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Casino Glossary

Basic Strategy

This is used to describe playing Blackjack in a way that gives the dealer the lowest mathematical edge. It gives you chance to make the best decisions, based on both your own cards and the dealers’.

Bet

Name given to any form of wager.

Betting Limits

Minimum and maximum wagers you can make at any one time. There are a range of limits available at PokerStars.

Bust

A Blackjack hand has bust when its total value is 22 or more. When this happens, you lose your wager.

Chips

Chips are what you use to play casino games at PokerStars.

Coat-tail

When you use a similar betting style to someone who is winning.

Cold number

Used to describe a number that hasn’t been drawn for a long duration in a session of Roulette.

Croupier

How the dealer is named in a games like Roulette.

Deal

What the dealer does to start each hand of Blackjack.

Deposit

A payment made online in order to play games with.

Deuce

Nickname for a two

Discard Tray

Where discarded cards are placed in Blackjack games. This is represented on the virtual tables at PokerStars.

Dolly

Marker that is used to show the winning number in Roulette games. This is represented on the virtual tables at PokerStars.

Double Deck Blackjack

A Blackjack variant where only two decks of shuffled cards are used. This differs from other variants, where up to eight decks are used. It’s a game that gives players better odds of winning.

Doubling Down

This describes an option in Blackjack games where you can double your wager, after the first two cards have been dealt. You receive an extra card, which can help improve your hand.

Edge

A way of describing an edge over another player.

Encryption

An online method used to keep player transactions safe and protected.

European Blackjack

The traditional Blackjack game played across Europe, which features six 52-card decks shuffled together, and no hole card.

Even Money Bet

Describes a bet with odds of one-to-one (1:1). This means that the bet will pay the same amount wagered. Also known as ‘evens’.

Face Card

A king, queen or jack, i.e. any card with a face on it.

First Base

Nickname for the seating position on the far left of the dealer, and therefore the first player to be dealt cards.

Flat Betting

This describes when a player repeatedly uses the same sized wager, instead of varying their bet sizes.

Hand

The cards you are dealt in a casino game.

Hard Hand

In Blackjack, a hard hand is one that doesn’t include an ace.

High Roller

A player who plays big stakes and makes big bets.

Hit

The option of asking the dealer for another card. Often also referred to as ‘draw’.

Hole Card

The face-down card dealt to the dealer in Blackjack games.

Hot

Way of describing a player on a winning streak.

Hot number

A number that has been drawn several times during a session of Roulette.

Inside Bets

Wagers placed in the inside section of the virtual table, containing individual numbers or groups of up to six numbers close to each other.

Insurance

When the dealer is showing an ace in Blackjack, insurance is a side bet where half of the original bet is wagered, giving the player a 2-to-1 payout if the dealer hits Blackjack.

Layout

The markings on a Roulette table, showing all of the betting positions.

Lobby

Where casino games are listed in the PokerStars software.

Log In

Using your User ID and password to log-in to your PokerStars account.

Maximum Bet

The biggest wager you are allowed to make in Blackjack and Roulette games.

Multi-Player

These games allow you to play alongside others at the table.

Natural

Nickname for when a player is dealt two cards totalling 21. Also known as a ‘Blackjack’.

Outside Bets

In Roulette, this describes bets places in the outer section of the table. It allows you to make matched pair bets for high and low, odd or even, red or black.

Paint

Nickname for any of the face cards.

Payout

The amount paid to you for a winning bet.

Progressive Jackpot

A jackpot that builds until it is won, with a portion of each wager added each time.

Push

A tied hand in Blackjack between the player and dealer. In this instance, your wager is returned.

Racetrack

The virtual representation of the actual Roulette wheel.

Random Number Generator

What PokerStars uses to make sure all online hands are generated and dealt randomly by a computer.

Session

Time spent playing at a particular game or table.

Shoe

Used to describe multiple decks of cards for use in Blackjack.

Side bet

Bets made separately to a main bet, usually unrelated to the actual hand or game.

Soft Hand

In Blackjack, a soft hand is one that includes an ace played with a value of eleven. For instance, A-6 would be a soft 17.

Standard Atlantic City Blackjack

A Blackjack variant popular in America, using eight shuffled decks.

Standing Hand

A hand in Blackjack that totals 17 or above, and will therefore likely bust with another card. Typically, with a hand like this you would stand.

Stiff

This describes a Blackjack hand not high enough to stand with, but also not low enough to be able to likely hit with another card. An example would be a hand with a total of between 12-16.

Straight-Up

Also known as a single bet, this describes when a Roulette player bets on an individual number.

Suit

Each deck of cards has four suits: spades, diamonds, clubs and hearts.

Surrender

This describes the process of giving up the two Blackjack cards you are dealt, in return for half of your original wager. There are some restrictions, which differ across variants.

Third Base

Nickname for the seating position nearest to the dealer’s right, and therefore the last player to be dealt cards.

Up Card

Name given to the face-up card the dealer is dealt in Blackjack games, which you can use to help make your move.

User Interface Protection

A way of protecting you by alerting you to a decision you have opted to make that is considered outside normal play. For instance, if you select to hit when you have a hard 17 or higher.

Wager

Name for a bet.