Play Casino Games

The popularity and availability of casino gaming has radically changed in the United States over the last 20 years. On one of our first trips to Reno (40 years ago if you lived in Seattle, Reno was the destination of choice), I was eavesdropping on a conversation between a woman and her daughter who were also returning from Nevada after a Mother’s Day trip.

After a bit I asked if they went together every Mother’s Day. The answer was a resounding “Yes . . . and Father’s Day, and the Fourth of July, and Labor Day and Christmas until New Year’s and then Valentine’s Day . . .” as their voices trailed off in laughter.

My family background did not include gambling. We had chosen a Nevada vacation because of the proximity of family in Colorado, California, Texas and Oregon. Reno offered great package vacations so that was our choice of destinations.

At that point I knew very little about what was going on in this country and how much the gaming industry in the United States was about to change.

It was interesting to watch the industry during those 20 to 30 years of changes in commercial gambling in the United States. During that same period casino parties have been the #1 choice for corporate and private entertainment in the Northwest. Our part of that – The Fantasy Casino – enjoys the lion’s share of that business because we are the best.

The reason we’re the best is that our Dealing Teams are comprised of expert players who really understand the games and are willing to share that information with the droves of emerging players we meet each year.

For five years before becoming associated with The Fantasy Casino I worked with a newspaper niche group. Our niche was casino gaming. Through that association we were invited to Nevada to cover gaming tournaments. We sold advertising to the major casinos – both local and in Nevada. That connection fed our curiosity about the business.

The major change in casino gaming in the United States is the result of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) passed by the U. S. Congress in 1988. At that time, Washington, our home state, was one of the few states that already had a State Gambling Commission in existence.

That Gambling Commission was in place to regulate charity and commercial gaming in the State of Washington. Because casino gaming – including Craps, Blackjack and Roulette – was already permitted in the state, the Indian tribes in the state of Washington were among the first in the country to open casinos on tribal land.

The economic benefits to the tribal communities have been – in most cases – a real boon to the tribal members. Economic and educational opportunities that were not previously available to tribal members all of a sudden were. Young members of the tribe had a future. Middle aged members of the tribes had job possibilities and older members had a little more security.

Like anything else that explodes too quickly – some of the gaming explosion has been good and some of it not so good.

Some jurisdictions broadened their laws to expand non-tribal gaming. In some areas the state got more involved when the state didn’t understand the business of gambling. Many jurisdictions considered the addition of casino gaming to be the answer to their depressed economies. Consequently, some areas were over-developed.

And, unfortunately, like many things that start out a good – or at least an okay – idea, some parts of it have gotten out of control.

We’ve watched what has evolved in Washington with antennae up to the rest of the country. The original ruling with the Bureau of Indian Affairs was that any tribe located in a jurisdiction that allowed casino gaming could allow casino gaming on their tribal land. That opened up a whole can of worms which resulted in defunct tribes trying to resurrect their tribal status, professional casino companies “managing” casino properties for the tribes – and not always to the tribe’s advantage. The tribe’s land was not always the most advantageous so other lands came into the picture. Some tribes use the money to the advantage of their members – others do not.

During all of this we continued to present The Fantasy Casino as an entertainment concept throughout Washington State. We’re regulated and have to be licensed because we are playing casino games – but for scrip – not for cash. That enables us to enjoy the concept of gaming without the risk. And, the best part is that it creates a fun and exciting evening of entertainment that is the best thing available for private as well as business parties.

Live casino action is now available just about anywhere you go in the United States. So even if your state doesn’t offer live gaming, somewhere in your geographical region you can probably find a casino.

If you enjoy the activity, do yourself a huge favor and learn all you can about the table games. The one-armed bandits have reached a technological level that is raking in billions of dollars to both tribal and commercial gaming establishments across the country. Your best counter-measure is to know and understand more about the table games. You’ll last longer on the money you have to play with and you’ll have more control over your gaming destiny.

