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C

call-in numbers. A blackjack team expression for pre-determined numbers representing the adjusted running count used by the counter to signal a big player to his table.
[81 Uston Million Dollar Blackjack 316]

call plays. A blackjack team expression referring to the signals given a blackjack player by a counter for how much to bet and how to play his hands.
[81 Uston Million Dollar Blackjack 316]

camouflage. To disguise the way you are betting and playing so as not to draw attention to the fact that you are a card counter. See act. See cover.
[66 Thorp Beat the Dealer 132]
[SUM 91 Scanner Camouflage: Secret Weapon... EBN]
[9/93 Schlesinger Basic Strategy Camouflage... BJF 7]

Canada. In 1990, there were at least 32 legal casinos in Canada. These included:

At time of writing, several other Provinces were preparing for casinos including a large casino in Windsor, Ontario.
[81,9/89,9/90 Snyder Blackjack in Canada BJF]
[VIII, Issue 8 Rose Oh! Canadian Casinos CAM 14]

Canada rules. Rules vary somewhat in Canada with the following being a typical example:

• 4- or 6-deck face up games
• No insurance
• Splitting/Doubling rules vary

candy store. Often used in the literature to refer to a casino with excellent blackjack rules and conditions.

Canfield Expert. {PCS/L1}. (Richard A. Canfield a.k.a. Joe Hinton) (c1977).

Canfield Master. {PCS/L2}. (Richard A. Canfield a.k.a. Joe Hinton) (c1977) An advanced point count system. See Omega II.

Cant, Clarke. Major contributor to Arnold Snyder's book The Blackjack Formula.  See Precision Count.

cap. 1) A chip of a different denomination atop a stack of chips which are the same denomination. 2) {CHS}. To add a chip or chips to a bet after the cards have been dealt.

card count. The total numeric value of cards held in a hand. See count.

card counter. A blackjack player who keeps a mental tally of cards played for betting and playing purposes. A typical card counter will bet higher when he detects a favorable situation (i.e., a positive count) and use the count to vary from basic strategy. The card counter can also detect when it is advantageous to take or not take insurance. See also case the deck.
[80 Rich What to do While Card Counting Vol.13,22]

Frequently Asked Question
What is the best card counting system?

card-counting. (CC) A method of keeping track of the cards by assigning a value to certain cards in the deck.  The theory behind card-counting is based on the fact that when a deck or shoe is deficient in small cards the player is at a greater than normal advantage and when the deck or shoe is deficient in high cards the player is at a less than normal advantage. An example of a card-counting system is the Hi-Lo count.  See point count system.
[Griffin Theory of Blackjack]
[78 An Overview of Blackjack C&S Vol.4, 44]
[90 Zender Card Counting for the Casino Executive 44]
[1/92 Olsen Blackjack Confidential 10]
[ http://www.cardcounter.com/CCC_start.htm ]

card-dauber. A person who marks the backs of cards for purposes of cheating. See marked cards. See daub.

card down. A statement made to a pit boss or floorman by a dealer when a card is dropped from the table. Dealers are not allowed to bend over and leave the chip tray exposed, therefore a pit boss or other person must retrieve anything a dealer drops.

card eating. See eating cards.

Cardoza Base Count Strategy. {???} (Avery Cardoza) (c1985-1990?) Cardoza School of Blackjack, Cardoza Publishing, Cooper Station, NY. Seen advertising in several of Cardoza's gambling books. He advertises that you can "become an expert in two days".

Caribbean. Casino gambling is legal in many countries in the Caribbean and South America. You will find blackjack offered in the following countries:

• Antigua
• Aruba
• Bahamas
• Bonaire
• Columbia
• Curacao
• Dominican Republic
• Guadeloupe
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Martinique
• Puerto Rico
• St. Kitts
• St. Maarten

• St. Vincent

[9/89 Dog-Ass Johnny Blackjack in St. Maarten BJF]
[90 Gaffney Winning BJ in Atlantic City and...87]

Caribbean Rules. TBD - Refer to the Caribbean message board for links to country rules and conditions.

carpet joint.  Slang for an upscale casino.

Carson City. The state capital of Nevada. This small city is east of Lake Tahoe and west of Reno. Carson City has a population of over 40,000 and several small casinos that offer blackjack games.

