How to Understand Beyond Basic Blackjack Terminology

The game of blackjack has many specific terms used. The more knowledge you have of them, the better off you are. You will hear many blackjack words used beyond the basic ones commonly heard during a game. The following is a list of them. You should become familiar with the blackjack lingo used in casinos or online. This will help you understand the game of blackjack and many discussions involving other players or the dealer. If you can use some of them yourself, you will portray yourself as more advanced blackjack player also.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Bankroll is the money a player has available to bet.

2. Card Counter is a player who counts cards while playing blackjack.

3. Card Counting is a strategy used to keep track of the cards being played during a game of blackjack.

4. Chips are small round discs that are used in place of money to make bets during a blackjack game.

5. Cold deck is a term used when a blackjack deck is not in the favor of the player.

6. Color up is a term used when players request higher valued chips for lower value ones.

7. Comp (complimentary) means free drinks, food, room or travel given to players by casinos.

8. Cut card is a plastic (usually) colored card used in blackjack to cut a newly shuffled deck. It also signifies when a dealer should reshuffle the cards.

9. Eye in the sky is in reference to the video cameras placed near the ceiling of casinos.

10. Face cards (paint)is used when talking about jacks, queens and kings.

11. Head on (heads up) is when one player is at a blackjack table playing against the dealer.

12. High roller (Whale) is a player who makes large bets.

13. House is a word used for the casino (establishment).

14. Hot deck is often used when referring to a deck that is in favor of the player.

15. Marker is a credit line given to a blackjack player.

16. Money play is when a player bets cash in place of chips.

17. Nickels (red chip) is a term used for $5 blackjack chips.

18. Pit is the space inside of a group of gaming tables.

19. Pit boss (Floorman) is the casino employee who oversees all activity in the pit.

20. Quarters is a term used for $25 blackjack chips.

21. Shoe is a box-type device used in the game of blackjack to hold several decks of cards. The dealer can easily deal one card at a time from it.

22. Snapper is another word used for a blackjack.

23. Unit is the value of a bet.

Tips & Warnings

• It is common to “color up” before you leave a blackjack table when you have several chips of the same value.
• There are different types of counting strategies used in the game of blackjack.
• Chips will have different colors for different values.