Log onto http://www.LowdownReports.com/eShop.php for information on how to get the information on your favorite games. Make the payment through PayPal and we’ll be notified and email the Report to the purchase email. If you want it sent to a different email, please let us know. Now you’ll find The Blackjack Workshop, Craps, Hold’em and Roulette at www.FantasyCasino.us. Those Reports will also be posted on http://www.LowdownReports.com/Reports.

If you have an interest in Casino Gaming and want to submit a Report about your favorite game, click into Join our Team at LowdownReports.com and be a contributor.

Following is a glossary of terms gathered from the people who work with me through The Fantasy Casino. See how many you hear on your next trip to the Casino.

General Gaming Terms

Since most gambling games are centered around the probabilities of dice and a deck of 52 cards comprised of four suits of same value cards, terminology has evolved that may apply to more than one game. Consequently some of the following terms may apply to one or more of the traditional games available in a casino. Some of the terms will apply only to one game. Whichever it turns out to be – it’s just fun to know the inside language.

Action: Any form of gambling activity. The higher the stakes, the higher the action.
A Wager or Bet on a game is referred to as the Action.
Beef: A complaint.
Bustout or Burn Joint: A Casino that cheats it’s customers
Burn : In Hold’em, the three cards that are dealt to a special discard pile (under the pot) before dealing the flop, turn, and river cards. In Pai Gow, the four cards left over after dealing all seven hands (the dragon). In BJ, the first card is discarded after shuffling the shoe.
Cheater: One who practices fraud or deception. Also known as an advantage player, grifter, hustler, mechanic, rounder or scammer.
Checks: Chips used for play in casinos
Check or Chips come in basic values – Silver Dollar Coins, along with 50 cent pieces or 50 cent tokens, sometimes $2.50 chips for paying blackjacks. Chips or Checks are generally Red and $5 in value, Green and $25 in value, Black and $100 in Value, White and $500 in value and on up if needed in the game. Players will stockpile the large values as they’re accumulated and then change them if needed. Or they will request a $100 chip when they have accumulated that amount. Either way, they would present the chip(s) to the dealer. The dealer calls out “Check Change” and makes the transaction. The Check Change alert is for the pit personnel whose job it is to track the action at the tables. They watch the chips accumulated by winning players and keep track of which chips are changed for smaller values to play with and which ones a player walks away from the table with.
Classmates: Two people working in collusion in a card game.
Color In Or Color Up: To surrender your chips to the dealer when you’re ready to leave the game. You can take your chips with you from table to table. However, if you’ve been lucky enough to get a little ahead you may want to exchange some small chips for larger values and put those away to cash in later or take a trip to the Cashier’s Cage before joining another game. Also, getting more chips to a gaming table is a big deal If a dealer has given you a large number of small value chips they will want to keep those on their game to avoid the hassle of calling for a “Fill” from the cage.
Cooler: A prearranged deck that is secretly switched for a deck in play. Also known as iron man.
Cooler Mob: A group of cheaters who switch decks of cards.

Doing Business: Cheating
Feel a Breeze: When you feel something unnatural is going on, but you don’t know what it is
Gaff: A cheating device
Gamer: Someone employed in the gambling industry.
Grift Sense: The ability to spot a scam or hustle. A compliment among hustlers.
Hairy Leg A moneyman who backs a game.
Half Smart: Someone who thinks he’s smart, but he isn’t.
Heat: Unwanted attention – Also, a firearm
Hot Seat: Where the sucker sits
Joint: A casino
Muck: To switch cards. Also to mix cards up prior to a shuffle.
Also, the discards, dead (lost) chips not yet stacked.
Mucker: A cheater who specializes in switching cards.
Also, one who folds all the time playing Poker.
Natural: In BJ, a two card twenty-one point hand. In craps, a seven on the come-out roll (a winning seven). In Baccarat, a two-card hand of eight or nine.
Paint: Any face cards
Paper: Marked cards. Also known as paint.
Peek Joint: A set up allowing a hidden person to see someone’s hand during a card game
Proposition Bet: A bet you can’t win and won’t win
Ring Game: A side game in a poker tournament.
Shiner: A reflecting device used to spot cards as they are dealt.
Shoot the Pickle: To make a huge bet. To “go” for it. Also referred to a “shoot the moon.”
Splash: Tossing chips into a pot in a haphazard manner. Raises should be stacked.
Suckers: 99% of the people who gamble. Also known as chumps, marks, pigeons, rubes, and vics (victims).

