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Casino Terms Glossary
Stay — is a blackjack decision where you take no more cards and keep your current hand total. Also called stand, it locks your total and passes play to the dealer. Knowing when to stay is central to basic strategy, shaping edge, risk, and long-term results for players in both live and online casino games.
Understanding Stay
In gambling, Stay meaning refers to the player choice to stand in blackjack, ending the draw and fixing your total. The formal Stay definition in casino terms is the action that shifts play to the dealer under table rules (e.g., dealer hits soft 17). It matters because staying or hitting changes expected value, bust risk, and how often the dealer must draw. Basic strategy charts tell you when to stay based on your hand and the dealer’s upcard. At 101RTP, we explain these rules, review casinos, and share tools that help you align decisions with bankroll and bonus goals.
Examples of Stay
Here are practical situations where staying is correct under common basic strategy:
- Hard 17 or more versus any dealer upcard: stay, because additional cards mostly increase bust risk.
- Total 12–16 versus dealer 4–6: stay, letting the dealer draw and often bust.
- Soft 18 (A+7) versus dealer 2, 7, or 8: stay; hitting helps mainly against stronger upcards.
- Pair splits resolved into a strong total (e.g., 9+10 = 19): stay on each finished hand.
Always check the specific table rules, as some variations slightly adjust optimal stay points.
FAQs
What is Stay in blackjack?
Stay, also called stand, is the casino term for choosing not to take another card. You lock your hand total and pass action to the dealer. This is a core blackjack move that affects expected value, bust risk, and how the gambling round resolves for the player and the house.
How do I know when to Stay?
Use a basic strategy chart that matches the table rules (like whether the dealer hits soft 17). Generally, stay on hard 17+, and on many dealer weak cards when you hold 12–16. On 101RTP, you can check strategy explainers, charts, and rule notes to decide what is optimal before you play.
Can choosing to Stay reduce the house edge?
Yes. When combined with correct basic strategy, staying at the right times reduces mistakes that increase the house edge. Smart stay decisions avoid player busts when the dealer is likely to draw out and bust. Over many hands, correct hit/stay choices bring your results closer to optimal expectations.
Is Stay the same as Surrender or Hold?
No. Stay (stand) keeps your current total and continues the hand. Surrender forfeits the hand early for half your bet back, where allowed. Hold is a video poker term meaning you keep selected cards before drawing. In blackjack, the precise term is stay/stand, not hold or keep.
Do online blackjack games handle Stay the same as live tables?
Yes, but verify rules. RNG blackjack and live-dealer tables follow posted house rules, which influence when staying is best (e.g., number of decks, dealer hits/stands on soft 17). 101RTP reviews flag rule variants and fairness so you can pick a casino and game that match your strategy.
Why does the dealer’s upcard affect the Stay meaning in practice?
Because the upcard changes the dealer’s bust odds and your expected value. Against weak upcards (4–6), staying on middling totals lets the dealer draw and often bust. Against strong upcards (9, 10, A), hitting may be better. Reading the upcard turns Stay from a gut call into a calculated move.
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