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Action
This is a general gambling term which refers to the total
amount of money bet in a specific period of time. Ten bets
of 15 dollars each is $150 of action.
Burn Card
A single card taken from the top of the deck or the first
card in a shoe which the dealer slides across the table from
his/her left to the right, and is placed into the discard
tray. The card may or may not be shown face up (which can
affect the count if you are counting cards). A card is burned
after each shuffle.
Basic Strategy
A playing system that provides the long-run, optimal way to
play, based on the players cards and the dealers exposed cards.
Cut Card
A solid colored card, typically a piece of plastic which is
given to a player by the dealer for the purpose of cutting
the deck(s) after a shuffle.
Hole Card
Any face down card. The definition most often refers to the
dealer's single face down card.
Shoe
A device that can hold up to eight decks of cards which allows
the dealer to slide out the cards one at a time.
Hard Hand
A hand in which any Ace is counted as a 1 and not as an 11,
or a hand without an Ace. Example: If your hand consists of
an Ace, 7, and a 9, you have a hard 17.
Soft Hand
A hand in which any Ace is counted as an 11 and not as a 1.
Example: If your hand consists of an Ace and a 6, you have
a soft 17.
Pat Hand
A hand with a total of 17 to 21.
Stand
To decline another card.
Hit
To request another card.
Bust
When a hand's value exceeds 21....a losing hand.
Push
A tie between the player and the dealer.
Surrender
A casino rule which allows a player to discontinue play after
receiving the 1st two cards by losing half of the amount wagered.
Pair
When a player's first two cards are numerically identical
(ie, 8,8).
Anchor or 3rd Base
The last player to the dealers right at the blackjack table.
1st Base
The first player on the dealers left at the start of each
hand.
Counter
Someone who counts cards.
Point Count
The net value of the card count at the end of a hand. (A card
counting term.)
Running Count
The count from the beginning of the deck or shoe. The running
count is updated by the value of the point count after each
hand. (A card counting term.)
True Count
The running count adjusted to account for the number of cards
left in the deck or shoe to be played. (A card counting term.)
Rich Deck
A partial deck that has a disproportionately high percentage
of face cards and aces.
Bankroll
The available money a player plans to bet with.
Unit
The dollar amount of a basic bet; one chip.
Flat Bet
A bet which you do not vary ie, if you are flat betting five
dollars, you are betting $5 each and every hand without changing
the betting amount from one hand to the next.
Black Chip
A $100 chip.
Green Chip
A $25.00 chip.
Red Chip
A $5.00 chip.
Foreign Chip
A chip that is issued by one casino and is honored by another
as cash. A casino is not necessarily obligated to accept them
although many in Las Vegas do.
Settlement
The resolving of the bet. Either the dealer takes your chips,
pays you, or in the case of a push, no exchange of chips occurs.
Toke
To "toke" the dealer is just another word for tipping
the dealer.
Marker
An IOU. A line of credit provided by the casino to a player.
Junket
An organized group of gamblers that travel to a casino together.
Junkets are usually subsidized by a casino to attract players.
Comp
Short for complimentary. Based on the amount of money you
play at a table, the casino (hotel) may give you things like
a free room or free food, etc.
Shuffle Up
Prematurely shuffling the cards to harass a player who is
usually suspected of being a counter.
Pit
The area inside a group of gaming tables. The tables are arranged
in an elliptical manner, the space inside the perimeter is
the pit.
Pit Boss
An employee of the casino whose job is to supervise BlackJack
players, dealers, and other floor personnel.
House
The Casino.
Cage
Short for cashier's cage. This is where chips are redeemed
for cash, checks cashed, credit arranged, etc.
House Percentage
The casino's advantage in a particular game of chance.
Drop Percentage
That portion of the player's money that the casino will win
because of the house percentage. It is a measure of the amount
of a player's initial stake that he or she will eventually
lose. On average this number is around 20 percent.
Head-On
To play alone at a BlackJack table with the dealer.
High Roller
A big money bettor.
Grinder
A small money bettor. Mechanic: Someone who is elite in regards
to manipulating cards, typically for illicit purposes.
Shill
A house employee who bets money and pretends to be a player
to attract customers. Shills typically follow the same rules
as the dealer which makes them somewhat easy to spot (ie,
they don't Double Down or Split).
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