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Blackjack Glossary

86'd - Getting barred from the casino for card counting.

Action - The amount of money that has been wagered.

Advantage - The statistically theoretical edge one side has over the other. Normally the casino has the advantage but card counting can give flip it to the player the advantage.

Advantage Player - Usually refers to a card counter.

Anchor - (Anchorman, Third Base) This is the seat taken closest to the dealer's far right and is the last to act. 

Back Counting - Counting cards from behind the table as a spectator.  Great for negative counts. Sometimes referred to as “wonging”.

Bankroll - The bankroll is the money you are personally gambling with at the table.

Basic Strategy - A structure you use to complete your play.  It increase your advantage and odds of winning.

Barring - When the casino refuses to allow a person to play at the blackjack table or to even be on the premises. 

Bet Spread - The amount of the maximum and minimum bets a player is making during a blackjack playing session. A 1-5 bet spread means that the player is betting a minimum of 1 unit per hand and a maximum of 5 units per hand. When counting, the larger the spread the more money you expect to win.

Big Player - A member of a card counting team who makes a big bets when the count is favorable. They depend on “spotters” to call them in. This play is used for cover only. Invented by Blackjack Hall of Fame member, Al Fransesco, made famous by Ken Uston and the MIT team.

Blackjack - This is the name of the game as well as the objective. You need two cards offering a total of 21 to get the natural Blackjack.  It is an automatic winner usually paying 3 - 2 odds.

Burn Cards - These are cards that are removed from the deck as the play continues; they are discarded.

Bust - (Break) When you exceed 21.  This is an automatic loser.

Camouflage - Something you do to hide your playing methods from the casino. You may have disguises, act drunk, have typical methods at the table or you may just mix up your behavior or act like you do not know much about the game. 

Card Counter - Player who counts cards.

Card Counting - Keeping track of the cards as they are exposed in order to increase your advantage and odds of winning.

Card Sharp - This is an individual who is very knowledgeable and handy with cards.  This person may also be a card mechanic; one who can manipulate the cards without detection.

Cut - A method for splitting the deck and placing the cards back together.  This is performed by the dealer after the shuffle and right before cards are placed in the shoe.

Cut Card - This card is a solid color plastic the size of a regular card and is used to cut the cards after a shuffle has been completed and then inserted to mark when that shoe is completed in order to reshuffle.

DAS - Double After Split.  A rule that is a benefit to the player that allows to double down after you split a hand.

Deal - handing cards to the players at the table in the appropriate manner as required by the casino's policy.

Dealer - The casino employee who deals the game.

Deck - A standard 53 cards.  Normally 4, 6, or 8 decks are used in a casino blackjack game.

Deviations -  Changing from Basic Strategy or a Betting System at certain times based upon the card count.

Discard Hold - This is the holder where the discarded cards will be placed until time to reshuffle.

Double Down - The option for the player to double his bet.  The player places a second bet on the table and can do this with only the first two cards (hand dealt).  The player will receive only one card. Doubling down is usually taken in accordance to a basic strategy.

Draw - (Hit) When you request another card.  This is accomplished with the proper hand signal.

Early Surrender - In Blackjack you may surrender your bet before the dealer looks for a Blackjack in their hand.  You must announce this intention to the dealer.

Even Money - In blackjack you can decide to take your pay if you have a natural hand and the dealer is showing an ace. This means the dealer doesn't look at their cards and you get 1 to 1 on the payout instead of being paid 3 - 2 odds.  You must announce this intention to the dealer.

Face Cards - In a single deck of cards you have 4 jacks, 4 queens, and 4 kings- these are considered the face cards.  Sometimes a ten is also considered a face card because it has the same point value.

Face Down Game - In this game one or both cards are dealt face down.  Very few casinos (if any) use this option any longer.

Face Up Game - The cards will always be dealt face up.  This is the normal procedure in casinos.

