you go bust. in this scenario, you lose your bet.
Push
When you have the same score as the dealer at the end of a round of blackjak, this is a Push. You will normally be refunded your bet in this instance.
Double Down
You can double your first bet when you see your first two cards (if you believe you have a particularly strong hand). you will receive only one more card from the dealer.
Splitting
If you get dealt a pair (ie 2 cards of the same value or tow face cards of the same type, say King-King) you are allowed to split them and run two hands side by side. You will need to bet on both hands.
Double Down Hands
If you have a Hard 9, a Hard 10 or Hard 11 you should double down.
Stiff Hands
If you have a Hard 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 your odds of beating the dealer at blackjak are low. The odds of you going bust are higher than average.
The House
The casino, the organisation running the game and taking the bets.