Apron
The part of the table that is the closest to the players. It is clear of print and it is where the players store their chips, ashtrays, or drinks.
Blackjack Definitions
51 terms in this category. Open any term for full dictionary detail.
Basic Strategy
The optimum way for the blackjack player to play his hands, given a prescribed set of house rules; also called "basic". Also known as "The Book". This was created by Edward O. Thorp and described in detail in his book "Beat the Dealer".
Betting Circle
The betting circle is where the players place their bets and this area is usually marked. The wager must be in the betting area to be a legal wager. Most casinos have 7 betting areas per table so 7 people can play… but you will usually only see 6 chairs.
Betting True Count
The value of the true count, adjusted to reflect the number of aces, rich, or poor.
Blackjack
(1) Name of the game in which a player tries to get closer than the dealer to a count of 21, without going over. (2) This is when you have a 10 value card and an ace card on your original two cards.
Book, The
This is the small plastic strategy card that you can buy at any gift shop. This tells the player the recommended way of playing a hand.
Boxing the Deck
A shuffling technique where a third of the deck is brought from the bottom to the top.
Break
Also known as Bust, this is when the player goes over 21 and loses the hand.
Bust
Also known as Break, this is when the player goes over 21 and loses the hand.
Call for Insurance
To call the attention of the players to the dealers hand when an ace is showing so they can make an insurance bet.
Center of the Table
This is the area where the dealer shuffles the cards and handles cheques.
Cold Turkey
This is when two face cards are dealt.
Cover Bet
A bet made by the counter to disguise from pit bosses the fact that the player is counting (such as a large, be off-the-top, a small be with a favorable count, or a large bet with an unfavorable count).
Cover Play
A play of the hand, (usually a strategy error) made by a counter to disguise from the the pit bosses the fact that he is counting.
Crimp
This is when the player bends, indents or crimps the top or side of the blackjack card in order to track it.
Cutting The Deck
Every time the dealer shuffles the deck, they hand the player a yellow card. The player is supposed to take this card and put it in the deck somewhere in the middle.
Double Down
The player will normally double down on a 9, 10 or 11 and they must make an additional wager that is equal to or lessor then their original bet. The player will only receive one card and no more.
Double Exposure
A blackjack game in which both dealer cards are shown to the players before the player plays his hand; other rules are changed to restore the house, the overall edge in most such games.
Double the Bank
The goal of most card counters or teams: to double the original playing stake. The bank is often broken at this point.
Early Surrender
The player option of giving up half of the bet before the dealer checks to determine whether he has a blackjack.
Five (5) Card Charlie
This is when the player has 5 cards or more that equal 21 or less.
Go Over
To exceed the count of 21 on a hand. Also known as Break or Bust
Gorilla BP
A non-counting player who receive signals from a counter. He's a "gorilla" because he need not know how to win at blackjack, yet he's playing with an edge over the house.
Hand Signal
The required motion a player must provide when signaling to the dealer what their decision is, whether that is to hit, stay, double down, or split.
Hard Hand
This is a hand that if it's hit and gets a 10 then it will bust.
Hit
This is when you draw another card adding to the hand.
Hit Card
This is the extra card that is drawn or received.
Hole Card
When a dealer deals himself a hand, he puts one card face down and one card face up. The card that is face down is called the Hole Card.
Insurance
This is an optional bet that the player can take if the dealer is showing an ace up card and the player thinks they have a blackjack. The payoff is 2 to 1.
Insurance Counter
A player who uses a special count, perfect for the insurance that. He often signals the correct insurance plate to another counter, who is playing a different system.
Insurance Line
This line is the area that players use to place their insurance bets. The bet has to be in this area to be a legal insurance wager.
Minus Count
A cumulative negative count of cards placed in play; tends to be the disadvantage of the player.
No Brainer
This phrase is normally said when the player gets a blackjack because this is an automatic winner and the player doesn't have to do anything.
Pair Splitting
Two cards, of the same value, or two ten-valued cards, when they may be split.
Pat
To keep the hand as is; no hits needed to achieve a count of 17 or more. "He had a pat hand." See-Pat Hand
Pat Hand
This is when the first two cards result in a high count and thus would not normally be hit.
Readable Dealer
A dealer whose hole card can be spotted by a player or other person in a casino.
Running Count
The cumulative value of all cards played at any given time, based on a set of pre-assigned values for each card denomination.
Sand
When the player marks the edges of the card with sandpaper.
Scratch
When the player scratches the table in order to indicate a Hit.
Shoe
This is the delivery device dealers use to deal multiple decks. It is located on the dealer's left hand side.
Single Deck
A blackjack game played with one deck, almost always hand-held by the dealer.
Snapper
Also known as a blackjack. An ace and a 10 count dealt as the first two cards to a hand.
Soft Hand
This is a hand with an ace in it that can be either one total or another.
Sorting
This is when the dealer picks up the cards in a certain way, so that order is preserved, just in case the floor needs to Back Up the Cards.
Stand
To draw no more cards.
Standing Hand
A hand which hard-totals to 17 or more, which is very likely to bust if one more card is called and therefore the player is expected to stand.
Time and a Half
When a player has a blackjack, dealer pays one-and-a-half times the amount of the bet, or 3 to 2.
True Count
The running count adjusted for the number of cards or decks remaining to be played. Also called the "true."
Tucked Cards
This is a term used when the player slides the corner of their cards under their chips and that signifies that they are staying.
Up Card
When a dealer deals himself a hand he puts one card face down and one card face up. The card that is face up is called the Up Card.