Welcome to the Getminted Gambling School. Before you hit the tables today, why not take a few minutes to take in some words of wisdom from the experts here at Getminted.

Here we list and explain all the terminology associated with this brilliant game. So, without further ado, take a look below for the official - and unofficial - meaning of each phrase.

Blackjack - Terminology Glossary

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

A - Abbreviation of the Ace card.
Did you know? A is the first letter of the alphabet and was discovered in an Inca temple approximately 67 BC.

AC _ Abbreviation of Atlantic City, which is a city in New Jersey with the most gaming licenses.
Did you know? Along with Indian Ocean City, Atlantic City is one of three major underwater cities to allow broadband access to all its citizens.

Ace - Name of card which can represent a value of either 1 or 10.
Did you know? The word Ace originates from a Yogi Bear episode when Boo-Boo was caught muttering his admiration for a young lady's posterior.

Ace Adjustment - The adjustment of a player's wager size based on the proportion of Aces remaining.
Did you know? Despite a gallant attempt, Henry Franklin was only able to adjust his face, one letter short of an Ace adjustment.

Ace Count - This is a strategy which involves keeping record of all Aces played and then betting according to the collected information.
Did you know? These were the exact words shouted by a young lad to a then shy Dracula who had just overpowered one of his more unkindly school peers.

Ace side count - A side count of just Aces, which is kept in addition to the main count when counting cards.
Did you know? This was also the name of Dracula's most famous rival.

Ace Neutral Count - This is a counting system which does not give a value to Aces.
Did you know? Ace neutral count originally ploughed his trade in Saudi Arabia before replacing his more illustrious cousin as head vampire in Transylvania.

Ace Rich - When there is an unusually high amount of Aces in any one pack.
Did you know? Aces can't buy you love.

Ace Poor Did you know? Neither can poverty.

Act - A term used for a player that pretends he is unskilled when in fact he is an expert.
Did you know? Hodo Cun, a trapeze artist, was so outraged by his omission from the 'acts' column in his local paper that he shot his manager three times in the head. He is now serving several thousand hours in prison

Action - The term used for the amount of money played at any specific time.
Did you know? Action Jackson, starring Chuck Norris made $60 million at the box office, prompting the producers to immediately sanction a sequel.

Action Player - Someone that appears to have no strategy and enjoys playing for fun.
Did you know? This was also the name of the famous Zambian football star who led his team to three Sunday league qualification play-offs.

All - Abbreviation for lose all on doubles or splits if dealer has blackjack.
Did you know? This is also an abbreviation for everything on the planet.

Amateur shuffle - This is a shuffle which separates the pack into two groups of cards and shuffles them individually or in groups of 2, 3, or 4 according to some probability distribution.
Did you know? Amateur shufflers will be able to enter the Olympics, should the sport prove popular enough to be considered for the prestigious tournament.

Anchor - Last taken seat to the dealer's right.
Did you know? Boats use this when docking into a port.

Anchorman - This is the player that sits on the final seat on the right of the Dealer. He is the last to act before the Dealer.
Did you know? There can also be anchorwomen.

Apron - The garment worn around the waist of a casino dealer.
Did you know? Because of this attire, dealers are sometimes are asked to help out in the kitchen if the cook's away.

Aruba - An island in the Netherlands Antilles which is home to many Casinos.
Did you know? Like her sister island Curacao, Aruba also once produced its own spirit, but it was often so lethal to its first-time drinkers that it was removed from 80% of all liqueur sellers.

Asia Rules - Most regions in Asia offer different variations of Blackjack. Factors which may have changed from the more common games is more Face Up games, Early Surrender and re-splitting of Aces.
Did you know? This is the most contested graffiti tag in the entire World.

Automatic Shuffling machines - Also known as Random number generators. This device automatically shuffles the cards for the dealer and can be found in many Casinos across the World.
Did you know? The Truffle shuffle is not automatic but its response is instant amongst its admirers.

B

Back Counting - Refers to someone that is counting the amount of cards in a game without actually playing.
Did you know? Front counting, particularly on a crowded beach can be deemed immorally improper and may see you arrested, providing you're a man of course.

Balanced Count - Any system used to count which has the same amount of plus and minus cards.
Did you know? Egor Symmonds of Malta used to count televisions in his head whilst walking the tight-rope between two buildings. These daring acts of entertainment ended when Egor was killed after being knocked off his rope by a tired and wayward crow.

