ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BLACKJACK
B. 1) Acronym for bonus may be available. 2) Acronym for bad penetration.
BA. Acronym for Stanford Wong’s Blackjack Analyzer – a software program.
back count. {CS} To count cards while standing beside or behind a table but not actually playing. This technique is particularly useful for multiple-deck shoes because the counter can wait for a favorable count before he wagers any money. In single and double-deck games the dealer will be more prone to shuffle up on you. This technique is usually done from a position in back of the players and can be the basis of team play. See Wonging.
[ 12/84 Schlesinger Day in the Life of a Table Hopper BJF ]
back-off. To be informed by casino management or pit personnel that you may no longer play blackjack in their establishment or that you must flat-bet if you play or you must limit your bet spread if you play. Example: “You are free to play any game in the casino but no more blackjack for you!“. See bar. See trespass.
back room. The security room or area in which a suspected cheat or card counter* is questioned or held by casino security personnel. * In other words, someone using their brain to play. A casino that uses force to back room a player is opening themselves up to a lawsuit for false arrest, false imprisonment and other charges if it is found no cheating was involved. See cheating. See lawyer.
[ Federal jury awards $200,000 to player for false arrest ] [ The Bear Growls ] [ YOUTUBE: Las Vegas Strip blackjack card counter back-roomed ]
backer. Also called backer man. Also called the bankroll. An individual or group who finances a game.
back-spotter. {CS} A back-spotter is someone who counts cards without being seated at the blackjack table. He/she will signal for another team member to place a bet when the count is high or high enough.
backlining. The rule option that allows standing players to place bets on or along side of a seated player’s bet. Typically, the seated player is always in charge of playing the hand. This option is very popular in Europe where you will find several players standing behind a winning player and betting along side him.
Bad Beat Blackjack. (BBB) (2010) A “progressive” bad beat jackpot sidebet originally from DEQ Systems (Now Scientific Games). First installed at the Barona Casino in California. Max Rubin, the original inventor, explained “This is the first blackjack progressive side bet that turns the concept of insurance into a very opportunistic wager for the player”. The bonus is paid out based on how much the player bets and the number of cards in the dealer’s hand. If the dealer draws seven or more cards to get 21, the player takes home 100 percent of the jackpot. This side bet may only be available as a non-progressive today.
[ newswire.ca ] [ ARCHIVE: marketwired.com ] [ olympiangaming.com ]
Bahama Bonus Blackjack. (c2018) A blackjack variant similar to Spanish 21.
[ wizardofodds.com ] [ Game Rules 1 ] [ Game Rules 2 ]
Bahamas. Blackjack has been offered on Grand Bahama (Freeport) and New Providence (Nassau) Island. In 2000, the following casinos were in operation:
- Crystal Palace (Nassau)
- Paradise Island (Nassau)
- Lucayan Beach (Freeport)
- Princess (Freeport)
[ 6,7/86, 2,7,8/87, 4/89 Olsen BJC ] [ Sum 93 Dalton BJR ]
Bahamas rules. 
Typical blackjack rules observed in the Bahamas included 6 or 8-deck shoe games, double on any two cards, dealer hits soft 17, double after splits allowed and no re-splits allowed.
[ 90 Gaffney Winning BJ in Atlantic City and…87 ] [ 9/89 Jay Blackjack in the Bahamas BJF ]
Bailey, Anthony. Advantage blackjack player, card counting coach and former MIT Team player with the Blackjack Science web site.
[ ARCHIVE: blackjackscience.com ]
balanced count. {CS} A card counting system that begins and ends with the same number (i.e., 0) and has an exact balance between plus and minus cards. The Hi-Lo system is an example of a balanced count. See unbalanced count.
Baldwin, Roger R. (Nov 22, 1929 – Jan 10, 2021) Co-author of the ground-breaking and historically significant book Playing Blackjack to Win: A New Strategy for the Game of 21. A 2008 member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame. See Blackjack Reports section. See Four Horsemen of Aberdeen. See Blackjack History.
[ Blackjack Hall of Fame ] [ The Optimum Strategy in Blackjack ] [ washingtonpost.com ] [ nytimes.com ] [ thetech.com ] [ AMAZON: Playing Blackjack to Win ]
Ball. See Blackjack Ball.
bank. As in a changing bank. The playing stake of a player or team. A mini-bank is typically representative of the number of units required for a 10% risk of ruin. See bankroll.
bank risk of ruin. See risk of ruin.
banker. A term used in social blackjack games where the players share the responsibility of being dealer or banker. Some establishments (e.g., California card rooms) have offer blackjack games which require a player to be banker.
bankroll. (BR) 1) A money management term referring to the total amount of money that a player or team has set aside for gambling purposes. Need a simple answer? Required Bankroll (that I would feel comfortable with) = 200 x Maximum Bet*. See betting handle. See joint bankroll. See Kelly Criterion. 2) See backer.
[ * SUGGESTED BLACKJACK BANKROLL CHART ] [ blackjackapprenticeship.com ] 1) [ 90 Malmuth Gambling Theory 57 ] 1)
 Players should be aware of a barring tactic that some pros have used to get into a full game. First the pro checks out the players to see if any of them appear to be card counters or very proficient. He then quietly tells the counter that “his action is no longer welcome in this casino!”. After the counter vacates his seat, the pro sits down and plays.[1/84 Wong Nevada Blackjack 13] |
bar. As in to be barred from a casino. A casino game control measure to restrict a game from undesirables. This includes cheats, disorderly persons and players suspected of card counting at blackjack. See back-off. See trespass. See cheating.
[ 1/80 Wong Dec 1979 in A.C. WBN ] [ 80 Barred Counter Uston Taking… C&S Vol.14,24 ] [ 81 Uston Million Dollar Blackjack 255 ] [ 81 Eddie How to…Never Get Barred C&S Vol.15,30 ] [ 81 Eddie …An Anti-Barring Tactic C&S Vol.17,22 ] [ 83 …Rep. the Barred Counter C&S Vol.22,76 ] [ 83 Notice of Trespass C&S Vol.23,65 ] [ 12/86 Wong The Nevada Trespass Statute… BJF 9 ]
Have you ever had your blackjack play “restricted” by casino officials due to card counting?
barber pole. Also called rainbow. A bet made with different denomination checks. (e.g., $225 in greens, $45 in reds, $11 in silver, and three half dollars). Typical casino policy is to break down all barber pole bets and have them paid color for color. See rainbow bet.
[ 80 Solkey Dummy Up and Deal 107 ]
Barfarkel. See LV Pro.
