Blackjack Glossary

Action: All of the money bet in a certain amount of time. For example, 10 bets of $10 equal $100 of action in a session of black jack.

Bankroll: The specific dollar amount of cash in a player’s personal possession. This bankroll is the amount of money a player is ready to spend in one black jack session, or for the entire night.

Bet sizing: A strategy where the player places a bet that corresponds with the advantage he has, or thinks he has against the dealer.

Black play: A popular term used when $100 or larger bets are placed. Also know as black action.

Burn card: The card taken from the top, before every hand is dealt to reduce players the ability to cheat.

Bust: When the players hand is over 21, they lose and the hand is over.

Buy-in: To purchase additional chips with your bankroll. This can only be done before or after a hand is completes, never during.

Card counting: Card counters use their knowledge of face cards to count how many cards are left, to make them a desirable hand. These black jack players are not well liked by casino management and are often coined as cheaters. There are many different systems and strategies to card counting. This strategy is difficult to master and still only gives the player a small advantage against the house.

Chip(s): Tokens used for betting, which represent different amounts of cash. For example, red chips equal $5. Green chips equal $25 and black chips equal $100.

Comp: An abbreviation for the word complimentary. Casinos often compensate patrons with prizes, meals, rooms and bonuses.

Cut card: A solid, colored plastic card which is given to the play to cut the deck of cards. This card is also used to mark the last deck in a shoe.

Double down: This is when a player increases their bet by twice as much before taking another 3rd card. Players must also increase their bets. Doubling down is a risk that many players take due to being able to reap the rewards, if they win.

Double up: When a player increases their bet, in hopes the dealer will increase as well.

Duke: A very rare and profitable hand.

Edge: A popular term used to state the advantage the house has over the players.

First base man: This is the person sitting closest to the dealer and receives the first cards.

George: Slang for a player who tips generously and often.

Grinder: A stingy, passive player who places small bets. Many times these players are manipulative or may be a cheater.

Hole card: All cards which are placed face down.

Head-on: To play solely and privately with the dealer.

Hit: When a player requests an additional card, to increase their hand size.

Hot Deck: A deck which produces high hand strengths, pure luck.

Insurance: If the dealer turns over an Ace, you can take insurance. When you have chosen insurance, you have only put down half of your original bet.

Joker: This is a bonus card when included in the game of 21. If a player comes across this card in bonus games, it equals an automatic 21.

Late surrender: A rule in black jack where must give up half of this bet after seeing the dealer’s card. This does not happen if the dealer possesses a 21.

Low roller: Players who place small bets and are relatively passive.

Multiple decks: A term used in many card games to signify more than one deck to be used in a match.

Natural: When an Ace and a 10 card are dealt in the first hand. Also known as a black jack.

Nut: Another word for a players bank roll.

Pack: A word describing how many cards are in play. This also refers to the amount of packs of cards. For example, a two pack game.

Paint: A term for face cards like Ace, King or Queen.

Pat hand: A hand in the 17 to 21 total range.

Pit boss: Manager of black jack games.

Point count: The end of a hand where all of the card point values are added up.

Press: To increase betting after a winning hand.

Push: When the player and dealer tie and no winning or bets are taken, the hand is equal.

Rack: Where all of the house chips are contained. When a player visits the cashier and cashes in a large amount of cash, they are usually given a rack to hold the chips.

Resplit: When a player splits up pairs after another similar card is dealt.

Round: A complete set of betting.

Second base: A term for the second seat at the table.

Settlement: A resolved bet. This is when the player or dealer collects chips, also when the push is settled.

Shill: Players hired by the casino to sit at a table, with a large stack of chips to attract players.

Shoe: A box contraption where all of the cards are held for safe keeping.

Soft hand: Hand with either an Ace that will be counted as 1 or 11.

Splitting: A player has the option to split card when he/she possess two matching cards. The cards are split and an additional bet must be placed for the second hand. The player’s chances can increase and they may win a significant amount from this technique.

Stand: When a player decides not to draw any additional cards and stick with their current hand strength.

Surrender: A player has the option to surrender when their cards are not to their liking. However, half of the players bet will be taken in the even of surrender.

Table hopping: The technique of moving from table to table quickly during play.

Tapping out: Loss of an entire bankroll.

Third base: The player sitting the furthest from the left of the dealer.

Toke: Tip to the dealer.

Twenty-one: Another term for the card game of black jack.

Up-card: The dealer’s first, face-up card of a specific hand.

Whale: Casino slang for a very high roller.

Win-rate: A specific amount of time which a certain amount of money is predicted to be won. Some people go in to detail as far as money per hour won.

Wong/wonging: Similar concept to table hopping.