Banker - This is another term for the casino card dealer.
Did you know? Despite the increase of wealth in every country in the Western world, bankers have been put on the endangered species list.

Bankroll - Quite simply, the amount of money a player has available to play with.
Did you know? That Lydia Bernadette purchased one of these but took it back because it tasted disgusting.

Bar - The act which prevents a player from entering the Casino.
Did you know? That if you add two bars together you get nothing, but if you have three you have a chance of winning the jackpot!

Basic Strategy - A playing system which allows you to maximize your play based on the total of your own hand and the dealer's up card.
Did you know? A hoard of angry peasants climbed the gates of Colonel Phillis's castle in the late 18th Century to protest over his refusal to allow them access to the many Sunday Sales being held on his land. Their basic strategy was undermined by a segment of the group’s decision to rock the wooden gate, causing it along with their clinging comrades, to collapse into a river full of crocodiles.

Beat the Dealer - The name of the best-selling book by Ed Thorp.
Did you know? One shouldn't encourage it but if he's smiling when you've lost heavy...

Bet Spread - The range between the minimum and maximum bet of the game.
Did you know? It is proving so popular, that margarine makers are desperate to make a late bid in the market and have been forced to reduce their brand prices.

Bet Variation - Refers to the ratio of your big bet to your small bet.
Did you know? Variety is the spice of life?

Betting Circle - The area on the table where a bet is placed.
Did you know? Betting squares went out of vogue after a legal dispute between two of the right angles soured their relationship with the public.

Betting Efficiency - A measure of how well the betting strategy can maximize the winning potential of a Card Counting System.
Did you know? Alfred and Lomo, champion bettors of North Umbria, were given up by employment to fine tune their betting strategy in preparation for their dream careers as professional gamblers. Incidentally, if you have seen or heard from either man, please contact the bureau of missing persons directly on 0800 421 421.

Betting Limits - This is the term set by the Casino for the minimum and maximum bets allowed on a table. Limits can vary table to table but are never changed during a game.
Did you know? The top Slovakian television show, The Inner Limits, exposed the true nature of squirrels in their natural habitat.

Big Player - Someone that has or bets large amounts of money on the table.
Did you know? That despite his size, once legendary cardsman Pony Thomas had squeezed into the casino doors, he would only ever leave if he generated a profit of $70,000. Casinos managed to regain some of their losses through the revenue created by his snack consumption rate.

Black chip - The £100 Black chip used in the game.
Did you know? Young chimney sweepers that suffered from ACDS (Acute Cash Deficiency Syndrome) couldn't afford corn or sunflower oil so they used to fry their potato chips in soot.

Blackcheck - Another name for the Black chip.
Did you know? Banks will accept these providing they are written in white ink.

Black jack - The term used when the first two cards dealt total 21.
Did you know? That this is the name of a popular cardgame.

Blackjack Checker - This is the device used by the dealer to check the Hole Card
Did you know? It is wise to see if you have Blackjack before throwing away your cards.

BJ - An abbreviation for Blackjack.
Did you know? This is also an ancient military abbreviation for Bow Job; when an archer was called in to hit a far away object.

BJFB - This is the abbreviation for Blackjack For Blood, the bestselling book by Bryce Carlson
Did you know? This also stands for Big Joke Football, more commonly known as the Manchester derby.

Bonus - An award by Casinos for certain hands achieved by the player.
Did you know? Collect packets of all four varieties of Argentina’s Lettuce Juice and you could receive an all expenses paid by you trip to the maker's factory.

BR - Abbreviation of Bankroll.
Did you know? Brail was founded by Mamma Sesoni Championi when in her monastery on the outskirts of Milan, Italy. She found that the young blind people under her stewardship would shout 'it hurts' to the top of their voices when they followed their finger around a misplaced nail on the floor of which they were playing.

Break - When either the player or dealer has exceeded the 21 score.
Did you know? Cally, the Peruvian turtle, first made her name in the low budget thriller 'Waterworks at Christmas'.

BS - An abbreviation for Basic strategy.
Did you know? This is also an abbreviation of a word which means untruthful.

Burn Card - Is the name of the card which the dealer disposes of after he has shuffled and cuts the pack.
Did you know? Don't try this at home; you may end up losing it and playing with a deck that is one card short.