BARGE. (Big August Rec.Gambling Excursion) BARGE was a yearly convention for rec.gambling members held in Las Vegas during the first weekend of August. The first BARGE event is believed to have been in the first weekend in August 1991.
[ WIKIPEDIA: BARGE ]
[ barge.org/ ]
Barney. See purple.
Barnhart, Russell T. (aka Russ Barnhart) (Aug 20, 1926 – Sept 14, 2003) A well known close-up magician and gambling expert. Author of several gambling books including Casino Gambling: Why you win Why you Lose (1978) and Beating the Wheel (1992). Barnhart developed progressive dementia in 2001. See Mickey MacDougall. See Edward Thorp.
[ blackjackforumonline.com ] [ ARCHIVE: geniimagazine.com ] [ paw.princeton.edu ] [ princeton52.org ] [ 21 Snyder Radical Blackjack 298 ] [ forums.geniimagazine.com ]
basic strategy. {BS}. Also called the zero sum strategy or the strategy for a neutral deck. A mathematically derived and computer proven system providing the optimal way of playing any hand and based only on the values of the player’s cards and dealer’s up-card. The basic strategy is slightly different for single and multi-deck games and due to rule variations. See the Basic Strategy Section of this book for comprehensive basic strategy charts that cover most games in the world.
Frequently Asked Question
What is the correct blackjack basic strategy?
[ 56 Baldwin Optimum Strategy in Blackjack ] [ 66 Thorp Beat the Dealer ] [ 80 Braun How to Play Winning Blackjack ] [ 80 Revere Playing Blackjack as a Business 43 ] [ 81 Uston Million Dollar Blackjack 45 ] [ 88 Griffin Theory of Blackjack ] [ 90 Zender Card Counting for the Casino Executive 20 ] [ 92 Wong Basic Blackjack ] [ Fall 92 Dalton Lesson 2: Basic Strategy BJR ]
basic strategy card. {BS} A convenient pocket sized card (plastic or paper) that contains the correct basic strategy for the game being played. Most casinos will allow players to use these cards as long as they do not slow the game down. See Basic Strategy Charts. See calculators.
| Be cautious of basic strategy cards that are purchased in the casinos. They are not always accurate. A common question card counters ask is “Should I use a basic strategy card at the table so I look like your average uninformed tourist?“. The usual expert response to this question is NO! |
basing. See first-basing.
Baye’s Theorem. Named after Rev. Thomas Bayes, an 18th century mathematician. Baye’s calculations were published in 1763, two years after his death and brought into its modern form shortly thereafter by the great French mathematician Pierre Simon de Laplace. Baye’s theorem is the fundamental mathematical law governing the process of logical inference—determining what degree of confidence we may have, in various possible conclusions, based on the body of evidence available. This is exactly the process of predictive reasoning; therefore, to arrive at a logically defensible prediction one must use Bayes’ theorem. In formula form: Bayes’ Theorem states that the probability of A given B equals the probability of A and B divided by the probability of B.
[ WIKIPEDIA ] [ ARCHIVE: turnbull.dcs.st-and.ac.uk ] [ plus.maths.org ] [ AMAZON: Bayes Theorem Examples: The Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Bayes Theorem … ] [ AMAZON: Bayes Theorem Examples: An Intuitive Guide ]
BB. Acronym for the Blackjack Ball.
BB+1. Acronym that refers to dealer takes all “Busted Bets Plus One”. If players are forced to play out hands before the dealer checks for blackjack then this is one of several rule options available. This is an unfavorable rule for the player if the dealer ends up with a blackjack. The dealer will not only take all busted bets but one more unit from any doubling or splitting. This changes the basic strategy for the game as you will no longer want to double or split on any hand versus a dealer 10 or Ace. The only exception is to split Aces versus a dealer 10. See OBO. See OBBO. See ENHC. See No Hole Card Basic Strategy.
[ wizardofodds.com ]
BC. Acronym for betting correlation.
BCA. Acronym for Stanford Wong’s Blackjack Count Analyzer – a software program.
BE. Acronym for betting efficiency.
Beat the Dealer Computer. See calculators.
Bee. (Since ~1892) Reference to Bee brand cards which have an unbroken diamond back pattern with no border. Manufactured by The United States Playing Card Company, Cincinnati, Ohio.
[ 66 Thorp Beat the Dealer 152 ] [ 81 Wong Professional Blackjack 75 ] [ 82 Casino Management 44 ] [ 3/83 Wong Sorting Edges of… Nevada Blackjack 45 ] [ usplayingcard.com/bee/ ]
| Players should be aware that cards held in the hand with no borders are easier to deal seconds from. The diamond design dazzles the player and generally makes it impossible to see whether the dealer has pulled a top card or a second. Many casinos use Bee brand cards with or without their own logo printed in the center of the card. |
BEP. Acronym for break-even-point.
Benson, Leonard. See Power Numbers Blackjack. This system is NOT recommended.
Benter, Bill. aka William Benter. (Born 1957) An expert card counter / shuffle tracker and one of the earliest Ace trackers. Operated blackjack teams that extracted millions of dollars from Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos in the 1980’s. According to Wikipedia, Benter earned his wealth through the development of one of the most successful analysis computer software programs in horse racing. A 2015 member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame. See Alan Woods.
[ BlackjackHallOfFame.com ] [ williambenter.com/ ] [ WIKIPEDIA ] [ southampton.ac.uk ] [ bloomberg.com ] [ forbes.com ]
bet. 
A wager in dollars or checks (chips) that a player makes before the cards are dealt.
Bet 21. (aka 21 Bet) (c2018) A blackjack type variant seen at TvBet, a supplier of live online dealer games. This is a two player game with fixed drawing rules. Player 1 always acts first. You can bet on the winning player, winning total, number of cards in the winning hand and whether either player will bust.
[ wizardofodds.com ]
Bet ‘Em All Blackjack. (c2015?) A blackjack variant seen at Fremont Casino in downtown Las Vegas. This game allowed players to back up (play on) bets belonging to other players at the table. This option is common in Europe.
[ CasinoLifeMagazine ] [ Ad ] [ Layout ]
bet behind. The ability to bet behind another player’s bet at the table. In this case, you are usually at the mercy of how the seated player plays out their hand. In some casinos, the largest bet will have the option to make the play decision.
Bet the Bust. A blackjack variation that gives the player the ability to bet twice on every hand of blackjack. Once on their first bet before the cards are dealt and their second bet on the dealer busting once they see the dealer’s up card. There are two version of Bet the Bust. The second version is called Bet the Bust 4-5-6 and allows players to make their second bet only when the dealer’s up card is a 4-5-6 and pays the player even money. See EZ Bust.
