B - Glossary of Terms

Backline. An initial wager placed by a player that chooses not to or doesn't have an empty spot to play at the table that is placed besides a player's bet on the table to partake in the action, subjected to the decisions of that player. Backlining rules, if allowed, are casino specific.

Back count. To count the cards while not playing, normally used in conjunction with wonging.

Back-off. This occurs when casino personnel, usually a manager or a pit boss asks a blackjack player to no longer play the game of blackjack in that casino. It can also refer to less harsh anti counter measures, such as restricting a player to flat betting or a very small bet spread, such as a 1-2 spread.

BAK. An abbreviation for back at the keyboard; used during chat.

Balanced count. Any counting system which has an exact balance between plus cards and minus cards. In such a system, if the deck were counted down to the bottom, the resulting sum would be zero.

Bank. This usually refers to the total amount of money a team of players and/or investors has set aside for blackjack play. It can also refer to a single player's bankroll.

Bankroll. Also expressed as an abbreviation, BR. This is the amount of money a player has set aside for playing purposes. It can be expressed as the player's overall bankroll for the total amount of play or a session bankroll, which is the amount of money a player is prepared to bet in any individual gaming session. Another expression of bankroll often used is a player's trip bankroll, which is the amount of money a player is willing to wager during a single trip to a casino or to a gambling venue.

Bar. When a player has been prohibited from playing blackjack in a casino, usually under the threat of arrest if he tries to continue playing.

Basic strategy. The fundamental playing decisions made by a player when determining the proper play to make given the player's cards. Basic strategy is not based upon the count, but rather upon the total of the player's hand and the dealer's upcard. It can vary based upon the number of decks in use and the specific rules of the game being played. It is determined by which action the player can take which will maximize the player's return based only upon the knowledge gained from the player's hand and the dealer's upcard.

BC. 1. The acronym for "betting correlation". 2. The acronym for Bryce Carlson, the author of Blackjack for Blood. 3. An abbreviation for "back count".

BCA. The acronym for a software program called .Blackjack Count Analyzer.

BE. The acronym for "betting efficiency".

BEP. The acronym for "break-even point".

Bet spread. A reference to the amount of a player's minimum bet and maximum bet while playing blackjack. A 1-4 spread would mean the player's maximum bet is four times the size of the player's minimum bet. If a player spreads to two hands, the bet spread may be described as 1 - 2X4, which would mean one hand at one unit to two hands of four units each.

Betting Correlation. A term used to illustrate the efficiency of a counting system's ability to inform the player when to increase or decrease his bet. It is usually expressed as a decimal, such as 0.95. This would mean that a count with a 0.95 betting correlation is correct 95% of the time in determining the proper bet size.

BFD. An abbreviation for "big deal"; sarcastic; means not such a big deal.

BIB. The acronym for Blackbelt in Blackjack, book by Arnold Snyder.

Big Player. Someone who plays in conjunction with a team of counters. A counter at a table keeps track of the count and secretly signals the big player when the count is high enough for the big player to enter the game and make a large bet or series of bets.

BJ. 1. An abbreviation for blackjack, the game. 2. An abbreviation for a two-card total of 21.

BJA. An abbreviation for Don Schlesinger's book entitled Blackjack Attack.

BJF. An abbreviation for Blackjack Forum, Arnold Snyder's newsletter.

BJFB. An abbreviation for Bryce Carlson's book entitled Blackjack for Blood.

BJ21. The name of this Internet site.

Black action or black play. Terms often used to describe a bettor who uses $100 units or a bettor who bets in amounts greater than $100.

Black chip. 1. A $100 chip.

Blackjack. 1. The name of the game also known as 21. 2. The name of a hand in the game of 21 which includes only an Ace and a ten-valued card. Commonly referred to as a natural.

Bonus. Large pay-off for a specific rare hand, as in paying 5-1 for 6-7-8 suited, provided by some casinos, temporarily as promotions, or permanently as part of house rules. Payoffs for bonuses are very high - but mostly do not affect significantly, if at all, the house advantage.

BP. The acronym for a big player in a team effort.

BR. 1. See bankroll. 2. The acronym for Beau Rivage, the casino.

Break. 1. To have a final card total which exceeds 21. 2. To break a deck means to shuffle prematurely, which is also commonly referred to as a preferential shuffle or shuffling up.

Break-in Dealer. A new, "rookie" dealer in his first weeks or months on the job.

BS. The acronym for "basic strategy".

BTD. The acronym for Beat the Dealer by Ed Thorp.

BTW. The acronym for "by the way".

Burn. To discard a card or cards from the top of the deck, pack or shoe before a round of play begins.

Burn Joint (A) in a Blackjack context, any casino which offers a game with rules and/or conditions so bad that it is not worth even visiting, for an advantage player. (B) in a more general gambling context, any gambling place where the player will be fooled, cheated or worse, out of his money.

Bust. To break or to have a final card total which exceeds 21.