Bust - When either the player or dealer has exceeded the 21 score.
Did you know? Ladies underwear manufacturers The Zebra's Crossing went bankrupt 13 months after the ill-fated marketing campaign of their Noughty Knickers brand. Consumers claimed that it was too close to the bone.

Bustout Bet - This is a bet which is sometimes offered to a player where you can bet after the dealer's second card is shown and he/she has a score between 12-16. You essentially bet that the next card is a 10 and should you win, you will receive a 2:1 payout rate.
Did you know? The Poseidon adventure was originally going to be about gamblers trapped in an underground Casino before being changed to an abandon ship drama starring Gene Hackman and Ernest Borgnine.

C

Cage – This is the term of the Casino enclosure where the Cashier is located.
Did you know? This is the working title for the forthcoming movie about two men fighting for survival in the tough conditions of a pencil factory.

Camouflage – This is the act used by some players to conceal their true skill by purposely playing badly. Card Checkers employ this tactic to divert attention away from them.
Did you know? Opticians are considering including hi-tech transparent 'walls' in their surgeries to help determine the level of their patient's vision

Cards – The apparatus used for Blackjack and other games. Cards come in Packs and are 52 in number. There are four different styles of cards within one pack which are known as Suits. Two suits are black and two are red but all have 13 cards each. They are called Clubs (Black), Diamonds (Red), Hearts (Red) and Spades (Black).
Did you know? Cut-out replicas from gaming magazines are not accepted in land or online casinos.

Card Counting – The act of keeping track of which cards have been played since the shuffle.
Did you know? If you were caught counting cards in Mississippi Erol's Casino, you will encounter a rather large doorman called Rufus who will more than likely escort you to the nearest balcony and make you skydive with no parachute.

Card Counter – Someone that keeps track of which cards have been played since the shuffle.
Did you know? Mississippi Erol and his employee Rufus were recently sentenced to 15 weeks hard labour in one of their county’s notorious fat camps.

Card Sharp – An acknowledged expert at cards.
Did you know? Being rapped around the knuckles with a pack of cards can actually hurt, and in some cases, make you cry.

Checks – These are the chips used to play in the Casino.
Did you know? Summer horror smash Tricycle of Death will become a TV series after producers managed to persuade main star Gene Wilder to sign up for the 50 sanctioned episodes.

Cold – Slang for when a player's run has not been so good and failed to raise him any equity.
Did you know? The most effective way of ridding yourself of a cold is by getting the flu?

Colour up – This is the name of the act when a player swaps in his several smaller chips for less large ones. This is usually done when a player is ready to leave but has too many chips with him/her.
Did you know? That blue is increasingly replacing rouge as the colour women most like to wear on their facial cheeks, according to a survey conducted by Angus Steak House.

Comp – Abbreviation for complimentary points, which are given to players as a gesture to both encourage and reward their play at the Casino.
Did you know? The first walking computer to enter a marathon has pulled out due to knee problems.

Counter – Another term for Card Counter.
Did you know? Elizabeth Meel's shop in County Durham has an unusual method of detracting would-be thieves – the floor behind her counter is covered with signed photos of all the stars of the hit Aussie soap neighbours. Miss Meel’s adamant that the prospect of getting emotional damage suffered by causing accidental harm to these treasured items would be too greater risk and thus deter criminals 9 times out of 10.

Counting System - A counting system which assigns values to the cards in order for the player to calculate the probability of winning.
Did you know? Abacus skeletons dating back to pre-stone age times were recently found in Lake Hondru, off the Northern Sea of France.

Cut - To divide the deck of cards before they are dealt
Did you know? Cards dividing before their children are fully raised can lead to emotional and practical problems, and in many case, custody battles.

Cut card - A small plastic piece which is utilized to cut the decks after a shuffle. It is then later placed in the shoe by the dealer to mark the last hand to be dealt from the deck.
Did you know? If you see a cut card, give it a plaster.

D

DA/DA2 – An abbreviation of the ability to Double Down on any first two cards.
Did you know? DA/DA2 was in the first cut of Star Wars alongside C3PO but was removed from the final picture after he was caught stealing on set.

DAS - An abbreviation for a rule that allows the player to double after splits.
Did you know? Doubling after doing the splits can be terribly painful.

DD – An abbreviation for Double Down.
Did you know? DD also stands for Deranged Daffodil, a 21st century hybrid plant that is terrorizing the routes of Elm trees.