[ ARCHIVE: techartinc.com ] [ wizardofodds.com ]
Bet the Set “21”. A blackjack side bet from Bally Technologies. According to their literature: Bet the Set “21” for blackjack focuses on a player’s first two cards, with the top hand winning amounts as high as 25 to 1! To begin each round, players make their standard blackjack wagers and the optional Bet the Set wager. Once each player has received his first two cards, the dealer settles all Bet the Set wagers. If players have a pair, they win according to the posted paytable. All bonus payouts apply to the player’s first two cards only. See Pair Square.
[ sggaming.com ] [ wizardofodds.com ]
Bet the Set “21” Deluxe. A blackjack side bet from Bally Technologies. According to their literature: The Deluxe version of Bet the Set “21” is an exciting side bet for blackjack that considers the first two cards players receive. If the cards are a pair or a suited pair, the player who has them wins … and then has a choice to: 1) Collect their proceeds, OR 2) Parlay their proceeds onto their main blackjack bet and play the hand out. See Pair Square.
[ sggaming.com ]
bet sizing. {CS} To vary one’s bet according to the advantage held in any given situation.
bet spread. See spread.
bet variation. {CS} The vast majority of the card counter’s advantage comes from bet variation. Gamblers often vary their bet based on wins and losses. Advantage players vary their bet based on the count or the expected value of the next hand. For example: A player using the Hi-Lo count in a 6-deck shoe game would typically start the shoe betting one (1) unit or not play at all. Mid-way (3 decks) through the shoe the running count rises to +9. The counter would calculate a true count of +3 (True count = Running Count / Number of Remaining Decks). A typical strategy would be to bet the true count minus 1. So, in this case, the counter would bet two (2) units on the next hand. Why subtract 1? You generally don’t have an advantage using the Hi-Lo count until the true count is +1 or higher. See play variation.
betting correlation. (BC) An index measure of how closely a card counting system approximates the advantage that a player has in a given situation. The best betting efficiencies approach 100% when the ace is given a non-zero point value. These indices are often used to compare the relative strengths of one system over another. See playing efficiency. See insurance correlation. See card counting system comparisons.
[ 88 Griffin Theory of Blackjack 43 ] [ 90 Chambliss Fundamentals of Blackjack 86 ] [ 82 Snyder The Blackjack Formula 85 ] [ qfit.com ] [ blackjackinfo.com ]
betting efficiency. (BE) See betting correlation.
betting handle. The total amount of money that a player actually wagers during a gambling session or over a more extended period of time.
betting limits. Betting limits are usually posted in all casino games, however, they can be changed on request and approval of the casino pit boss or manager. For example, one blackjack table might have a betting limit of $5 to $500 per hand.
betting progressions. See progressions.
betting ratio. The mathematical ratio between the highest and lowest bets placed by a player.
[ 81 Uston Million Dollar Blackjack 150 ]
betting spread. See spread.
betting strategy. As compared with playing strategy. The strategy a player uses in sizing his bets before being dealt his first two cards. See spread.
BHF, BHOF. Acronyms for Blackjack Hall of Fame.
bias. In mathematics, the difference between the estimated value and the true value of a statistic obtained by random sampling. In blackjack, a bias can be described as a tendency in the game. A player bias is often defined as a game where most players are winning and a dealer bias as a game where the dealer is winning most hands. A bias in either of these situations would imply that these games would have a tendency to continue as before. In reality, however, the standard deviation of a number of hands of blackjack can account for both these cases. Whether detectable and exploitable player or dealer biases exist in blackjack was the premise behind strategies such as TARGET.
[ 77 Epstein Theory of Gambling and Statistical Logic 160 ] [ 85 Patterson The TARGET Manual ] [ 86 Patterson Break the Dealer ] [ 6-7/87 Malmuth Blackjack Biases GT 54 ]
[ 4/88, 8/90 Olsen BJC 4 ] [ 90 Malmuth Gambling Theory 131 ] [ 90 Patterson Blackjack: A Winner’s Handbook 77]
BIAS Barometer. {RWC}. (c1986). Also called B.I.A.S. PLUS (c1989). (Douglas J. Devine). Gaming International, Parma, Ohio. A situation based method that supposedly gives the player a running measurement of the integrity of the game. This system is NOT recommended. See tally. See TARGET.
[ 3/87 Snyder The BIAS Barometer is Falling BJF 13 ]
“New” BIAS Barometer. {RWC}. (c1988). (Douglas J. Devine and Jerry Patterson). An updated version of the BIAS Barometer reflecting the effects of such things as player breaks, the dealer two-card total, integrity of the table (vs hand). This system is NOT recommended. See TARGET.
BIB. Acronym for Arnold Snyder’s Blackbelt in Blackjack.
big player. (BP) {CS} The blackjack team player that makes the large bets but does not necessarily count cards. The BP is often supported by team members who are making small bets or not playing at all. It is generally preferable for the BP to be to the left of the counter. This allows the counter to dispose of his cards prior to using his hand (or hands) to signal the BP how to play. See high roller. See gorilla BP. See wave. See buzzard.
[ 81 Uston Million Dollar Blackjack 167 ] [ 86 Uston Ken Uston on Blackjack 98 ] [ ARCHIVE: blackjackforumonline.com ]
Big Player. An alias for the 2010 winner of the “Grosjean Cup” at Max Rubin’s annual Blackjack Ball.
Billings, Mark. Author of the book The Ultimate Edge and a nominee for the Blackjack Hall of Fame. Interviewed on the Gambling with an Edge podcast in 2013.
[ PODCAST: Apr 5, 2013 ]
Bingo Blackjack. (c2023?) An online blackjack variant from Draft Kings that pays a multiplier if the player’s total achieves a random total from 12 to 21 at the start of the hand. A 20% additional fee per hand is required.
[ wizardofodds.com ]
Biometrica. See CIN.
Bishop. (aka Bishop of Blackjack) Arnold Snyder is the self appointed bishop of the First Church of Blackjack which was inaugurated Oct 25, 1981, at Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, NV. Snyder sermoned four times a year for 23 years within the pages of Blackjack Forum magazine … a publication for card counters. See rge21.
[ 83 Snyder Blackbelt in Blackjack 9 ] [ blackjackforumonline.com ]
BJ. 1) In a casino, the letters on the drop box beneath a twenty-one table. 2) Acronym for blackjack.
