Bankroll The stake (available money) a player plans to bet with.

Basic Strategy – A computer-developed method for playing blackjack that may be easily memorized by a player without counting cards.

Breaking Hand (Stiff) – A hand that will break (go over 21) with a one-card draw, such as a hard 12,13,14,15 or 16.

Burn Card A single card taken from the top of the deck or the first card in a shoe which the dealer slides across the table from his/her left o the right, and is placed into the discard tray. The card may or may not be shown face up (which can affect the count if you are counting cards). A card is burned after each shuffle.

Bust When a hand's value exceeds 21... a losing hand.

Counting – The ability of a player to keep an accurate mental record of the cards that have been played. Can allow players to have a relatively good idea of which cards remain in the shoe.

Doubling Down – An option in which the player, feeling he/she has a good hand which will win with one more card, turns his/her two cards face up and adds to his/her bet by as much as his/her original bet. This gets him one additional card.

Draw – To obtain additional cards to the original two cards.

Face Card – The King, Queen or Jack.

First Base – The first seat at the blackjack table, immediately to the left of the dealer.

Hard Count – The true face value of the cards being played with.

Hard Hand – A hand without an ace, or a hand with an ace that can only be counted one way (for example, an ace, 6 and 9).

Hit To request another card.

Hole Card Any face down card. The definition most often refers to the dealer's single face down card.

Insurance – A side bet offered to the player by the house, when the dealer's face-up card is an ace, that the dealer has a 10 as his/her hole card, making blackjack. Pays 2 to 1.

Natural – A total of 21 in only two cards. Automatic winner pays 3 to 2.

Pat Hand – A hand with a total of 17 to 21.

Pit Boss An employee of the casino whose job is to supervise Blackjack players, dealers, and other floor personnel.

Point Count – The net value of the card count at the end of a hand.

Press – To increase the size of the subsequent wager.

Push – A tie between the dealer and player in which no money changes hands; a standoff.

Shoe – A dealing box for multiple-deck games.

Soft Hand – A hand with an ace, which can be counted as 11 (for example, an ace and 7 can be counted as 8 or 18).

Splitting Pairs – An option the player has with two original cards of the same denomination (4s, 8s etc.) of splitting the two cards and playing each hand individually.

Stand – What a player does when he/she is satisfied with his/her existing cards and stays with his/her hand as is.

Surrender – This is not available in all casinos. The ability of the player to give up only half his/her bet when the player believes he/she cannot beat the dealer. Must be done before any cards are drawn.

Third Base – The last seat at the blackjack table, immediately to the right of the dealer.

Toke – The tip or gratuity given to dealers from players.

“21” – Another name for the game of blackjack. Also, the winning total in blackjack.