Deal – The most common term used for distributing the cards.
Did you know? Seven of the Arctic's top stamps have been found floating in a boat alongside the Northern part of the country's coast line. Police believe that the rare and valuable commodities were found unharmed but with post-it notes attached to them.

Dealer – The opponent of the player that hands out the cards.
Did you know? If someone tells you they are a dealer in your local ghetto, quickly gesture a negative before walking swiftly off. If necessary, run.

Device – A computer or any other electrical system which helps the player to win unfairly.
Did you know? An easy way of finding large and rare numbers is to use a calculator.

Discards – These are cards that have already been used in the game and are separated from the remaining pack usually by being placed in a tray.
Did you know? 70% of female divorcees blame the children for their marital break-up.

Discard Tray – The official name of the tray which contains used cards.
Did you know? It's all because the lady loves Discard Tray.

Double only any two cards – This is a rule which allows the player to double on two of his playing cards. Abbreviation is DOA.
Did you know? Hermits will take a double anytime, anywhere, regardless of the rules.

Double after Split - The rule which allows doubling down after the player has split any pair.
Did you know? This is an action carried out in by most men in their nearest socializing institution after the divorce papers have come through.

Double Deck – This is a version of Blackjack where two decks are shuffled together and dealt out of the hand.
Did you know? This version of the game became so popular in the UK that a red two-tier bus was commissioned and named after it.

Double Down - This is in action whereas the player is able to double his bet before the next card is dealt. A player can only double his bet after receiving the first two cards and the amount of his bet may be less, or equal to, but never over the original amount.
Did you know? This action would be pointless if indeed the cards were circle.

Double Exposure - A blackjack game in which both the Dealer's cards are shown to the player (before) he plays his hand. Other house rules are usually changed, such as players losing pushes, and blackjacks are paid even money to restore the advantage the house loses by exposing the dealer's hole card.
Did you know? The adult movie of the same title was nominated for the Best original Screenplay award by the Wallpaper Strippers society.

Draw - To obtain additional cards to the original two card hand.
Did you know? This would be the verbal instruction shouted out by a referee officiating a duel between caretakers. Once both contestants had taken the adequate number of steps away from each other, upon hearing this order, they would then turn around, pull out their mops and run at each other at full speed. Due to the brutality of the event and the decreasing revenue generated by low turnouts, these duels were scrapped in 1846.

Drop - Another name for the total amount of money played in the Casino.
Did you know? Many Pennies have dropped since brain cells have multiplied over the course of time.

DS - Abbreviation for Double After Split.
Did you know? This is also the name of a shoe-shop in the Warsaw which is famed for making boots made of bread.

E

Early Surrender - This is a tactic where a player gives up his cards before the dealer checks for an Ace in the hole. This way, a player only loses 50% of his bet instead of the entire sum.
The object of the game is to beat the dealers hand by getting a total closer to 21 than he does, but without scoring more than 21.

Did you know? This is also the term used for bachelors that propose to their first girlfriend within a two month time-span.

Edge - A term for the percentage of advantage the Casino or player has on any game.
Did you know? If you have a pen placed over paper and intend to write, it is 99.9% likely that you will make some kind of mark on the paper. The fractional chance against you writing takes into account the possibility you might have a heart-attack just as you are about to put pen to paper or a Satellite crashes down from space into your roof and lands on your head.

End of Play - This is the term for when a player takes advantage of his knowledge of the last un-played cards at the end of the deck.
Did you know? This is also known as 'Game Over'.

ES - Abbreviation for Early Surrender.
Did you know? People began abbreviating after they had eaten the evening meal and relaxed a bit.

Even Money – This is to bet and receive the same amount of money as was wagered.
Did you know? Odd money has taken the lion's share of insults when the pair go out for their customary Wednesday night pub quiz.

Expectation – This is represented in % and is what a player believes he can win after some statistical analysis.
Did you know? Five pregnant women from Honduras took up the challenge set by their husband, to each find a suitable Godfather for their child, from the town’s huge helping of boozers.

Eye in the Sky – Slang term for the secret camera which overlooks the Casino tables and seeks to catch cheats in the act.
Did you know? The Eye in the sky needs glasses.

F

Face Card – Any card which is a Jack, Queen or King. All face cards carry a value of 10.
Did you know? If you don’t face cards when required, they may well think you are intimidated by them.