1) [ 79 Newman Dealer’s Special 12 ]
BJ21.com. (Since March 8, 1996) This was the official web site for Pi Yee Press‘ / Stanford Wong‘s Current Blackjack News and online blackjack discussion groups. This site was sold to Joshua Chan and the LCB Network in February of 2016. Chan also purchased the Wizard of Odds sites in 2014. Beginning in March 2018, Current Blackjack News reported “We no longer list 6:5 and most other carnival games“.
[ BJ21.com ] [ ARCHIVE: eegaming.org ]
BJA. 1) Acronym for Stanford Wong‘s Blackjack Analyzer software. 2) Acronym for Donald Schlesinger’s book Blackjack Attack. 3) Acronym for Colin and Ben’s Blackjack Apprenticeship website.
BJANALYST. See Conrad Membrino.
[ Books by BJANALYST ]
BJAPR. Acronym for Michael Dalton‘s Blackjack: A Professional Reference. This was the former title for the document you are currently reading.
BJB. Acronym for the Blackjack Ball.
BJC. Acronym for Eddie Olsen‘s Blackjack Confidential magazine.
BJF. 1) Acronym for Arnold Snyder‘s Blackjack Forum magazine. See Bishop. 2) Term used in Clarke Cant’s Blackjack Therapy article to refer to the Blackjack Formula result; BJF = BA+PA+RA+SA where BA = Betting Advantage, PA = Playing Advantage, RA = Rule Advantage and SA = Starting Advantage.
BJFB. Acronym for Bryce Carlson’s book Blackjack for Blood.
BJHOF. Acronym for Blackjack Hall of Fame.
BJmath.com. (c2005 – April ?, 2014) This was formerly the official web site for Richard Reid‘s excellent web site which emphasized the mathematics of blackjack.
[ ARCHIVE: BJmath.com ] [ ARCHIVE: BJmath.com ]
BJ Quick-Eye. See Quick-Eye.
BJR. Acronym for Michael Dalton’s Blackjack Review magazine.
BJRnet.com. (Since Oct 7, 1996) This was the official web site for Michael Dalton’s Blackjack Review Network. In 2016, it redirects to BlackjackReview.com.
[ blackjackreview.com ] [ ARCHIVE: BJRnet.com (before 2016) ]
BJT. 1) See BJ Tools by William D. Smith. 2) See BJ Traveller below.
BJ Tracker. (c1992) A software package designed to aid casino surveillance departments in identifying card counters. Their ad claims that a casino surveillance user will be able to identify a card counter “. . . in five minutes.”
[ ARCHIVE: blackjackforumonline.com ]
BJ Traveller. (BJT) A professional Chinese card counter who has played extensively around the world. Interviewed by Richard Munchkin in 2003, and on the Gambling with an Edge podcast in 2013.
[ INTERVIEW: Richard Munchkin ] [ PODCASTS: Mar 9, 2012, Jul 5, 2013 ]
BJSurvey. See Blackjack Survey Voice.
BJW. Acronym for Stanford Wong’s Blackjack World newsletter.
black. Short for a black check, a $100 chip. See black action. See black chip.
black action. A phrase that the dealer might make to inform pit personnel that a player is wagering black checks. This is typical house policy at most casinos. See green action.
Black Asian. An advantage player and card counter who posts under the name of “Black Asian” and has been interviewed on the Gambling with an Edge podcast.
[ PODCAST: Jul 18, 2019 ]
black check. (BC) Casino terminology for a $100 black chip.
black chip. (BC) 1) A $100 value casino chip. 2) A reference to one of the restricted member’s only pages on Stanford Wong’s blackjack discussion group.
[ BJ21.com ]
black book. Also written blackbook. Also called the list of excluded persons. In Nevada, the state-maintained list of undesirable people who must be excluded from gambling establishments by the owners. See Griffin Book. See Griffin Investigations.
[ 87 Clark Dictionary of Gambling & Gaming 19 ] [ WIKIPEDIA ]
black box. A small calculator or computer dedicated to providing the correct play strategy based on a given count or to determine the true count. See computers (concealed). See calculators.
[ 65 Wilson The Casino Gambler’s Guide ]
Black Jack. 1) Shame on you. This is NOT how you spell blackjack. On the other hand… according to Wikipedia, when twenty-one was first introduced in the United States, gambling houses offered bonus payouts on hands like a “black jack” (e.g., jack of clubs or jack of spades). This hand was called a “blackjack”… and the name stuck. 2) A marijuana strain that produces hard buds with huge, grape-like calyxes. See blackjack.
1) [ WIKIPEDIA ] 2) [ leafly.com ]
blackjack. (BJ) ← SEE SPECIAL SECTION
Blackjack 11’s. See Perfect 11’s.
Blackjack II. An anti-card-counting system developed by Thomas Kadlic (President of Vingt-Et-Un Corp, Absecan, NJ) and Murray Kirch for the casinos. A double shoe with 12 decks held in two separate compartments was proposed. Six decks would be red and six decks would be blue with the deal alternating based on suit color.
[ 81 Kadlic Blackjack II – An Anti-Card Counting System ]
Blackjack (21) Solitaire. {PBS}. (c1979?) (John Bollinger) Long Beach, CA. TBD
[ 80 C&S Vol.9,43 ] 
BlackjackApprenticeship.com. Co-founded by Ben Crawford and Colin Jones‘, “Blackjack Apprenticeship exists to provide the best training, community & resources online. Whether it’s a hobby or a source of income, the Pros at Blackjack Apprenticeship are here to help others master the craft of card counting.“
[ blackjackapprenticeship.com ] [ Blackjack Blog ]
Blackjack Ball. (BB, BJB) ← SEE SPECIAL SECTION
See Blackjack Hall of Fame.
Blackjack Bootcamp. See Bootcamp.
Blackjack Burn 20. See Burn 20 Blackjack.
Blackjack Burnout. (c2017) Invented by Angel Espino, this blackjack variation plays like regular blackjack except the player has an option to replace a bad card for the next one in the deck. For this option, the player must add a non-refundable 20% fee at the start of the hand.
