Blackjack is a game of strategy, luck and chance. To make the most of your gaming experience you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the rules and the terminology. Some of these terms will pop up in our blackjack articles, while others you’ll find in the rules section of OJO’s site. This article is a short guide to the most commonly used terms in blackjack.
The total value of a hand, including any side bets. The highest possible hand in blackjack is a natural (blackjack), consisting of an ace and one card worth 10 points.
Doubling down is a player option to place an additional wager for the chance of getting a higher-value card when they have a strong chance of making a hand close to 21 or 21. Doubling down is not profitable for everyone, but when done correctly it can increase your chances of winning big.
A side bet that is paid at 2-1 if the dealer has a blackjack. Insurance is a good bet to make when the dealer’s up card is an ace, as it will protect your original stake in case the dealer has a blackjack and you bust.
An amount of money a player sets aside for a single session of play at the blackjack table. This is usually separate from the player’s day-to-day bankroll. This is to ensure that the player will not lose his or her entire bankroll on a bad streak.
A casino employee who deals the cards at a blackjack table. A shoe is a device that holds multiple decks of cards for the dealer to deal to players. Shoe dealers can also be found at online casinos.
The number of rounds in a blackjack game before the deck is reshuffled. This is an important statistic for players to know because it can help them determine how many hands they have a chance of winning in a given session.
If you have an ace and a ten-point card as your initial two cards, then you can split them into two separate blackjack hands. Essentially, you’ll be dealt two new cards and will have to choose whether or not to double them. Doubling after splitting is a great way to improve the odds of a strong blackjack hand, but it isn’t always profitable.
The advantage the house has over a player in blackjack. This edge can be calculated using a variety of methods, including card counting. This technique, however, is considered illegal in some jurisdictions.