Gambling terms, explained straight

Casino & Table Games

Hit (blackjack)

In blackjack, a hit is a request for one more card from the dealer, taken by tapping the table or saying 'hit'. A player may keep hitting while the hand total is 21 or under; if it exceeds 21 the hand busts and loses.

Also called
draw another card, take another card23
Effect
If the hand total exceeds 21 after a hit, the hand busts and loses.13

Key points

  • A player may keep hitting as long as the hand total is 21 or under.23
  • After more than two cards, hit and stand are usually the only actions available.2
  • Hit is one action within the game of blackjack, not a hand type or payout condition.23

Where this term is used

Casino games Blackjack terms and phrases Glossary of common blackjack terminology. Casino games Stand (blackjack) The alternative to hitting: refusing more cards. Casino games Hold (blackjack terms) The percentage of money the casino keeps from blackjack action. Casino games Blackjack Overview of the card game and its basic rules. Casino games Insurance blackjack A side bet offered when the dealer shows an ace. Casino games Basic strategy blackjack Mathematically optimal decisions for every player hand.

Sources

  1. Glossary of blackjack terms en.wikipedia.org Defines hit and bust in the glossary of blackjack terms.
  2. Blackjack en.wikipedia.org Explains the hit action and its role in standard blackjack play.
  3. Blackjack wizardofodds.com Describes hitting as a player decision and the bust rule.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.