[ wizardofodds.com ]
Blackjack Challenge. (c2013) A blackjack variation that includes a Five-card Charlie (non busted five-card hand automatically wins), 21-point hand automatically wins and blackjacks pay at least 2 to 1 and up to 5 to 1. Ties lose. (HA ~ 2.53%)
[ wizardofodds.com ] [ star.com.au ]
Blackjack Countdown. (c2017) This is a casino operated software suite that allows casinos to monitor a game. It gives, in real-time, the hi-lo running and true counts. Requires use of an intelligent (smart) card shoe. According to their web-site, “The new patent, US 9,514,614, on an invention by eConnect’s collaborators, Henry Valentino, Travis Whidden, Jeremiah Morrill & Robert Conde is entitled ‘REAL TIME PLAYING CARD VALUATION’ includes Technologies and implementations for determining advantages in a card game via a video capture device.“
[ ARCHIVE: econnectglobal.com ]
Blackjack Cup. See Blackjack Ball. See Grosjean Cup.
BlackJack eXtreme. (BJX) (c2009) TBD – Blackjack as a poker game??? Pokerized Blackjack? From BJX Entertainment. Once available on Facebook and as an app on mobile devices.
[ FACEBOOK ] [ Blackjack Extreme Rules ]
Blackjack Frenzy. (c2022?) 1) According to VegasAdvantage.com this blackjack variant is/was mix of Spanish 21 and Super Fun 21. Players can double down after hitting and there are bonuses for some hands. However, blackjack’s paid 6 to 5. Originally seen at the Sahara in 2022. 2) A Governor of Poker online blackjack game which is described as an individual challenge about you and your accomplishments. The more chips you win, the more prizes you get.
Blackjack Gold Card. {BS} (1991) (Charles Jay) Charles Jay Enterprises, Hallandale, FL. A nice pocket sized basic strategy card (4 sides) that gives an accurate basic strategy for multiple-deck games, variations for single-deck, DAS, no soft doubling, and surrender. Helpful information and 11 cardinal rules.
Blackjack Hall of Fame. (BHOF, BJHOF) ← SEE SPECIAL SECTION
See Blackjack Ball.
Blackjack Jackpot. A bonus game offered at Resorts Casino in Atlantic City during 1992. Jackpots started at $250 and increased by 1 cent per second until a player was dealt an ace of spades and the jack of spades on the first round of an 8-deck game.
[ 7/92, 9/92 Pilcher Puzzle Corner BJC ]
BlackjackInfo.com. This is the excellent site originally created by Ken Smith. The goal of the site is to provide clear, accurate and transparent information to guide you in optimizing your blackjack play. Home of the Basic Strategy Engine and blackjack and card counting forums. Their sister site (BlackjackTournaments.com) provides an excellent forum for tournaments of all kinds.
[ blackjackinfo.com ]
Blackjack Institute. Formed in 2004 and dissolved in 2012 (approx), by David Irvine, Mike Aponte and others from the former MIT Blackjack Team.
[ ARCHIVE: blackjackinstitute.com ]
Blackjack Match. (c2016) A sidebet that wins if the player and/or the dealer have a blackjack. There is also a progressive version of this bet.
[ wizardofodds.com ] [ resortsac.com ]
Blackjack-Mate. {BS}. (Lantana, FL) (c1978). A 1-2-3-5 progression betting system is offered along with inaccurate advice on basic strategy and insurance. Originally sold for about $10. This system is NOT recommended.
[ 78 C&S Vol.5, 11 ]
Blackjack Party. (c2018) Michael Shackleford saw this game at the Casino Bregenz in Bregenz, Austria. He said it set the new low for the worst blackjack rules he had ever seen. (HA ~ 8.04%)
[ wizardofodds.com ]
Blackjack Playmate. See calculators.
Blackjack Plus. (c2011) Seen at the Queenstown Casino in New Zealand and the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia. Rules include a Five-card Charlie (non-busted five-card hand automatically wins) and blackjack and 21-point hands automatically wins. (HA ~ 5.5% – 6.36%)
[ wizardofodds.com ]
BlackjackReview.com. (Since Sept 14, 1999) This is the official web site for Michael Dalton’s Blackjack Review Network. See BJRnet.com.
Blackjack Shields. A card counting prevention apparatus designed by Kenneth C. Dylag of Westmont, IL. A method to prevent players from seeing each other’s hands.
[ 83 C&S Vol.22,9 ] [ 83 Dylag Rebuttal to Casino Int… C&S Vol.24,36 ]
Blackjack Survey Voice. (BSV) (1992) aka BJSurvey, aka Bloodhound. A software package designed to aid casino surveillance departments in identifying card counters. Version 1.0 for DOS was completed on October 12, 1992 and their first customer was the Las Vegas Tropicana Casino on March 26, 1993. In 2000, a Windows version of the software was released. According to the advertising: “BJSurvey is an extremely accurate, easy to use Blackjack player evaluation system, which analyzes all aspects of a Blackjack player and provides detailed reports and graphs to assist you in making the right decisions about a player.” Sold to ShuffleMaster in 2006. Software version was at 11 in 2017.
[ casinosoftware.com/ ] [ 21 Snyder Radical Blackjack 59 ]
Blackjack Switch. (c2007) This is a blackjack variation invented by Geoff Hall. You must play two hands and both hands must have equal bets. Only the second card (or top card) dealt to each hand can be switched. Player blackjacks pay even money in this game and a dealer 22 will push all other player hands, including 21. HA ~ 0.58%. See WLPC.
[ WIKIPEDIA ] [ ARCHIVE: blackjackforumonline.com ] [ wizardofodds.com ] [ beatingbonuses.com ] [ blackjackswitch.com ] [ 2012 Snyder The Big Book of Blackjack 245 ]
BlackjacktheForum.com. (Started c2012) This is Norm Wattenberger’s blackjack-forum* including Don Schlesinger’s Domain. * Not to be confused with Arnold Snyder’s Blackjack Forum magazine.
[ blackjacktheforum.com ]
Blackjack Tie. A blackjack side bet owned by Thomas Franklin / Rising Digital Corp. Players bet on whether they will tie the dealer on 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or Blackjack. The Blackjack bet pays as normal and the tie bet pays odds when the player wins. Electronic version only? Not sure if available for live games. MORE INFO
[ risingdigital.com ]
Blackjack Time. In August 1996, the first legal (no money) tournament site on the Internet opened. It was called Blackjack Time and was written in the Java programming language. It was the only real-time gaming system on the Internet that didn’t require any special software or plug-in. At the time, it was probably the most authentic blackjack game outside of a live casino.
[ ARCHIVE: casinotime.com ]
BlackjackTournaments.com. See BlackjackInfo.com above.
blackjack variants. Term coined to refer to any game that is similar to traditional blackjack but with significant rule differences, variations and options. Examples include Spanish 21, Blackjack Switch and Super Fun 21.
[ wizardofodds.com ] [ 888casino.com ]
Blackjack War. See War Blackjack.
