What is a Bust Card in Blackjack?

In blackjack, the term bust card refers specifically to the card that pushes a player’s (or dealer’s) hand above 21, causing the hand to bust. Busting is an undesirable outcome in blackjack because it means you automatically lose the game regardless of the value of the dealer’s hand. This is why many people ask questions like, what are bust cards in blackjack?

Although there’s no specific card that makes you go bust automatically, some cards increase the risk of exceeding 21, and these cards are sometimes referred to as bust cards. These are high-value cards such as 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings. Aces can be considered bust cards too, depending on whether you assign a value of 1 or 11 to them.

The term “bust card” may also be applied more specifically to the dealer’s cards. In this case, it is called the “dealer bust card,” and it refers to cards that can cause the dealer to exceed 21 if drawn. Cards with a value of 10 are potential dealer bust cards. Knowing what these cards are and how to look out for them will help you make smarter decisions and have a better blackjack strategy.