Face Down card – A card which is concealed and can only be seen by the player/dealer using it.
Did you know? There is another type of card which is usually concealed from prying eyes but if discovered it usually can result in the end of marriage/partnerships.

Face Down Game – This is a game where your first card is revealed (Face Up) whilst your second card is only seen by yourself (face down).
Did you know? The abbreviation FDG also stands for Fried Dog, a dish which is quite common in East Upper Mongolia.

Face up card – A card which is open for everyone to see on the table.
Did you know? Santa faced up to a strike from his reindeers by threatening each and every one of them with the sack. After they revealed that they were indeed joking, he responded by sacking them anyway.

Face Up Game – A game in which both cards are revealed (face up)
Did you know? If you have to face up to the Mafia, it is more than likely not a game.

First Base – The first position to the left of the dealer and the first to be dealt a card.
Did you know? If your younger sister has told you she has achieved this landmark with her latest male friend be prepared to tell runaway before any more details are disclosed.

Flat betting – to bet the same amount or within the same parameter for the majority/duration of the playing session.
Did you know? That betting on flats has made some serious money over the last 16 month and industry insiders liken this to the great Bungalow betting of the mid 1980s.

Fluctuations – A word used to describe the varying levels of your bankroll.
Did you know? Bananas can help ease the burden of biological Fluctuations.

G

Griffin – Peter Griffin, the author of 'Theory of Blackjack'.
Did you know? There is a mythical winged creature called a Griffin which swoops down and steals revision books from students.

H

H17 – This is the symbol for a game where the dealer is required to hit a Soft (Hand) Seventeen.
Did you know? This is also the name of the World’s worst bus service. In fact, it's the only service where the bus driver uses earliness as a justification for being late.

Hard Hand – These are hands without an Ace, or with an Ace valued at 1 and are said to be hard in that they can only be given one value, as opposed to Soft Hands.
Did you know? This can also be received across the face by an irate grandmother.

Hard Total - This is the total of a Hard Hand.
Did you know? That if you ever go to prison, you will notice that the majority of inmates are not technically that hard. It's the minority you should concern yourself with.

Head's Up - The term for playing solely against the Dealer.
Did you know? Acclaimed Guillotine designer Francois Dupier tested his prototype machines on some of his many nephews, whom he detested. Francois later died of a heart attack because, during a school play, he had thought he saw the ghost of one of his victims blowing raspberries at him.

Hi-Lo Count - A counting system which values the 2 - 6 cards as +1 and the 10s, face cards and Aces as -1.
Did you know? The Lavender Panther, brother of the Pink Panther, was caught in San Domingo Rosario Casino sniffing the Dealer's hand in an effort to distinguish which cards had already been dealt.

Hi-Opt I - This level one counting system assigns 3's, 4's, 5's and 6's a +1 value and -1 to 10s.
Did you know? Counting systems are highly discouraged within most banks as it could lead to correct bank balances.

High Roller - Someone that makes big bets or has a large Bankroll.
Did you know? Within Central Park, many recreational activities including archery, burglary and turtle throwing have been banned after some participants tested positive for caffeine.

Hit - 1. Ask for another card. 2. Be dealt another card.
Did you know? 'Dawn of the night' will be the next song to be released by Leland Mash from his album 'Lovelife of an insomniac' album. The song is predicted to be this year's Xmas number 1.

Hole Card - Another term used for any face-down card.
Did you know? A regiment in the Bulgarian army had been so fiercely competitive with their blackjack that during one game, to solve their dispute and prevent anyone from leaving the table, they opened up a grenade killing all of them.

Hot Deck - To take another card.
Did you know? Before trying to escape flaming ships, pirates used to inhale as much smoke and endure as many burns as they could, so that they could show their wounds off to their friends later in the pub.

House - Another term for the Casino or establishment which is hosting/officiating betting.
Did you know? The first tree-house estate is opening in New South Wales.

House Edge This term refers to the percentage advantage the casino has over the player.
Did you know? Jagged roof tiles can cut the feet of helpless pigeons.