Blackjack Weather Center. (BWC) This is an amazing tool from Norm Wattenberger and Stanford Wong’s Current Blackjack News. It presents, in graphical form, the current state of the game – state by state. Percentages of games that have 6:5 and H-17 rules, number of casinos, tables and house edge. NOTE: In February 2018, it appears that 38% of tables in Nevada had tables with the 6:5 rule. I think I will play in California or Florida which have better rules overall. Beginning in March 2018, BJ21.com no longer reported on “6:5 carnival games“, so this tool also no longer includes information on 6:5 games.
[ qfit.com/maps.shtml ]
Blackjack X-Change. (c2018) A blackjack variant seen online. Players are allowed to switch any card in their hand for a random card. You either pay to switch a bad card or get paid to switch a good one. Seen at the Caesars online casino. [ HA ~ 0.37% to 3.0% ] [ wizardofodds.com ]
Black Tuesday. (January 30, 1979 at 9:45PM) The day Resorts International in Atlantic City began barring card counters. See The Experiment.
[ 79 Two Books on Blackjack Uston 71 ]
Blackwood, Kevin
. A professional blackjack player, card counter and gambling author. He is best known for his novel, The Counter and book Play Blackjack Like the Pros. Blackwood has played in the World Series of Blackjack (semifinalist 2005) and the Ultimate Blackjack Tour (finalist 2006).
[ ARCHIVE: blackjackbomb.com/kevin-blackwood ] [ blackjackapprenticeship.com ] [ WIKIPEDIA ] [ kevinblackwood.com ]
Blade. A blackjack player who reportedly taught computer science and in 2016, supported himself entirely by playing blackjack in Las Vegas and elsewhere. Interviewed on the Gambling with an Edge podcast.
[ PODCAST: May 4, 2017 ]
Blaine, Rick aka Rick “Night Train” Blaine. Involved with blackjack teams since 1985. He has played on teams, organized and managed teams, and trained team players. Author of the book Blackjack BluePrint. Blaine won the 2015 “Grosjean Cup” at Max Rubin’s annual Blackjack Ball.
[ ARCHIVE: aleaconsultinggroup.com ] [ PODCASTS: Dec 4, 2014, Feb 6, 2015 ]
Blazing 7s Blackjack Progressive. A blackjack side bet from Bally Technologies. According to their literature: Blazing 7s Progressive is an exciting new optional blackjack progressive bet that wins based on how many sevens players receive in their hands. The more sevens in the hand, the more players win! To begin each round, players make a standard blackjack bet and the Blazing 7s progressive bet. The dealer then follows house procedures for blackjack. Players win if at least one of their first two cards is a seven. Players win more if both of their first two cards are sevens. The payout increases even more if their third card is also a seven. The progressive is based on the player’s first three cards only. See progressive blackjack.
[ resortsac.com ] [ sggaming.com ] [ wizardofodds.com ]
bleed. (or bleeder) Casino terminology that means to worry about a player winning at a table.
blind shuffle. A procedure for appearing to mix a pack of cards while maintaining a stacked deck. See false shuffle.
[ 68 Wallace Poker 210 ]
blister. {CHS}. As in dealing a blister. A cheating technique whereby a deck is prepared in advance by lightly pressing all of the high cards (or all of the low cards) against a tiny needle-like projection. This leaves a bump or blister which the dealer can feel.
[ 83 Ortiz Dealing a Blister Vol.23,66 ] [ 90 Ortiz Gambling Scams ]
Bloch, Andy Elliot. (Born June 1, 1969) aka “The Rock”. A professional poker player who was once part of the MIT Blackjack Team, where he acted as a spotter. Bloch has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in engineering from MIT and a law degree from Harvard University. Bloch was featured in the blackjack documentary The Hot Shoe, as well as starring in his own instructional blackjack DVD, Beating Blackjack..
[ WIKIPEDIA ] [ gamblingsites.org ] [ Blackjack Counting Cards Practice with Andy Bloch ] [ PODCAST: Sep 2, 2011, Jun 7, 2013, May 23, 2014 ]
blocker. A team term referring to the person who physically obstructs the pit’s view of a player.
Block Pro Blackjack. (c2010?) A blackjack side bet from TCS John Huxley. The side bet is based on the player’s first two cards and dealer’s up card. The bet wins if the dealer’s up card matches the suit of one of the player’s cards and the player’s card is higher. Seen in casinos in South Africa. MORE INFO
[ tcsjohnhuxley.com ] [ wizardofodds.com ]
body language. See tell play.
BOLO. Acronym for “Be On the Look Out”. A casino surveillance or law enforcement lookout bulletin reporting that an individual or suspect is in town or the area. BOLOs are often generated for known or suspected high-stakes card counters and/or advantage players. In policing, it is known as an APB or an “All-Points Bulletin”.
[ WIKIPEDIA: All-points bulletin ] [ Difference between APB and BOLO ]
BON. See bonus.
Bonanza Blackjack. A prototype blackjack game with a $1 side bet that could win the player up to $25,000. This is a computer game played with digitized cards.
[ ARCHIVE: smartgaming.com ]
Bongo Pie Pace. See “The Moray Eel“.
bonus. (B) As in a bonus hand. To be paid extra or to win automatically on special hands. Only a few casinos offer bonuses on special card combinations. These bonuses can include the following hands:
- 6 card automatic winner.
- 5 card 21 pays double.
- Two-to-one for blackjack.
- A-J bonus.
- Joker’s wild.
- Any 21 automatic winner.
- 22 same as 21.
- 6-7-8 automatic winner.
- 7-7-7 automatic winner.
- 5-5-5-5.
- … and others
Occasionally, you will also find bonus options offered to players. These include, for example, the option to double-down on any number of cards. (e.g., Las Vegas Club) See Progressive Blackjack.
[ 81 Uston Million Dollar Blackjack 41 ] [ 92 Wong Basic Blackjack ] [ beatingbonuses.com/ ]
Bonus 16. A blackjack side-bet. See Double Up Blackjack.
Bonus Bet 21. See Slingo Bonus Bet 21.
Bonus Blackjack. One of many possible blackjack side bets. Michael Shackleford has analyzed a few different side bets called Bonus Blackjack. See link below.
[ wizardofodds.com ]
bonus code. A reference to an online casino bonus code which offers new players an incentive to deposit and play in their casino. When searching the internet for poker, blackjack and online casino bonus codes the most important thing to take into account is whether the advertised bonus code is valid. Only use a bonus code from a web site you trust!