Sugar: Profit from a gambling session.
Stuck: Loss from a gambling session. (stuck like a pig, I’m stuck $100.)
Tell: An unconscious signal that may be spotted by a knowledgeable player.
Texas Hold’em: A variation of poker invented by twelve ranch hands who had only a single deck of cards between them.
Tip Your Mitt: To inadvertently expose your hand or otherwise give away secret information.
Turn Out: To teach somehow to cheat.
Tush Hog: A dangerous muscle man
Whale: A big bet gambler. Whales like to play $500 slot machines. $1000 minimum table games, etc.
Whipshaw or Whiplash: Two partners in a poker game who try to force a third player out by raising and re-raising each other.

CRAPS
Croupier: The Dealer on each side of the table. Handles all monetary exchanges and pay off’s to Customers. A Roulette dealer is also referred to as a Croupier.
Box Man: Watches over all gaming procedures. Responsible for Game Protection and proper payout’s. Boxman sits opposite the Croupiers.
Stick: The dealer across from the two croupiers who handles the “pace of the game.” Controls all “Proposition Bet’s,” watches and helps the Croupier during payout’s and returns the dice to the Shooter.
Hard Way: A Matching number on each of the dice. There are four Hard Way combinations
Displayed on the center of the table laydown. A pair or 2s, 3s, 4s, or 5s. Also referred to as Hard 4, 6, 8 and 10. Hard Way 6 & 8 pay 10:1. Hard Way 4 & 10 pay 8 for 1.
There are two combinations to roll a 4 or 10,
2-2, 5-5 (Hard Way) – Pays if wagered and it comes up before the
3-1, 6-4. (Easy Way) – Wager loses if Easy Way comes up before Hard Way
There are three combinations to roll a 8 or 6.
4-4, 3-3. (Hard Way) – Pays if wagered and it comes up before the
5-3, 6-2 (Easy Way) – Wager loses if Easy Way comes up before Hard Way
4-2, 5-1 (Easy Way) – Wager loses if Easy Way comes up before Hard Way Odds are set on the probabilities – different for each number combination.
Craps: 2, 3, or 12. Loses on the Pass Line on a Come Out Roll.
Wins on the “Don’t Pass” except for 12 “Bars” (pushes).
Lay Bet:: A bet in Craps against the dice. You are betting the dice will Seven out. Opposite of an odds bet.
Shapes: Dice that aren’t perfect cubes. Cheating tool.
Loads: Dice that are unbalanced. Cheating tool.
World Bet: Betting a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12 will come on next roll in Craps. Also called a Whirl Bet.
Snake Eyes: A 2 in Craps (Pair of Ones)
Deuces: A Pair of Twos
Acey- Deucey: A 3 in Craps.
Little Joe: A 4 in Craps when setting the point.
Seven: Pays on the Pass Line on a Come Out Roll. Once a Point is established, all numbers continue to pay until a 7 is rolled. Seven pays on the Come Out roll and a seven ends the hand once a point has been established.
Yo: A combination equaling 11 points.
Midnight or Box Cars: A Pair of 6s – A 12 in Craps.
Sleeper or Slider: A Craps cheating technique by rolling only one die, the other slides along beside it. If one isn’t looking, they look like they are both rolling.
Ice Cubes: A cold set of dice. They seem to always seven out.
Hot Rocks: A hot set of dice. They seem to never seven out.
Rocks, Bones: Another name for dice.
Buffalo Bet: A Craps bet on each of the Hard Ways and a Seven.
C and E Bet: Betting Craps or Eleven.
Hopping Bet: A one roll bet in Craps. Also known as a Hop Bet.
Stick or Rake: The wood piece that the Croupier uses to move the dice around the table.
Marker or Point: The flat disk marked “OFF” on one side and “ON” on the other side. Once a point is established the Marker is placed in the ON position on the number that has been rolled as the Point. Then the game is “ON.” Before the Point is established, the “OFF” puck/marker is off to the side of the layout and the game is “OFF.” Essentially, that means very few of the wagers are actually in play until a Point is established. A Seven will pay on the Come Out Roll, a 2, 3, or 12 will lose on the Come Out, but it will pay in the Field.
Shooter: Player whose turn it is to roll the dice. Dealer will give you five dice and you choose the two that wish to use for your roll.
Point: The number displayed across the top of the layout – 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. The first one of those numbers rolled (on the Come Out Roll) becomes the Point for the game and the shooter continues to rolls the dice.
Big Red: A one roll bet in Craps that a Seven comes on the next roll.
Horn: To the bottom of the laydown, in the center are four combinations – Snake Eyes, a 2 and a 1,Yo (Eleven) and Box Cars. These are the most infrequent rolls possible and subsequently pay higher. You can wager each individually or make a wager on the HORN symbol in the center meaning you want your wager to apply to all four of those probabilities. If one comes up, you are paid a proportionate amount of the winning amount for the HORN. The four probabilities and the HORN are a one time wager.