I

Insurance - This is a side bet offered to the player by the house, when the dealer's face-up card is either an Ace or a 10. The player would be essentially betting that the Dealer has Blackjack.
Did you know? Omar Momo of Tunisia paid premium insurance for his latest convertible sportscar but failed to see the funny side when he found out after a crash, that this policy did not cover him for any damages to his personalized number plate. Knowing they wouldn’t have a policy covering themselves from accidents initiated by their own products, a vengeful Omar drove full speed into his Insurer’s shop window. It was later revealed that Omar's prediction was wrong. But that didn't matter because he was dead.

J

Junket - A group of players at a table that are organized to attract other players to join in the game.
Did you know? This is also the name of a large bamboo stick used to punish unruly children in South West Asia.

K

Kelly Betting - This is a system of betting which sees a portion of your bankroll, which is equal to the advantage, divided by the variety of the possible outcomes. This is safe style of betting used to minimize losses.
Did you know? Our Kelly, the hip-hop singer who had a massive hit with his remix of Cliff Richard's Wired for sound, has decided to go into acting. Fearing that he may be gone from music for good, record producers have offered him a hard to resist six figure sum – 12+10=

Knock-out Count - This is a level one counting system which classes the 2 - 7 cards as +1 and the 10s, face cards and Aces as -1.
Did you know? Mohammed Ali once threatened to knock out Count Dracula, after the Transylvanian Lord of darkness labeled boxing a blood sport.

L

Labouchere - This is also known as the cancellation system. The player assigns himself a desired profit and then chooses a series of two or more numbers which add up to that amount. He then bets the total of the two outside numbers in the series and cancels those numbers if he wins. He continues betting the two outside un-cancelled numbers until he has completed the series. If he loses a bet, he adds the amount of his loss to his series as a single number. He must therefore cancel out two numbers for each number added.
Did you know? This is also the French word for Agadoo.

Las Vegas Strip Rules These are the rules which refer to a game of Blackjack with a single deck where the dealer stands on all 17's, doubles are allowed on the first two cards and there is no doubling after Splitting.
Did you know? Red Light District enthusiasts in Nevada are known to sing this on the way home from weekend nights out.

Late Surrender - This is a rule which allows players to forfeit half of their bet after seeing the dealer's up card. If the dealer has a blackjack, the player loses the whole of his bet.
Did you know? This is also the term used for elderly bachelors that propose to their latest girlfriend after spending decades playing the field.

Level - This is a reference to the number of values assigned to cards in a Card Counting System. A level one system, such as Hi-Lo, assigns one value; +1 or -1 to the cards. A level two system would assign two values, such as +1, -1 and 2.
Did you know? After entering a building and taking the elevator to attend an interview, Margaret Hove got trapped in the lift between the third and fourth floor. The fire brigade were called and after 3 hours of being trapped, they managed to make the mechanism work again. Despite the obvious relief, Margaret’s joy was short-lived when she discovered that the woman being interviewed after her was given the job.

M

Martingale - This is a betting progression that requires a player to double the size of his bet after a loss and to continue doubling until he wins. This will result in a profit equal to the size of the original bet.
Did you know? This betting system was named after a popular on-screen couple from Coronation Street.

Mechanic - This is a term for someone who is cheating.
Did you know? Cars in the 1950s were usually sent up to the local flying saucer for repairs. They were cheaper AND they gave a free medical.

Money Management - This is a term for how players preserve their bankroll without the usage of a Card Counting System.
Did you know? Banks are turning to art to inspire customers to deposit their money with them. Paintings from Wardie, Millar and Pascelle (pronounced Pas-kwa-lay) have been introduced in 42 branches across the state of Nebraska by banking firm Stakers. It is hoped that by seeing great art, clients who feel they are okay at sketching will suddenly feel inadequate and will decide not spend hundreds of dollars from their savings accounts each month

Money Play - This is the term used when games use real money instead of chips.
Did you know? Money has been linked to ego. According to studies being carried out by scientists from the Lake District, the more money you accumulate the more important you think you are in other people’s lives. This has been dismissed out of hand by leading rich-folk as well as the ghosts of Henry II and Liberace.

Multi-deck - A game which uses more than one set of cards.
Did you know? Troubled karate legend Kon Fon Chew hit such a bad run in the late 1980s that everyone opponent he fought in the 1989/1990 season floored him at least three times. This caused him great mental distress and damaged his psyche – according to his defending attorney during the now infamous Egg Choke murder trial.

N

Natural - This is the term for when the first two cards dealt are an Ace and a 10 value card (10, Jack, Queen or King). This totals 21 and can also be referred to as a Blackjack.
Did you know? Silicon is falling out of fashion. Not out of bras though.