Bonus Spin Blackjack. (c2017) A blackjack side bet from AGS. In the game I played at the Four Queens in Las Vegas, you made a mandatory fixed $1 Bonus Spin side bet. If you are dealt a blackjack you get to press a virtual wheel with different prizes or a top jackpot award. You lose the side bet if you are not dealt a blackjack in the first two cards. In essence, you are paying about $21 to spin the wheel since you will get a blackjack about once every 21 hands or so. Various payouts probably exist. HA ~ 4.4% – 7% ? This was (is) probably the “Worst Blackjack Game” in Las Vegas at the time.
[ playags.com ] [ playags.com ] [ YOUTUBE ] [ YOUTUBE ]
Bonus Spin Extreme. (c2021) This is believed to be the “progressive” version of the above Bonus Spin side bet. Available on table games such as blackjack, roulette and baccarat. Casino operators can “link” multiple table games to this. On July 21, 2023, a table games player made the $5 side-bet wager at Borgata Casino in Atlantic City, NJ to hit the progressive for $1.5 million.
[ playags.com ]
book. As in “The Book”. See Griffin Book.
Bootcamp. A reference to Blackjack Apprenticeship’s card counting training sessions or any similar event.
[ blackjackapprenticeship.com ]
Bootlegger. See Robert Mike Turner.
bop. {CS} To jump from table to table as decks or shoes become favorable to the player. See Wonging. See table hopping.
[ 81 Uston Million Dollar Blackjack 316 ]
Boss Media software. For more information visit link below.
[ wizardofodds.com ]
bottoms. {CHS}. Also called bottom deal. To deal from the bottom of the deck. See seconds. See bottom dealer.
bottom dealer. A dealer who deals from the bottom of the deck. See bottoms.
Boyd System. {PCS/L1}. Charles Boyd. See Play Better Blackjack under reports.
– TBD
box. A shuffling term that refers to taking a portion of a deck or decks from the bottom and moving it to the top of the stack of cards.
BP. 1) Acronym for big player. 2) Acronym for bad penetration.
BR. Acronym for bankroll.
BR1. Acronym for “bankroll one”. A blackjack tournament term which refers to the chip leader.
BR2, BR3. Acronyms for “bankroll two” and “bankroll three”. Blackjack tournament terms referring to the second and third highest chip count.
Braun, Julian H. (Sep 25, 1929 – Sep 4, 2000) Julian Braun was the author of the ground-breaking book How to Play Winning Blackjack. He was a major influence in the development of computer proven blackjack systems. In addition to the High-Low system, Braun calculated the strategies for Lawrence Revere’s books and the Hi-Opt I and II systems. Julian Braun died in 2000, after a long illness. A 2005 member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
[ BlackjackHallOfFame.com ] [ WIKIPEDIA: Blackjack Hall of Fame ] [ ARCHIVE: rge21.com ] [ ARCHIVE: blackjackbomb.com ]
[ gamblingsites.org ] [ March 2000 BJF 29 ]
Braun High-Low. {PCS/L1} (Julian Braun) (c1971). See Hi-Lo System.
A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
-1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 -1
[ 80 Braun C&S Vol.10,39 ] [ 80 Braun How to Play Winning Blackjack ] [ 81 Julian Braun Interview BJF ]
break. Also called bust. To draw cards that exceed the card count total of 21 points. When a player busts he always loses regardless of the final outcome of the dealer’s hand. It is interesting to note that the primary advantage that the casino has over the player in blackjack arises from this fact. For a single deck, dealer bust probabilities range from 11% (Ace up-card) to 43% (5 up-card).
[ 88 Griffin Theory of Blackjack 19 ] [ 6/87 Smallwood BJF ] [ 9/87 Griffin The Dealer Breaking Controversy BJF ]
break card clumping. {RWC} Term given by TARGET players for the clumping effects of player breaking.
[ 5/87 Olsen BJC ]
break cards. Cards valued 6 through 10. The only cards that can break the dealer or the player since all dealers must stand on 17 and most players stand on 17 as well.
break down a bet. In casino dealing, to separate a stack of chips of various colors into separate stacks, each of a single denomination. This is performed by dealers to make it easier to pay off the bet and, as casino policy, to prevent cheating on the dealer’s part. See rainbow bet.
break-in dealer. A new dealer or a dealer in training.
break-in tells. Term coined by Steve Forte to refer to tells given off break-in dealers when they fear having to pay off big rainbow bets.
[ 86 Forte Read the Dealer 37 ]
break the bank. A blackjack team expression referring to the time when monies are distributed to members of the team.
[ 81 Uston Million Dollar Blackjack 316 ]
break the deck. To shuffle up. To stop the play of the hands and reshuffle. Often used as a casino game control measure when a player is suspected of card counting and that player suddenly increases his bet.
breaking hand. Two cards totaling 12 through 16 points. So called because a single card may put the total point count over 21. See break.
BRH. {PCS} A reference to the card countings systems as developed by Brett Harris. The BRH Card Counting Systems make use of significant advances in card counting techniques in the late 1990s. In particular, they are unbalanced running or true count systems. BRH-1 is very similar to Wong Halves multiplied by two, but while being easier to use, it is a more powerful system. BRH-II is related to HiOpt-II, but may be converted to BRH-I for betting using a secondary count. A report was available with accompanying diskettes for an additional charge or the 800 pages of diskette material could be emailed to you. See Ubalo. MORE INFO
BRH-0. {PCS/L2} (Brett Harris) More info.
A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
-2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 -2
BRH-I. {PCS/L3} (Brett Harris) More info.
A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
-2 1 2 2 3 2 1 0 0 -2
BRH-II. {PCS/L2} (Brett Harris) More info
A 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 1 1 2 2 2 1 0 0 -2
bridge. {CHS} A card bent in such a fashion as to be recognized by the person making the cut, indicating that the cards are to be cut at that place. A bridge is a card slightly curved and may have been intentional or unintentional. See warp.
[ 87 Clark Dict of Gambling & Gaming 27 ]
Bridges, Steven. A magician turned card counter from the United Kingdom. In 2019, he learned to count cards and began a 12 part video series on his high stakes blackjack exploits.
[ YOUTUBE ] [ World Game Protection Conference 2023 ]
Brolley, Dave. aka Dave “Gronbog” Brolley. Coauthored the book The Hi-Lo Card Counting System with Don Schlesinger in 2023.