BLACKJACK – GENERAL TABLE GAMES – GAMING TERMINOLOGY

Casino: Casino usually refers to the gaming portion of a business. In a gaming center like Las Vegas or Atlantic City the majority of the casinos are located in major hotel complexes. There will also be smaller casinos offering a variety of games. In other parts of the country it is acceptable to use the term “Casino” if a business offers whatever forms of gambling are allowed in that jurisdiction. Consequently, you could be in Montana and go into a bar with the word “Casino” on the outside and simply find an array of Video gaming machines and a Keno lounge. In Washington you can be on tribal land and find a full casino and then two miles down the road go into a commercial cardroom that has 15 tables of casino card games and pull tabs – they both are legitimately casinos.
Session: A Session is the length of time you’re going to play.
Blackjack: A Blackjack is any 10-value card with an Ace, dealt to a player or the Dealer as their first two cards in a hand.
Blackjack is also . . .
a world-wide casino game where a player will make a wager against the House or a “Bank” and be dealt two cards. The player’s decision is to add cards to the two original cards he was dealt or to just stay with the total he was dealt. If the player takes additional cards and goes over 21 points, he’s out of the game.
After the players are finished with their hands, the Dealer completes their hand. The Dealer exposes their underneath card. A dealer must have 17 points before they can stop – there is no choice. Beat the Dealer and you win.
Gaming Spot: A conventional Blackjack table has spaces for seven players. Binion’s in Las Vegas has some single-deck tables with only 5, some houses have 6. The place that you sit at the table will have a circle or square on the table top. That’s your Gaming Spot and the designated area where you place your wagers.
Table Tent: A gaming table will have a limited amount of signage. Usually they’re referred to as table tents and tell you the minimum and maximum wager allowed on the game. There will be a second tent that will tell you what the House Rules are.
House Rules: The House Rules will vary between geographical locations. House Rules generally include what players are allowed to Double on, how many Aces a player is allowed to split, whether or not the House hits on a Soft 17, etc.

