In blackjack, Hole Card is the card that is placed face-up in the deck before any other cards are dealt. This card is also known as the “upcard.”
The Hole Card determines the first dealer in the hand, and also sets the number of decks used in that particular blackjack game. In standard blackjack, there are two possible Hole Cards – either an Ace (1) or a Deuce (2).
In Spanish blackjack, there is only one possible Hole Card – a King (10). .
The purpose of the Hole Card is to eliminate any potential possibilities for aces or deuces being dealt as the first card of the hand. As such, it’s important for players to keep track of which suit (diamonds, hearts, clubs) the Hole Card is in order to make informed decisions during play.
In some variants of blackjack, such as Spanish blackjack, if a player holds aces (or 10s), they are automatically given the option to surrender their hand without playing further. Conversely, if a player holds any other card other than an ace or 10, they are then automatically given the option to place their bet.
