Anchor – The seat to the dealer’s right, usually the last seat to be taken

Bankroll – The funds you have available for betting with

Basic Strategy – A set of rules you can follow in order to lower the edge the casino has over you

Blackjack – When you or the dealer have an ace and either a face card or ten dealt to you, you have blackjack.

Burn cards – These are cards that are removed from the top of the deck, before dealing commences, and placed in the disgard tray after a shuffle and a cut

Break – When your hand exceeds 21

Bust – Same as Break, when you hand exceeds 21

Card sharp – Someone who excels in card games

Charlie – Also known as a Five Card Charlie, a variation in the rules where if you hit until you have five acrds and do not bust, you win the hand

Cut – To split the deck of cards after the shuffle but before they are dealt.

Deal – The act of giving each player their cards

Double Down – In certain situations a player may double their bet and receive just one extra card to compliment their original deal. Usually done when the player holds a hard ten or eleven

Draw – Also called hit, asking and receiving another card

Face cards – Kings, Queens and Jacks

First base – The first seat taken to the dealer’s left. This is also where the first card is dealt

Hard hand – A hand without an Ace

Heads Up – A one-on-one game between the player and the dealer

Hit – Also called draw, to request and receive another card

Hole card – The card that the dealer has that remains face down until he has to reveal his hand

Insurance – A side bet of up to half the initial bet that protects against the dealer having a natural twenty-one

Late Surrender – Surrender that is only allowed if the dealer does not have blackjack

Natural – Blackjack made with an Ace and either a face card or a ten

Pat – A hand totalling 17

Push – Also known as a tie or a Stand-off. When the dealer and the player have the same hand total. The player gets to keep their initial bet in this case

Shuffle – The act of randomising the cards before they are dealt

Soft hand – A hand that contains an Ace being valued as 11 instead of 1

Split hand – Taking your initial two card hand and splitting it so you are now playing two hands. Usually done with pairs

Stand – Also known as Stay, when a player announces they do not want to draw or hit any more cards

Stiff hand – A hand that stands little chance of winning by standing but also risks busting if another card is drawn. This applies to hands valued 12 through 16

Surrender – Give up your hand but forfeit half of the bet in exchange.

Upcard – The first card the dealer receives and placed so all the players can see it