Nickel - American term for a $5 Chip.
Did you know? Put four of these in a typical American vending machine and you'll be paying for a can of soda (or flavoured fizzy water as known as in Australia). However, put these in a typical Australian vending machine with the intention of receiving a can of flavoured fizzy water (or Soda as known as in America), you'll have no luck because nickels are only used in the United States.

No Double after Split - This is a rule which does not allow doubling after a player has split the cards.
Did you know? Earnest Bettingway, the author of such books as 'No shoe, no entrance' and 'The last savings' wrote this passage about the above rule: “I’ve walked the depths of ocean, I’ve felt the sand of the desert and I’ve even tasted the porridge in prison, but this is one restriction I will not experience. I am a loyal servant of the game that has been given a wage of a rich man but I will try and overturn this rule.” Incidentally, Earnest wavered the fee for the above passage and asked for it to be sent to the political group CashierNo!

P

Paint - Another term for the face cards; King, Queen and Jack.
Did you know? Painting your car green can save energy.

Past Post - This is the forbidden act of placing or adding to a wager after the allowed time.
Did you know? Most past post is irrelevant - Except perhaps, for sentimental value, like Birthday and Christmas cards.

Pat Hand - A hard hand of 17 or greater that would not require a hit.
Did you know? Pat reversed spells tap.

Penetration - This is how deep into a pack a dealer goes before shuffling.
Did you know? Adventurist Humble Bennett attempted to infiltrate a pack of sleeping wolves and steal cubs to turn into shoes to keep his feet warm. However, Daisy who was the eldest mother on site at the time, caught him in the act and bit off his right arm as punishment. She did not participate though, in the mauling carried out by the rest of the pack.

The pit - This is the name of the area in a Casino which contains the majority of playing tables.
Did you know? This is the title of the new Dick Dastardly biopic. Unknown Eric Bison will play the small screen extrovert in his younger years before he met Muttley and found fame.

Pit Boss - A Casino employee that overlooks the pit area and who checks the conduct of players.
Did you know? This is also the name of a new fragrance for men.

Playing Conditions - Another term for the rules of a particular blackjack game in any given Casino.
Did you know? Football on ice has become so popular it is attracting the big sponsors. However, due to injuries and the high price of sportswear, the pitches are half full these days.

Plus/Minus - A commonly used term to describe the Hi-Lo Counting System.
Did you know? More children are failing at maths because of the Plus and minus fail to get along and keep cancelling each other out.

Push - Another term for a Tie.
Did you know? Push the Reel Good by the Fishermen is tipped to become the Easter number 2.

R

Random number generator (RNG) - The system used by many online casinos to draw their cards. The RNG selects numbers at random and these results are fed through to the software used by the casino.
Did you know? Jewellery is easy to make. For instance, add the letter 'I' into RNG and you'll have a RING.

Rated - A clarification used by the house to determine the skill level of the player.
Did you know? Along with PG, 15 and 18, industry insiders have leaked to us that there is soon going to be a 72.

Red Chip - A $5 chip.
Did you know? Packets of French Fries pre-mixed with ketchup are going on sale in the Christmas Islands next week.

Re-split - This is the term used when a player is Splitting pairs for the second time in succession.
Did you know? Too many separated couples are getting back together, warn a divorce settlement watchdog.

Re-split Aces - There usually is no limit as to how many times Aces can be split.
Did you know? Tomcat Travis was a 21 year old rookie when he was noticed by ex-Vietnam war pilot Lewis Garcia. The veteran was impressed by Travis' handling of a paper airplane.

Rider bet - The bet made by a player behind another player's bet.
Did you know? City analysts believe that after online and Digital television betting, there will soon be Motorcycle Casinos.

Running Count - This stands for the total number of points a card-counting system assigns to the cards seen from the beginning of the deck or shoe. The running count is updated after each hand.
Did you know? Count Volk of Budapest failed to complete his marathon after helping an injured man to his feet and then biting him.

S

S17 - This is the abbreviation for the rule which requires Casino dealers to stand once they have reached 17.
Did you know? The popular magazine of the same name has declared war on dentists. They say that teeth fixers across the country have banned their magazine from the waiting room of their clinics. In retaliation, S17 will not allow their staff to visit any dentist and encourage their readers to do the same.