Brown, Alan. Blackjack players Alan Brown and Barry Finn were hole-carding at the Las Vegas Binion’s Horseshoe Casino in 1986. They were robbed and beaten by security guards and Brown was beaten badly enough to suffer a ruptured kidney or spleen. What Brown and Finn were doing was not illegal as they were taking advantage of a dealer who dealt the cards improperly. The civil suit against the casino was eventually settled for a reported $700,000 or so. Some believe this civil suit helped change the way advantage players were treated by casinos since then.
[ Snyder Big Book of Blackjack 329 ] [ articles.latimes.com ] [ articles.latimes.com ]
Bruce. A professional blackjack player that has given interviews on the Gambling with an Edge podcast. According to the podcast, in addition to counting cards, he exploits casino carnival games and various casino side bets.
[ PODCASTS: Feb 22, 2017, Apr 6, 2017 ]
BS. Acronym for basic strategy.
BSV. See Blackjack Survey Voice.
BTD. Acronym for Ed Thorp’s book Beat the Dealer.
bubble peek. An action in which a dealer, by squeezing the top card on a deck between his little finger and the heel of his hand, can see the index value of the card before dealing it.
Buffalo Blackjack. (c2010?) A blackjack variation seen in Colorado that adds two additional side bets. (HA ~ 3.2% to -3.41% ) See 21 Magic and Bust Bonus.
[ wizardofodds.com ]
bump. A dealing term referring to the push dealer’s often make with a stack of chips into a player’s shorter bet stack while cutting the excess chips off so that both stacks are equal. Payoffs are usually performed this way, however, players should be aware that a expert dealer can manipulate the chips in such a way as to actually cheat the players out of their own chips and the payoff itself. This cheating technique can be done only when the player has a multiple unit bet out.
burn. As in to burn a card. To remove a card from play. See burn card.
Burn 20 Blackjack. (c2010) A blackjack variation seen at Binion’s Horseshoe in Las Vegas and in the United Kingdom (UK). If the Dealer has a “10” value card (i.e 10, J, Q or K) there is potential for a “Burn 20”. If the dealer has a 10 up and his hole-card is another 10, he will discard both cards for 2 new cards. If those new cards total 20, he will also discard both cards for 2 new cards. A dealer bust with 22 will push any players remaining. Additional rules may apply. (HA ~ 0.74% – 0.80%)
[ wizardofodds.com ] [ ARCHIVE: ukcasinotablegames.info ]
Burn 21 Blackjack. (c2015) aka “21 Burn Blackjack“. A blackjack variant from the online software provider Betsoft. In this variant, the player may burn his second card for a random card. But it is not free. Cost is half of the original bet. Also, blackjacks pay even money. (HA ~ 0.54%)
[ wizardofodds.com ]
burn card. The card that is removed at the beginning of a new deck or shoe, or when a new dealer comes on duty. One or more burn cards are typically placed in a discard tray or on the bottom of a hand-held deck of cards. In single-deck games the burn card is usually not shown and in multi-deck games it may be shown on request at some casinos. In single-deck games, especially, it is very advantageous for the player to know the value of the burn card(s).
[ mikeaponte.com ]
Burnout. See Blackjack Burnout.
Burro, El. See El Burro.
bury. As in to bury a card. To place a card in the middle of a deck or among the discards, so that it cannot be readily located.
Bushido Blackjack. {PCS/L2} (T. Hopper) (c1999) An alternative to the T-H Intermediate and T-H Advanced systems. See T-H Card Counting System(s).
[ bjrnet.com ]
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bust. See break.
Bust Box. This is a side bet that you will break with exactly one card. Changes to basic strategy include betting the bust box with 15 and 16 vs 7,8,9,10,ace and 17 vs 8,9,10,ace.
(PA = +6% to +8%) Bust box bet
(PA = +3% to +4%) Original bet
(PA = +0.2%) Overall value
[92 Wong Basic Blackjack]
Bust Bonus. (c2013) A blackjack side-bet from Galaxy Gaming that the player will bust. Players can decide if they want to make the bet after seeing the dealer’s up card. (HA ~ 4.9% to ???) See Buffalo Blackjack.
[ wizardofodds.com ] [ discountgambling.net ]
bust card. A reference to the card that will bust a dealer’s stiff hand.
Buster Blackjack. (c2009) A side bet that wins if the dealer busts. The more cards it takes, the more the player wins. Marketed by AGS. (HA ~ 5.5% – 13.79% depending on the pay table used.) See Mega Blackjack.
[ wizardofodds.com ] [ 888casino.com ] [ 888casino.com ] [ oag.ca.gov ] [ discountgambling.net ]
Bust It. (BI) (c2012) A blackjack side bet that wins if the dealer busts with exactly 3 cards. You get paid based on a pay chart. If the dealer doesn’t bust on 3 cards, you lose. (HA ~ 6.91%)
[ 888casino.com ] [ discountgambling.net ]
Bust Me. (c2012) A blackjack side bet that the player will bust on the next card. The bet may be made on player totals of 12 to 16 and pays off based on a pay-table.
[ wizardofodds.com ] [ discountgambling.net ]
bust out. 1) To completely run out of a session bankroll. 2) To cheat gamblers.
Bustout Blackjack. (1993) Also called Bustout 21. A side bet where players can bet that the dealer will bust with a 10 valued card when he has a total of 12-16 on his first two cards. This makes this bet similar to the insurance bet except the option will come up 4 times as often and you can bet twice as much!. This side bet was first introduced at the Golden Gate casino in Las Vegas during the Summer of 1993.
[ 6/93 Curtis BJF 73 ] [ Sum 93, Fall 93 Dalton BJR ] [ 8/93 Wong CBN ] [ 9/93 Snyder Shhh… It’s Bustout Month (wink) BJF 43 ]
button. See marker button.
buy-in. The amount of money exchanged at a table for chips before beginning play. For example, a typical buy-in at a $5 minimum table might be $100. The dealer, in many cases, would usually give the player two green $25 chips and ten red $5 chips. A typical player buy-in chart (see below) can therefore be developed from actual observations of how most players enter a game.
| TYPICAL PLAYER BUY-IN CHART | |
|---|---|
TABLE MINIMUM $1 | BUY IN > $10 |
However, players should be careful what they buy in for. Depending on where you play, if you buy-in for too much (e.g. over $3000 in Nevada) you may force the casino to file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR, FinCEN Form 114).
[ WIKIPEDIA: Casino regulations under the Bank Secrecy Act ]
buzzard. A Big Player who circles the pit too much waiting for a signal from a spotter.
[ 08 The Card Counter’s Guide to Casino Surveillance Cellini ]
BWC. See Blackjack Weather Center.