An important thing to remember about House Rules in general is that The House, or the casino, is in business to make money. They’re not going to allow extra maneuvers that are going to cost them money. Consequently, a smart player only exercises options allowed by the House Rules that are favorable to their game.
Buy-In: The amount of money a player gives to a dealer to buy chips.
Wager/Bet: The money a player places into their gaming spot to wager on the hand.
The Zone: There will be times when everything seems to be going your way. Sometimes, it’s prolonged, sometimes it’s very short – but every player experiences The Zone from time to time. Unfortunately, most players don’t learn to recognize it soon enough to press their bets and experience more profit.
Press: You’ll have a wagering amount you’re comfortable with. Every once in awhile game signals will indicate that you should increase that wagering amount. Increasing your standard wagering amount or adding more money to the hand is considered “Pressing” your bet. A common maneuver in Craps – when the roll is prolonged – is to give the dealer additional chips and tell them which wagers to “Press.”
Basic Strategy: The mathematical results of thousands of hands of Blackjack charted through “Live” play and the results analyzed. Basic Strategy will tell you when to “Hit” and when to “Stay.” It will also give you solid suggestions about Doubling Down and Splitting.
Simon Says: A children’s game where a ruler tells his subjects what to do. If you go against Simon and do something he doesn’t tell you to do, or you do the opposite of what he tells you, just like in the old game, you lose and you’re out of the game. In The Blackjack Workshop we use the Simon Says theory to encourage players to develop a set of Rules by which they play – and stick to those rules. Your Personal Playing Strategy.
PPS: Personal Playing Strategy. Basic Strategy is one strong guideline. There are dozens of books on gaming available to you. You will learn things about the game each time you play. Any gambling opportunity will be based on a certain set of mathematical probabilities. Your choice in a gambling game is what options to exercise. Developing a strong Personal Playing Strategy pre-determines options when you’re playing so that you’re not distracted making on-the-spot decisions. Remember – Gaming is playing the percentages. If you make different decisions each time you’re faced with a decision to make you skew those percentages in favor of the house. Learn the rules of the games you’re going to play, decide which percentages are in your favor and watch the end result of your gaming sessions. Play according to your PPS,
Dealer: Each Blackjack table will have one person who works for the House who deals the cards and handles the wagers. Players generally do not touch the cards.
Pit:: The floor space of the table game section in a casino will be separated and designated for different areas of tables and games. Blackjack tables are usually arranged in an oval with desk and working space inside of the oval for House personnel to attend to casino business and keep and eye on the gaming action. The area inside of that oval is referred to as the “Pit.”
Pit Boss: Each section of tables will have a group of floor personnel to watch the gaming action.
Each “Pit” will have one person who has the ultimate say in any dispute. That person is referred to as the “Pit” Boss. Generally that “Pit Boss” is backed up with video surveillance of every table activity. If something happens that you don’t feel good about, call the “Pit Boss” over and explain to them what your concerns are. They can contact the video surveillance, replay the tape and tell instantly what happened.
Neutral: Not going anywhere. It’s what you hope to find in a Dealer. When a Dealer is in Neutral, they’re making some hands, but losing more. Cards are falling better for the players. People are winning more than they’re losing.
Dealers can hit a streak just like players hope to. You need to be playing against a Dealer stuck in ‘Neutral” not one that is winning most of their hands. Sometimes that means trying several tables before you decide where you’re going to play. In The Blackjack Workshop we urge you to look for optimum playing experiences. An optimum playing situation is comprised of a dealer in Neutral and a table of players who know how to “Play” the game according to Basic Strategy.
Up-Card: The Dealer will have two cards, just as the players do. The Up-Card is the one you can see and the one you will make your decisions against.
Hole Card: The Dealer’s second card is down. Generally, the Dealer does not look at their Hole card. Many casinos now have “Ace Finders” installed on their table tops. It’s a mirrored gadget that reflects a mark on a 10 or an Ace that shows in the mirror so the dealer knows if they have the Blackjack.
Players make their decisions to “Hit” or “Stay” based on the Dealer’s Up-Card and what their educated guess ss to what the Dealer’s Hole card might be.
Deck: A package of 52 cards is referred to as a deck. A Blackjack game is played with different numbers of decks. Single deck is very popular. Many Houses deal a Double Deck game and others deal multiple deck games from a shoe.
Cut Card: A Cut Card is a piece of colored plastic that is placed in the deck as a marker. When the cards are played to that Cut Card, it is time for the Dealer to shuffle the cards. After the shuffle, the Dealer will invite one of the player’s to “Cut” the cards. When it’s your turn, simply take the piece of plastic and place it anywhere in the deck that you like – Thin to Win and Deep to Weep.
Shoe: A shoe is a box-like apparatus that sits on the gaming table and hold multiple decks of cards to play the game.