Favorable Deck - (Hot Deck) The cards left in the deck favor and give the player the advantage.

First Base - (First Baseman) The first player to receive cards andl sits to the dealer's far left.  Some players feel this is the best seat at the table because their cards will not be affected by other player's actions.

Flat Betting - Always wagering the same amount of money each hand.

Floorman - The casino employee who oversees and supervises the dealers.

Griffin Book - A book (list) of suspected card counters and casino “cheaters” provided to casinos by Griffin Investigations.

Hand - The original two cards dealt to the player.

Hard Hand - (Hard Total) A hand without an ace or where an ace has to have a value of one.

Heads Up - (Head-to-head, Heads On) Playing the dealer one-on-one with no other players.  This is a very fast pace game and is not recommended for the novice.

High Roller - (Whale) Player who is known to bet large amounts of money on a consistent basis.

Hit - (Draw) When you request another card.  This is accomplished with the proper hand signal.

Hole Card - The face down card the dealer gets is referred to as the hole card.

House - A term referring to the casino.

House Edge - This is the over-all small percentage that is favorable to casino in blackjack that is the result of the casino rules for the game and how it is played.

Insurance - Optional bet made if the dealer's up card is an ace. It is a secondary bet in case the dealer has a natural 21.  The bet cost half your original bet.  If the dealer has a natural then the net result is you do not lose any money.  This bet is not recommended. 

Late Surrender - This is an option in some games when the dealer doesn't have blackjack.  You must announce your intention before your action.  You will lose half your bet.

Lizzards - (Stiff Card) A card ranked from 2 through 6.

Marker - This is an I.O.U. issued by the casino for pre-approved player credit.

Monkey - Term for a ten or face card that will bust a dealer's hand.

Mucker - (Mucking) A blackjack player who cheats by marking cards or inserting or removing cards.

Multiple-Decks - When a game consists of more than one deck.

Natural - (Blackjack) A two card hand totalling 21.

NDAS - No Double Down After Split.

Nickels - Term used for $5 chips.

Paint - Term used to describe a jack, queen, or king.

Pat Hand - This is a hand with at least 17 points or higher where basic strategy requires you to stand and not take a hit or other action.

Penetration - Number or percentage of cards dealt before a required shuffle.

Pit Boss - Casino employee who is the head supervisor in charge of the entire blackjack pit.

Ploppy - Your typical uneducated or very poor blackjack player. Originally coined by Frank Scoblete to describe people who plop down at a blackjack table without the ability to count cards and play with a winning strategy.

Point Count - (Running count) This the running total at any point in the game for values assigned to each card used in card counting.

Push - This is a tie in which both the dealer and the player have the same total points. Normally the player does not lose their bet or gain any winnings but some casinos have changed their rules where the casino now wins a push.

Quarters - Term used for $25 chips.

Red Faced - (On Tilt, Steaming) Usually a term to describe a frustrated player who is losing and is now making bets and actions just to get back even.

Risk of Ruin - The mathematical chance of losing one’s entire bankroll. Referred to as ROR.

Round - Completed series of plays where everyone has completed and acted on their hand.

Running Count - (Point count) This the running total at any point in the game for values assigned to each card used in card counting.

Shiner - A (cheating) device used to see the dealer's hole card.

Shoe - A box used to hold the multiple decks for dealing blackjack one card at a time.

Shuffle - When the cards are mixed in a random fashion by the dealer according to casino policy.

Shuffle Up - When the dealer will shuffle before it is needed at the order of the floor person to counter any card counting.

Single Deck - A game of blackjack where only one 52 card deck is used.  This is a preference of a card counter.

Soft Hand - The ace will be counted as 1 or 11 in this hand.

Split Hand - Option to split identical ranked cards in order to play two hands. An identical wager must be played for the second hand.

Spooking - This is a form of cheating. A person stands behind the dealer to peek at the dealer hole card. Then transmits this information to the player (partner) by a signal.

