Glossary: B
- Back-Line
- A wager among players (player-vs-player rather than player-vs-house). The
bettors may be called "back-liners" and the practice "back-lining." Some
casinos discourage this practice (because there's nothing in it for the
house).
- Back Counting
- Counting cards while not involved in the game. A counter who is back counting
is generally waiting for an opportune time to join the game.
- Back of the House
- Areas of the casino in which players are unwelcome, such as the vault,
cashier's office, and other areas. This also includes the area inside the
tables, which is reserved for casino personnel.
- Backing Up
- Reconstructing a hand to prove the total. If a player suggests a mistake
is made, the dealer may back up the hand from the discard rack to show him
his original hand and re-count it.
- Bankroll
- The total amount of cash available in the game. At the table, this
typically refers to the amount a player invests in a game rather than
the money in his pocket, and is sometimes treated as a synonym for his
buy-in. The house's bankroll in a game is the amount of chips in the
dealer's rack. As a verb, to "bankroll" someone is to provide them with
funds to wager with.
- Bar
- To exclude (banish) a player from a game or a gaming establishment.
- Barber Pole
- A wager that contains cheques of varying denominations. Sometimes used to
describe a stack of differently-colored cheques that are improperly stacked
(interspersed denominations).
- Basic Strategy
- A method of that is geared toward improving the player's chances of winning
a single hand. Since the likely outcome of every decision (hit, stand, double,
split, or surrender) in every possible situation (every possible value of the
player's hand versus every possible dealer's upcard) has been proven
mathematically, there is currently only one "basic strategy."
- Betting Limits
- The minimum and maximum wagers allowed by the house at a specific table. When
referring to a casino, this could refer to the lowest and highest limits available
at all tables in the casino.
- Betting Ratio
- A comparison of the highest and lowest bets placed by a player. Used by the
house to identify possible card counters, who increase their bets dramatically
when the deck is in their favor.
- Betting the Count
- The practice, among card counters, of betting a number of units equal to the
current value of the "count."
- Black (Cheque) — A $100 cheque.
- Blackjack
- The name of the game. Also refers to a two-card hand with a total of 21 (an
ace and any ten-value card)
- Bottom Dealing
- A technique, generally cheating, when the dealer delivers one or more cards
from the bottom of the deck.
- Break Down (Cheques)
- Diving a stack of cheques to facilitate counting. A stack consisting of
multiple colors is broken down by color, then individual stacks of a single
color broken down into amounts that can be feasibly totaled at a glance.
- Break
- To exceed 21. Synonymous with "bust," though less commonly used.
- Breakable Hand
- A hand with a value of twelve or higher (not including paired aces), that
can be made to "break" with the next hit.
- Burn (a card)
- To take a card out of play. After a shuffle, the first card is burned
without exposing it to the players (it is called the "burn card" for that
deck/shoe). If cards are misdealt or improperly exposed, they may be
burned.
- Bust
- to exceed 21. More commonly used than its synonym, "break."
- Bust Hand
- A hand with a value of twelve or higher (not including paired aces), that
can be made to "bust" with the next hit. Also refers to a hand that is
likely to bust if hit.
- Bust Out
- To leave a game because of losing one's entire stake.
- Buy-in
- The amount of money (usually cash, but sometimes cheques) with
which a player enters a game.
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