Hit: Indicating to the Dealer that you want an additional card on your hand is taking a “Hit.” Most Casinos require hand signals. A “Hit” is properly signaled by scratching the table top directly behind your Hand.
Stay: When you have as many cards as you feel secure taking, you want to “Stay.” A player indicates they want to stay by waving their hand across their gaming spot.
Bust: When either the Player or the Dealer goes over 21 points.
Pay Out: After the Hand is completed, the Dealer will Pay Out the winners.
Comp: Treats from the casino you’re playing in. Usually a meal or show tickets based on the amount of play you give their casino. More about Casino Comps at our basic website,http://FantasyCasino.us/CGTBlog.
Hand: The collection of cards dealt to each player. Each player has their own Hand.
Hard/Stiff Hand:: Your two original cards total more than 12 points and another card could “Bust” your hand: .
Soft Hand: One of your first two cards is an Ace worth either one or eleven points. An Ace with a 7 is 18 points and generally a staying Hand. An Ace with a 4 is 5 or 15 or 16.
You’re going to Hit the hand, or Double Down. Always hit up to the “Soft” 18 and Double on anything less if the Dealer is showing a small card.
Pat Hand: Either the Player or the Dealer is dealt a hand totaling 17 or more points and does not have to “Hit.” Every casino in the world has their House dealers stop at 17 points for a very good reason – it’s almost impossible to “Hit” 17 and survive. Players, also, generally stop at 17 points.
Push: The Player and the Dealer end up with the same total of points. There is no Pay Out on the hand, but the Dealer leaves the wager in place, so there is no loss either.
In the early days of gaming, the Dealer would have to pull the wager to the center of the table and get the Pit Boss to acknowledge that it was a tie hand and then they would “Push” the wager back to the player. Now the Dealer will thump the table top in front of the “Push” hand. As soon as they thump the table you can take the money or change the wager. Do not touch the wager until the Dealer thumps the table and acknowledges the Push.
All gaming “Action” needs to show for the security cameras before the wager is considered your money again.
Double Down: With certain combinations of cards you may want to place an additional wager on the hand and take only one card. If you win the Hand, you win both wagers. Generally a player will execute this maneuver when one card will give them a total of 20 or 21 points – and especially if the dealer has to hit their hand.
PPS Point – A conservative player might decide to only risk the additional double wager when the dealer is showing a hand they have to “Hit.” An aggressive player might decide to double every opportunity they get. If they’re consistent, it would probably work out fairly even. When they fluctuate on the decision is when they skew the results.
Split: When you’re dealt a matching pair of cards you have the option to Split those two cards into two hands. The only reason to Split is to improve a bad hand. The only pairs you always Split are Aces and Eights.
Insurance: Insurance is a side bet with the House. When a Dealer shows an “Ace” as their Up-card, there is a good possibility that they have a 10 in the hole. If that is the case, they have Blackjack and win the Hand. The House offers Insurance in order for you to havea chance to protect your original wager.
The Blackjack Workshop would tell you to take Even Money any time you can and skip the Insurance unless you’re holding a hand that gives you a good point total if the dealer does not have the Blackjack.
Money Management: You should have a pre-determined amount of money that you’re going to play with and a pre-determined amount you’ll play at each table. Factor into that a win amount at which you stop or how much of a loss you will sustain before you quit or move on.
Bank: The amount of money you have to play with.
Betting Spread: Have an amount that you consider to be a minimum wager, and then an amount you consider to be a maximum wager. The Blackjack Workshop will encourage you to “Press” your bets on money that you win. However, you still want to have a “Stop” point for the game you’re playing. Each game offers different wagering possibilities. In Blackjack you’re generally playing only one hand. If you advance your wager to $25 or $50 a hand you don’t want to have to hesitate about taking the additional opportunity or pass on a winning double. On Craps you can have multiple wagers working on one roll. You hope that roll will last forever, but mathematically it won’t.
Check: Chips are referred to as checks.
Color Up: Trading smaller value chips with the dealer for higher value chips. Either by your request or the dealer’s. The House will generally prevent a Dealer from coloring players up to $100 chips, because players are more reluctant to break them back into playing chips. The most you may be able to do, without questions, is color up to $25 chips.
First Base: The first position at a Blackjack table. The safest place to be when you’re learning the game.
The Blackjack Workshop would tell you this is the safest place for a new player to be for several reasons. You have only your cards to be concerned about. Then you can watch as the other cards come into the game and mentally play the other hands and the probabilities. You can track the outcome of the hand and reinforce your PPS.
Third Base: The last position before the Dealer. This player sometimes controls the game. Don’t ever waste your money in a game where theThird Base player appears ignorant of the responsibility of that seat.
Progressive: Many gambling opportunities are linked to Progressive Jackpots. A portion of each wager on each game contributes to the Progressive Jackpot.

