Casinos are places that are bursting with excitement offering a chance for players to experience the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat. The energy is contagious buzzing with the sounds of spinning the reels, roulette wheel, or dice clicking together. The mood is also defined by the iconic phrases and memorable quotes spoken by seasoned gamblers or taken out of legendary movies. In time, traditional casinos as well as online betting platforms like Stake, created their own little ecosystems developing a special lexicon of expressions separated from the outside world.
Let it Ride
Poker players came up with this phrase when they chose to keep the bet on the table for the next round rather than pulling it back. The expression became the synonym for taking a risk even in unfavorable circumstances when players stay in the game even when the stacks are against them in hopes of getting lucky after all. Let it ride, meaning taking a chance even when it’s not generally recommended.
House Edge
The house does not win every hand, but it does have an edge, an advantage. If you ever played roulette, you notice “numbers” 0 and 00 which logically don’t belong on the wheel. However, by placing them on the wheel the number of spots where the ball can land is a bit bigger – in this case for two spots. This way the casino has an edge, meaning the player has a lesser chance of winning. This is how casinos maintain profitability over time, even though players win at the moment.
All In
This expression found its place outside of the casino walls as well. It came from the poker players when they invested all their chips in one hand. This can be used to intimidate the opponents or as a bluff. It’s poker after all. A popular phrase in general gaming culture symbolizing complete commitment to a game, or a specific hand.
The Odds Are Against You
The odds in many casino games are heavily stacked in the house’s favor. It’s a cautionary expression reminding the players that ultimately casinos are there to make a profit. It helps with staying in control of spending especially when it comes to games of random numbers like roulette or slot machines. The phrase carries a sense of inevitability along with responsibility and a warning.
Your Bet Is Good
In the world of table games, particularly blackjack and craps, this phrase is used by dealers to inform players that their wager has been accepted and is valid. It’s a short sentence that fits in perfectly with the fast pace of the table games like Blackjack or craps. Clear and quick remarks like this are used at all games to signify certain actions that need to be swiftly addressed.
Chasing Losses
Losing a bet, especially a large one, can be a stressful and traumatic experience. Instead of walking out of the casino and trying luck some other time, some players choose to continue gambling in hopes of gaining back the lost money. This is where the phrase “chasing losses” comes from. The desire and confidence that eventually they will break even and leave the table with the same balance on the account is driving them to stay and oftentimes lose even more. All it does is dig that hole you’re already in a little deeper. If you feel you’re on a losing streak, the best thing to do is to take a break or leave and come back another day.
Hit Me
This is one of the most iconic phrases in blackjack, originating from the 1950s when the game became increasingly popular in American casinos. It means that the player is asking for another card from the dealer in hopes of getting closer to the total of 21. It came straight from the black jack tables, but it became a part of the casino culture in general.
Feeling Lucky?
This famous phrase, often associated with slot machines and lottery tickets, evokes the spirit of gambling itself. It’s a rhetorical question that suggests the thrill of chance and uncertainty. Players are often prompted with this phrase before they make their wagers, heightening the anticipation of whether their luck will pay off or not. It’s meant to uplift the players’ spirits and hopes suggesting it might be their turn for the big win.
Good Luck
This can often be heard just after the bets are placed and before the dealer starts shuffling cards. It’s a gesture of camaraderie in an attempt to make the game less stressful, wishing for positive outcomes. However, seasoned gamblers know that luck is only one of the ingredients needed for the win. More significant are strategies, self-control and experience. Still, wishing a little luck never hurt anyone so it’s often used to add to the vivid and cheerful mood of the casino.
Push
The term comes from the blackjack online and casino game and is used when the player and dealer have the same value hand. In that case, the bet goes back to the player in full, and dealing is repeated. There is no win or loss for anyone, and the players are using it to acknowledge the situation in a traditional casino as well as in the online blackjack.
Dealer Bust
Dealer bust is one of the most desirable outcomes for the players. It suggests that the dealer’s total went over 21, the house lost and the players won their bets. This usually happens when the dealer makes a mistake and draws an additional card going over resulting in the casino losing money. In time it became a phrase for every misstep the house makes giving profits to the players.
Third Base and First Base
The expressions are coming from baseball, not from the casino’s vocabulary. “Third base” refers to the player sitting in the seat furthest from the dealer, while “first base” is the position closest to the dealer. It’s mostly used in American casinos where baseball is one of the most popular sports, so the terms are overspilled into the gambling world.
