| Ace |
Can have a value of 1 or, at times 11, dependending on the value of other cards in the hand. |
| Ace-Neutralized Count |
Aces are assigned a value of zero and, in such counts, a side count of aces would be required for betting purposes. |
| Ace-Reckoned Count |
Aces are assigned a value other than zero and, in such counts, a side count of aces is not necessary for betting, but may be used for play variations. |
| Action |
Term used to identify the total amount of money a player wagers during the course of a session. |
| Backcounting |
Method where a player stands by a blackjack table, or tables, without playing, but while counting the cards, with the intent of jumping into the game once the count becomes favorable. |
| Balanced Count |
Count system where the total of all the plus-value cards and the total of all minus-value cards equal zero. |
| Barring |
Preventing a player from further playing blackjack in a casino, by formal notification from a casino employee. |
| Basic Strategy |
Derived set of play decisions that represent the optimal method of play, based solely on the player’s first two cards dealt and the dealer’s upcard. |
| Bet Spread |
The range between the player’s minimum and maximum bets. |
| Betting Circle |
Spot on the blackjack table directly in front of the player, where the bet (wager) is placed. |
| Betting Efficiency |
A measurement that shows the power of a card-counting system for betting purposes. |
| Burn Card |
A card removed from the top of a freshly shuffled deck, indicating that it will not be dealt in play. |
| Bust |
To take an additional hit(s), so that the card totals exceed 21, resulting in a losing hand. |
| Chip Tray |
The tray directly in front of the dealer, used to hold chips, sorted by denomination. |
| Comp |
A free product or service extended by the casino to the player. |
| Cut Card |
A colored plastic card, with two purposes:
- The card is inserted by the player somewhere within the deck(s) to determine where the dealer will cut.
- After the cut, the dealer inserts the card to indicate at what point the deck(s) will be reshuffled. In this use it can also be referred to as a shuffle card or stop card.
|
| Discard Tray |
The tray/holder on the table, to the dealer’s right, where all previously dealt cards and the burn card are placed face down. |
| Double Down |
The option for the player to place an additional bet, up to equal in value to the original wager, based on the value of the first two cards dealt. Doubling down is sometimes limited by the casino rules. When doubling down, the player receives only one additional card. |
| Early Surrender |
A rule that enables the player to give up one-half of the wager after looking at the first two cards dealt, for an immediate loss. If the dealer has an ace or 10 upcard, this option may be exercised before the dealer checks for a natural. |
| Element of Ruin |
The percentage chance of a player’s losing an entire bankroll. |
| Expected Value (EV)* |
Percentage of return expected from a single bet (in this case, a hand of blackjack), based on a long-term average. |
| Face Down Game |
The player’s first two cards are dealt face down, and the player is required to handle the cards. |
| Face Up Game |
The player’s cards are dealt face up, and the player is not permitted to handle the cards. |
| First Base |
Seat located on the far right of the player’s side of the blackjack table. |
| Hard Hand |
A hand where no ace is present, or where the ace is present but can be used only as a 1 value card, as being used as 11 will cause a bust. |
| Heat |
A term used to describe when casino personnel start watching a player very carefully. |
| Hit |
Either the player’s request or the dealer’s requirement to be dealt an additional card. |
| Hole card |
One of the dealer’s first two cards, which is dealt face down and not available for the player’s viewing. |
| Insurance |
A side wager offered when the dealer’s upcard is an ace. The player has the option of placing up to one-half the value of the original bet, which will win at a 2:1 rate if the dealer’s hole card is a 10, giving the dealer a natural. Winning an insurance bet offsets that of the original wager (losing bet), with the overall result being a push, unless the player has a natural. |
| Insurance Efficiency |
Measurement of the power of a card-counting system for insurance decisions. |
| Late Surrender |
A rule enabling the player to give up one-half the initial wager after looking at the first two cards dealt, for an immediate loss. However, if the dealer has a natural, the player will lose the entire bet. |
| Multi-Level Count |
The point values assigned for each card are plus 1, minus 1, zero, and also higher numbers such as plus 2, minus 2, etc. |
| Marker |
Draft signed by a player requesting chips advanced against either a credit line arranged with the casino, or money held on deposit (“front money”). |
| Natural |
When the first two cards dealt to a player or dealer are an ace and a 10. When a player receives a natural (also called a “blackjack”), the player is paid at a rate of 3:2, unless the dealer also has a natural. |
| One-Level Count |
The point values of each card are assigned plus 1, minus 1, or zero. |
| Pair Split |
The ability for the player to place an additional bet equal to that of the original wager, when the first two cards dealt are of equal value, thereby splitting the two cards to create two separate hands. |
| Pat Hand* |
A Hard Hand totaling 17-21. |
| Peek |
When the dealer is dealt an ace or 10 upcard and manually checks the hole card to determine if the hand is a natural.
Note: Today many casinos use special “auto peek” devices built into the table, which automatically read 10s or aces, as appropriate, from those cards that are specially coded. With such devices, dealers no longer manually peek at the hole card. |
| Penetration |
How far down into the deck(s) the dealer deals before shuffling. |
| Pitch |
Method whereby cards are dealt by the dealer from deck(s) held in the dealer’s hand. |
| Playing Efficiency |
Measurement of the power of a card-counting system for “play of hands” decisions. |
| Play Variation |
Play of a hand that differs from that prescribed by basic strategy, based on use of a count system.| |
| Point Value |
Plus number, minus number, or zero, which is assigned to a specific card in the deck (also called “tag value”). |
| Push |
When a player’s hand total is equal to that of the dealer (a “tie”). |
| Rating |
Method where the pit keeps track of how much money a player puts into action, mainly for the purpose of offering comps. |
| Running Count |
The cumulative count maintained, based on the point values of the cards already dealt. |
| Risk of Ruin* |
See Element of Ruin |
| Shoe |
Device used to hold cards, usually when four or more decks are used. |
| Snapper* |
Slang for a Natural, or a blackjack. |
| Soft Hand |
A hand in which an ace is present and such ace can be counted as 1 or 11. |
| Stand |
Either the player’s request or the dealer’s requirement not to be dealt any additional cards. |
| Stiff |
A hand totaling 12–16. |
| Ten-Value Card |
Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings all have a value of 10. |
| Third Base |
Seat to the far left of the blackjack table, from the player’s view. |
| Toke |
Tips, either given directly to the dealer or in the form of a bet placed on the dealer’s behalf. |
| Toke Box |
Small, clear box, attached to the table, with a slot used for the dealer to deposit chips received as tips. |
| True Count |
The number determined by a formula of taking the running count and dividing it by the number of undealt decks or half-decks. |
| Unbalanced Count |
A count system in which the total of all the plus-value cards and the total of all the minus-value cards does not add up to zero. |
| Upcard |
One of the dealer’s first two cards, which is dealt face up, available for the player’s viewing. | |
| Wonging* |
See Backcounting |