TEXAS HOLD’EM AND POKER
Dead Man’s Hand: Two Pair – Aces & Eights – The hand that Wild Bill Hickock held when he died at the poker Table. The hand won.
Pocket Cards: Your hole cards. The first two cards dealt to each player in Texas Hold’em.
Wired: Any Pocket Pair
Pocket Rockets: A Pair of Aces
Bullets: A Pair of Aces
Cowboys: A Pair of Kings
Cowgirls: A Pair of Queens
Hooks: A Pair of Jacks
Ducks: A Pair of Twos
Big Slick: AK of any suit
Flasher: Someone who tends to expose their hand to another player accidentally.
Connected: Any two cards in sequence such as 4-5, 9-10, etc.

Sailboats: Pair of 4′s as your pocket or hole cards. If they are the 4 of spades and 4 of clubs, it’s called a Darth Vader (the dark side of the fours).
Sandbag: To play a hand passively instead of raising to draw more money into the pot.
Wheel: Lowest possible straight: A-2-3-4-5. Also known as ‘Bicycle’.

Broadway: Highest possible straight: A-K-Q-J-10. (Royal Flush if suited)

Suicide King: The king of hearts (he has a sword pointed at his head).

Three Wise Men: Three kings.

Slot Machine: Three sevens.
Devil’s Hand: Three sixes.

Huey, Duey, and Louie: Three twos (ducks).

Some lesser known Hold’em hands. . .

Little Slick AQ
Blackjack AJ (also called Ajax or Jackass)
Baskin-Robbins A3 (31 flavors)
Marriage KQ (if king and queen of hearts, it’s a Valentine)
Kojack KJ
Kanine K9
Q-Tip Queen, Ten
Jackson Five J5
Five and Dime T5 (Ten, Five)
CB or Good Buddy T4 (Ten, Four)
Wayne Gretzky 99 (from his jersey number)
Banker 95 (9 to 5)
Montana Banana 92
Snowmen 88
Maxwell Smart 86
Hockey Sticks 77
Trombones 76 (from the Music Man)
Ketchup 75 (Heinz 57 Sauce)
Beer Hand 72 (lousy hand, you’d have to be drunk to play this)
Route 66 66
Speed Limit 55
Colt 54 (Colt .45)
Bomber 52 (as in B52)

