Before you play blackjack in a casino whether at a real brick and mortar gaming house or online it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the common terms used during the game. This will keep the game flowing and ensure that you follow what is going on and what is expected of you.

Here is a list of common blackjack terms:

Anchorman – In a group of players, the anchorman is the player positioned to the dealer's far right. The anchorman plays last in each round.

Blackjack - This is a when your initial dealt hand totals 21. A blackjack comprises a 10 or a face card together with an ace, and is also known as a "natural". A blackjack hand usually pays back at better than even odds.

Bust - A hand value that totals more than 21. This is a losing hand.

Card Counting – A method of keeping track of which cards have been played in order to estimate the value of the cards that remain to be dealt. While not illegal, some casinos may ban a player they think is employing an effective card counting system.

Double Down - Doubling your bet with only one card to come.

Early Surrender – The option to surrender half your bet while the dealer checks if he/she has blackjack.

First Baseman - The player in the first seat of the table, on the dealer's far left, who is first to act.

Hand - The initial cards dealt to each player.

Hard hand - A hard hand is a hand that doesn't contain an ace. A hard hand can also be a hand that contains an ace that must be played as a 1 in order to avoid going bust.

Head-to-Head - Playing the dealer one-on-one with no other players at the table.

Hit - Drawing an extra card from the pack to add to the initial hand.

Hole Card - The dealer's unseen card.

Insurance – An optional bet that can be made when the dealer is showing an ace. Insurance is taken against the dealer having blackjack.

Multiple-Deck - A game consisting of more than one deck of cards in a shoe. Most casinos use more than one deck of cards in blackjack games.

Pat hand - Any card hand with a value total between 17. Basic strategy for blackjack is to never take a hit to a pat hand. This is a good hand and likely to be win.

Push – Your hand ties with the dealer. A push wins your original bet back, and you don't win or lose any money.

Soft hand - A soft hand contains an ace giving you a choice of how to play it. You can declare you ace to be either a value of one or eleven which may help safeguard you from going bust.

Round – A complete series of play in which each player has acted on their dealt hands and the winner has been decided.

Shoe – A box holding decks of cards that enable them to be dealt one at a time.

Shuffle - Mixing up the cards before dealing them.

Soft Total - A hand containing an ace where the ace has a value of 11.

Splitting Pairs – The option to split identically valued cards to play each card as a separate hand.

Stand, Stand Pat - The decision to not take any more cards from the dealer and stay with your current hand.

Ten-Value Card - Any card worth 10 points, such as a ten, Jack, Queen, or King.