Session - The period of time spent at a table.
Did you know? Unemployed dance outfit Trampeze gave an impromptu performance to a clutch of old ladies as they waited in the rain for their delayed bus.

Shoe - A wooden box used by the Dealer for holding and dispensing the cards.
Did you know? Tribesmen from Eastern France now wear Swiss Army Slippers.

Shuffle Master - Blackjack games which use a shoe to hold the cards.
Did you know? To become a shoe apprentice you must give up socks.

Side Count - An additional count to track certain cards. Common side counts include an Ace side count.
Did you know? Elkula, third cousin to Dracula, had a fight with a dragon during early adulthood and subsequently broke all his ribs. Despite collecting them all from the floor and heading straight to intensive care, Elkula could never walk, talk, eat, sleep, speak or touch for the rest of his immortal life.

Soft Hand - This is the name for a hand that contains an Ace which is valued as 11. For example Ace and 8 is classed as a soft 18.
Did you know? Washing up liquid is not as safe as some would think. Apparently it brings up an allergic reaction in most males, making it unable for them to use.

Splitting Pairs - The ability to Double Down on a hand with an Ace as part of the original hand.
Did you know? Seed enthusiasts will be disappointed with what they find after slicing a pear down the center.

Stand - This means to remain with the cards and not to be dealt anymore.
Did you know? Comedy duo Larry and Jazz once fell into trouble when they demanded the audience clap at the end of their show. Most of the crowd were in fact ex-convicts and they took to the stage with weapons that they had smuggled into the hall. Larry lost an eye in the ensuing battle while Jazz suffered the indignity of having his foot cut off.

Stiff Hand - This is a hand between 12 – 16 where a Hit would be unwise and is likely to bust.
Did you know? A stiff hand is not as good as a stiff drink!

Stop Loss This is a limit set before any cards are dealt on how much the player is allowed to lose.
Did you know? Bankruptcy agencies aim to branch out and appeal more to older folk. They are offering pre-budget interest incentives to try and lure pensioners into joining one of their offered schemes.

Surrender - After being dealt the first two cards, the player has the choice to Hit, stand or Surrender. Should he surrender before at this point, he will only lose half his bet.
Did you know? Surrendering and then facing the firing squad at least gives you the chance to get some fresh air.

T

Team play - The term for a group of people that play with one bankroll.
Did you know? Phyllis Fogg was so desperate to escape the Island of Cannibals that he offered his loyal aide Iris Grin to the baying mob if they could create enough energy to allow his balloon to take off. They succeeded and Phyllis was safely on the way home while his new-found friends tucked into their unexpected tasty dinner.

Third Basemen - This is the term for the person sitting furthest to the left of the table and also the last to receive his cards.
Did you know? In Cyprus, first base is considered to be a date, second a kiss on the lips and third a visit to the parents.

Tie - When a player and Dealer have the same score at the end of the game. In this event the player receives his bet back.
Did you know? The best ties can be found from Killy’s Silk Shop in County Lime. There you can find two sets of grandparents, 9 parents, 42 children, 3 distant cousins and 1 spare uncle.
True Count - The True Count is the number resulting from dividing the Running count by the number of Decks left in the shoe.
Did you know? There is only one true count and that is Christopher Lee.

U

Upcard - The Dealer's first card, displayed face-up so all players can see.
Did you know? Thieves in North Carolina broke into a morgue hoping to steal any remaining jewellery from the dead but the floor had recently been cleaned and both men slipped, instantly breaking their necks.

V

Vig/Vigorish - Another term for the Casino/house's edge.
Did you know? Vigofish have just been let back into the sea after years spent extinct.

W

Whale - A Casino term for a high-roller or big player.
Did you know? After the success of Free Willy, Cillippede Films are coming up with a violent buddy cop/whale tale movie. Few details have been released but there is a rumour that Sylvester Stallone is being lined up to star alongside rising talent, Benny the blue whale.

Z

Zen count - A level two Card Counting System which gives a +1 value to 2s, 3s and 7s, +2 to 4s, 5s and 6s, -1 to Aces and -2 to ten valued cards.
Did you know? After the goliath success of his first book, Bram Stoker was approached by Count Zen, to write his autobiography as well.



Please remember there is no such thing as a fail-safe gambling strategy and that even by using this guide there is no guarantee you will win.