In sports betting, a push occurs when the final score lands exactly on the point spread or total, and all bets are refunded.

Casino & Table Games

Push

Also called

tie, standoff¹²

Applies to

blackjack and blackjack-derived variants where equal hand totals can result in a tie¹³

Push 22 side bet

Some variants offer a side bet that pays 11 to 1 if the dealer busts with a 22 and the player's hand pushes⁴

Key points

• A push in blackjack means the player and dealer have equal hand totals below 22, and the bet is returned with no win or loss.¹²
• In sports betting, a push cancels wagers on point spreads or totals when the final score lands exactly on the line.
• Some blackjack variants treat a dealer 22 as a push against standing bets, rather than a bust.⁵

Example of a push in blackjack

You are dealt a 10 and a 7 for 17. The dealer shows a 9 and a hidden card. The dealer draws an 8, also reaching 17. Since both totals are equal and below 22, the hand is a push. Your original bet is returned, and no money is won or lost.¹

Common questions

Where this term is used

• Blackjack

Not the same as

• Blackjack — the game itself, whereas a push is one possible outcome within that game

Related terms

Sources

1. Glossary of blackjack terms en.wikipedia.org Provides the standard definition of a push as a tie in blackjack.
2. Blackjack en.wikipedia.org Supports the definition and distinguishes push from blackjack.
3. Basic Strategy for Some Simplified Blackjack Variants arxiv.org Confirms that push applies to blackjack and its variants.
4. Push 22 wizardofodds.com Documents the Push 22 side bet paying 11 to 1.
5. Blackjack Switch wizardofodds.com Explains the dealer 22 push rule in Blackjack Switch.

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.