Casino Blackjack Terminology

Are you interested in becoming a great casino Blackjack player? If so, you’ll need more than the luck of the cards on your side. 21 Blackjack is an incredibly complex game that involves a bit of luck and a lot of skill. To become a great player, it’s important to gather all of the knowledge you can about Blackjack to succeed, including this important terminology you’ll often hear at the tables.

At the beginning of every Blackjack game, each player is dealt two cards. A “natural Blackjack” occurs in casino Blackjack when a player receives a card total of 21 without making a move. A “natural Blackjack” must be composed of either a 10 or face card plus an Ace.

Knowing the difference between a “hard total” and a “soft total” is vital to casino Blackjack play. A “soft total” is used to describe a hand that uses an Ace as an 11-point card. A “hard total” is a hand that either does not have an Ace at all, or uses the Ace as a 1-point card.

In casino Blackjack, a “stiff hand” is something you don’t want to have. It’s slang for any hand with a value between 12 and 16 that, if accepting a hit, will bust if the player receives a card with a value of 10.