Under The Gun: The player who must act first in poker, before any other player. This player sits to the immediate left of the blinds. This is a weak position, since you have no information from other players before you must call the bet.
Backdoor: Making an unlikely hand on the last card. Also called a ‘runner’. A ‘runner-runner’ is doing this with the last TWO cards.
Airball: A useless turn or river card. It doesn’t make anybody’s hand.
Blind Bet: A bet made with no information. Like a blackjack bet. Also refers to the forced bets made by the two players to the left of the dealer’s button (the Blind bets).
Straddle : A player sitting to the immediate left of the Big Blind that raises blind (before they see their cards). The straddle player may re-raise AGAIN if the other players call. Not allowed in some casinos.
Check-Raise:A player that checks, then raises if another player bets. This technique puts more money in the pot. A player that uses this technique often is known as a ‘Snake’ or ‘Snake In the Grass’.
String Bet : A bet in which a player fails to get all the chips in the pot in one movement when raising. This technique is used to gauge another player’s reaction if they call, then using that information to raise. Not allowed in any game. If challenged by another player, the string bettor must call. They cannot fold or raise.

Board: Another name for the community cards in Texas Hold-em.
Cardspeak: A poker rule that says the cards speak for themselves at the showdown. A player declaring their hand is not necessary or even meaningful.
Chop: If no one calls the first two cards and only the blinds are left in the hand before the flop, they may simply take their bets back and skip to the next hand. Not allowed in tournament play.
Cracked: Good poker hands that are beaten (cracked aces, etc.).
Freeze-out: A poker tournament with no rebuys.
Rock: A poker player that is extremely tight. Never bets, and folds easily. Like getting blood from a stone. A game where all the players are like this is called a ‘Rock Garden’.
Maniac : A poker player that is extremely loose. Tends to raise on anything, bluffs a lot (usually drinks a lot, too). A game where there are multiple Maniacs is sometimes called an ‘Insane Asylum’.
Heads Up: A hand with only two players remaining.
Gut Shot: A straight that fills up by coming cards in the center of the straight. i.e. you hold 9, 5. The remaining cards that come give you the 6, 7 and 8, completing the straight. It’s such a bad strategy chasing this kind of hand it’s given it’s own lingo.
Boxed Card: A card that is reversed in the deck.
Full Boat : A full house where the trips are lower in rank than the pair. (a full house upside down)
Kicker: Highest unpaired card. If two hands are the same pair for instance, the Kicker decides the winner.
Fish : A term for a poor poker player, especially in game where most of the players very good players. If you can’t spot the fish at a poker table, you are probably the fish!
Money: Dollar, Buck – a $100 bill.
Slang: Single – an actual $1 bill or chip.
Dime – a $1000 bill or chip.
Nickel – a $500 bill or chip, also a $5 bill or chip.
Quarter – a $25 chip.
Sawbuck – a $10 bill.
Family Pot: A pot where no one folds before the flop.
Fishing or Suck Out: Staying in a poker hand longer than you should, hoping for that one card that could make you the winner.
Lowball: A form of poker where the LOWEST ranking wins the pot. Straights and flushes are not counted in lowball.
Rounder: A good player. Generally makes money at poker.
Grinder: A moderate player. Generally makes small wins at poker.
Nuts: A poker hand that is not possible to beat. The absolute best hand (revealed or not) possible for a given set of community cards. Also called a ‘Lock’.
Nut: The amount a gambler has decided to win in a session.
Also sometimes referred to as the cost of running a casino.
Railbird: A spectator of a poker game.
Flea : Someone who wants something for nothing. Usually an annoying person expecting comps for low wagers.
Grease: A bribe.
Tilt: A poker player that becomes emotional and begins to bet wildly.
Pigeon: A naive or new gambler.

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