Now that you’re familiar with the most common terms in casinos, we can look at the rules and strategies of the blackjack game.
How to Deal Blackjack?
There’s a certain method of dealing cards in blackjack.
Step 1: Players place their bets before the cards are dealt. There’s ample time to choose the amount of chips you’re willing to risk, so there is no rush. The dealer will make a call when it’s time to deal.
Step 2: The dealer deals two cards to each player and two cards to themselves. One of the dealer’s cards is face up, the upcard and the other is face down, the hole card. Players’ cards are all face up.
Step 3: Players look at their cards and decide whether to hit, meaning to ask for another card, stand or keep their hand as it is and don’t want another card, split, if they have two identical cards, or double down, meaning doubling their original bet.
Step 4: The dealer follows house rules to play their hand, typically drawing cards until they reach a value of 17 or higher. At 17 the dealer stops since the house is not willing to take too much risk.
What Is Insurance in Blackjack?
If the dealer has an Ace, the players are offered to place a side bet. The player can bet up to half of their original wager that the dealer has a blackjack. In other words, the player is betting that the dealer will have a total of 21 or Blackjack. If the player is right, the insurance bet pays 2:1, but if the house doesn’t have blackjack the bet is lost.
How to Count Cards in Blackjack?
Card counting is not illegal, but it can get you banned from casinos. It’s discouraged, to say the least, and if you engage in it, it’s likely that you will be escorted out of the building or banned from the online casino.
It involves keeping track of the ratio of high cards to low cards remaining in the deck.
High cards (10s, face cards, and Aces) are counted as -1.
Low cards (2 to 6) are counted as +1.
Neutral cards (7 to 9) are counted as 0.
You have to look at all the cards on the table and add them together. If the count is positive, it means that there are a lot of face cards left in the deck and the chances of one being dealt is high. It requires a lot of practice and impeccable focus.
When to Split in Blackjack?
The player is allowed to split one hand into two when he gets cards of the same value. This strategy increases the chances for the win since now the player has two hands for one bet. It’s recommended to split Aces since they count as 1 and 11, and the possibility of reaching 21 is greater. Also, splitting 8s is a smart move, because two 8s come up to 16 which is one of the worst hands to get. Take another card, and the player can easily go over 21; to not take another card is almost a guaranteed loss since 16 is too low and someone is bound to be closer to the winning score.
What Does Double Down Mean in Blackjack?
To “double down” means to double your original bet in exchange for receiving only one additional card. It’s a risky move on the part of the player when he or she feels that has a good hand. If that is coupled with the dealer having low value cards, the move makes even more sense.
When to Double Down in Blackjack?
Double down when you have a strong hand and are confident that one additional card will improve your chances of winning. If the dealer has a weak upcard, like 2s and 3s, and the player has a total of 10 or 11, it’s smart to double down. In that case, getting another card will likely give you a total larger than the dealer’s hand.
When to Hit in Blackjack?
This is a very tricky question that depends on many factors. Essentially, if the player has a total of 17 or less, it’s generally advised to stay, or not take another card since there’s a big chance the player will go over 21 and lose. It’s also tied to the cards that the dealer has. If an upcard is a low value card, the player should definitely keep the position as it is.
How to Play Blackjack at Home?
The game of Blackjack can also be played in the home atmosphere. The most important thing is for the players to agree on the rules before the game starts. You’ll need a deck of cards, chips for betting, and at least one other person to play with. In the home settings you can play without the dealer, just set up a table and deal the cards in the same way they are dealt in a casino.
How Many Decks in Blackjack?
If you’re playing at home one or two decks will do. However, in the casino, the dealers usually have several decks, anywhere from 4 to 8. The agenda behind using multiple decks is to prevent card counting, which can give an edge to the players. Still, even with numerous decks card counting can be easily done.
Where to Play Blackjack in RDR2?
In Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2), you can play blackjack at the Saint Denis casino or other gambling establishments in the game, such as Blackwater and Van Horn. Look for the poker tables in these locations for a chance to play blackjack against NPCs.
Whether you’re a casual player or a seasoned gambler, these terms and strategies are central to understanding the ins and outs of the casino world. It’s easy to immerse oneself into the casino culture, adopt the vocabulary, and enjoy the games.