Standing Hand - (Pat Hand) It is commonly referred to as stand, where you will hold on 17 and higher. You will not take another card.

Stand or Stay - You will not take another card.

Steaming - (Red Faced) This defines a player's attitude after a streak of losing. Usually they are in a state of anger and will make stupid actions to get even (will take more risks).

Stiff Card - (Lizzards) A card ranked from 2 through 6.

Stiff Hand - Any hand of 12 - 16 requiring a hit which could bust the hand.

Surrender - Option to fold and get half your bet back.

Ten-Rich - When there are more ten value cards in the deck (shoe) and favors the player.

Ten-Value Card - Any card with a value of ten.  This is a ten, jack, queen, or king.

Third Base - (Third Baseman, Anchor) This is the seat taken closest to the dealer's far right and is the last to act.

Tie - Push.

Tip - (Toke) A gratuity given to the dealer by the player.

Toke - (Tip) A gratuity given to the dealer by the player.

True Count - When counting cards this term applies to the adjusted amount of cards left in the deck, that have yet to be played.

Twenty-One - Another (original) name for the game of blackjack.

Upcard - This is a card that is face up on the table and often the dealer's first card, so that players can see the options and whether they want to continue to play.

Unfavorable Deck - When the point count is negative in card counting and the shoe favors the dealer not the player.

Unit - A standard bet size usually the minimum bet.

Wash - Mixing up a deck of cards before they are put into play.

Whale - (High Roller) Player who is known to bet large amounts of money on a consistent basis.

Wonging - To back count and only bet when you have the edge. Named after Stanford Wong.

Other Blackjack Glossary/Terms

A Good Blackjack Betting System Is Your Next Learning Responsibility.

Here is a good betting system to learn:

1.  This system is Structured - it makes all playing decisions.

2.  Based on Mathematics and Money Management.

3.  It incorporates rules to prevent long losing streaks.

4.  System is casino friendly.  Keeps wins under the radar.

5.  Follow the rules and this blackjack betting system is guaranteed to work.

The Formula Cycling Method
by Blackjack to the Nth Degree

It took many years to convince the creator of this system to finally put this method into print.

One of the biggest reasons this system was developed was to rid oneself of the negatives and draw backs of using a card counting system.  Using the knowledge gleaned from the mathematics of card counting one can certainly put the odds in your favor.  However, casinos do not like to lose.  Retaliation by the casinos to card counters can result in an unpleasant experience.

On the other hand, betting systems are usually welcomed by the casinos.  They believe in the long run the player will always go bust.  But by using the Formula Cycling Method enhanced with a proper positive environment you will continue to win and win.

This System Is Guaranteed To Work

This method is predicated upon a formula of betting sequences governed by mathematical principles.  Strict adherence to this structured formula can only result in a net win.  Only by deviating from the system's principles could one risk having a negative result.

It is common knowledge the casino will have the edge.  This means the casino will win more hands than the player wins.  If you wager a fixed amount of money on each hand and never increase or decrease the wager in any way, the house edge will cause you to end up a loser.  This system was designed to negate the house edge.  With this system you can lose 15 hands and win only 7 and be a winner at the end of a playing session.  You can lose 66% or more of the hands played and still be a winner.  Every play action and every wager is predetermined to the point of only being involved mechanically in order to implement the system.  There is no guess work or need to rely on hunches.

The Formula Cycling Method was designed to win $100 per hour at a playing rate of three (3) hour sessions per day.   This could result in a positive cash flow of $9,000 per month.

Time To Purchase This System Is Now

In late December 2011, the NEWS Media reported that online gambling will soon be legalized in the United States.  With this in mind it is time to get prepared to win.  When you purchase this system you will receive a CD eBook with 12 Chapters totaling 167 pages and 41 illustrations.  Besides using this method with blackjack it works well with baccarat, roulette, and at the craps table.  This system will pay for itself the first day of live play.