Carson City Rules. Rules are typical of Reno.

Carter R.P.I.. {PBS}. (Sci-Rater, Williston Park, NY). R.P.I. stands for Regressive Progressive Increments.
[80 Revere Playing Blackjack as a Business 172]
[88 Watson Beating Casino's Blackjack 92]

casing. See case the deck.

case the deck. 1) To count down a deck. 2) To observe closely the composition of the cards played (without counting) and then make decisions based on this limited information. See card counter.

Casey. A concealable computer developed by Steven Goldberg (a.k.a. George Stevens) in the early 1980's, which originally sold for about $4000. Believed to have been copied from Keith Taft's David computer. See George.
[12/83 Snyder Blackjack Forum 45]
[84 Snyder The David Computer BJF]
[5/84 Wong Nevada Blackjack 78]
[90 Zender Card Counting for the Casino Executive 97]
[9/90 Casey Advertisement BYTE Magazine 493]
[ http://www.cyberwarecom.com/blackjack/description.htm - Uncertain Affiliation]
[ http://www.casey-computer.com/ ]

cashier. See cage.

cash plays.  A dealer announcement that the player is betting cash money instead of chips.  This announcement is necessary to avoid the possibility that the player really only wanted change and/or the player is trying to cheat the house.  (e.g., Just as the dealer is ready to deal, the player throws five $100 bills on a betting spot.  The dealer deals the player a bad hand such as a 16.  The player then argues that he was only buying in for chips.)

casino.  An establishment that offers gambling.  Also called house, joint, shop, store, toilet, or trap.

casino host. The casino employee who a rated player deals with to make hotel reservations and discuss comp privileges.

Casino Information Network. (CIN) Biometrica Systems.  The Casino Information Network is a secure network that connects casinos around the world so that information can be shared quickly and easily.  The network is divided into six regions Las Vegas, Atlantic City / East Coast, Mid-West (Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, the Dakotas), Southern States (Mississippi, Louisiana), Australia / Asia, and Europe / Africa.  Biometrica Systems is located in Mont Vernon, NH, with offices in Las Vegas.   See Griffin Investigations.
[ http://www.biometrica.com ]

casino manager. The individual who oversees the entire casino operation.

Casino Visual Identification. TBD

casino win rate. The norm for casino blackjack win rates, averaging all types of players, is approximately 15-16%. Generally, according to Blackjack Confidential Magazine, low blackjack win rates of 11-14% may indicate games favorable to the player. High win rates of 17-22% may indicate house games. These win rate figures are otherwise known as the hold percentage. See win rate.
[89 Blackjack Confidential]

Catch 22. Also called Push 22. A blackjack advertising giveaway occasionally offered by casinos. This coupon would give you a push on 22. If you were to double with 12 and bust this coupon would save your entire bet. The recommended playing strategy for these types of coupons would be to double with 12 (including 6-6) against 2,3,4,5,6 or 7. Hit all 12s of 3 or more cards. With other hands, play normal basic strategy.   PA = 5.8%/hand
[2/80 Wong Wong's Blackjack Newsletter 23]

catwalk. The narrow walkway above the ceiling and over the gaming tables used for security and monitoring of players actions. Most modern casinos no longer have catwalks since security monitoring can now be performed by a network of television cameras controlled from a central location. See eye-in-the-sky.

CBN. Acronym for Stanford Wong's Current Blackjack News newletter.  See bj21.

CBJN. See CBN.

CC. See card-counting.

CCA. Acronym for Casino Control Act.  See NJCCC.

CCB. Acronym for Clump Card Blackjack.

CCC.  Abbreviation for Casino Control Commission.  See NJCCC.

CF. Acronym for conversion factor.

Chambliss, Carlson. Co-author of the book Fundamentals of Blackjack.  See C-R Point Count.

change space. On a blackjack table, the area of the layout in front of the dealer where money is exchanged for chips.

Charles Jay's Blackjack Gold Card. {BS} (Charles Jay) (1992) An two-piece business card with the accurate basic strategy for multiple deck games and DAS allowed. Also includes variations for single deck, when DAS is not allowed and surrender. Tips for evaluating a game, bankroll guidelines and 11 cardinal rules.
[Summer 92 Dalton Blackjack Review 24]

cheating. The Nevada Legislature defines cheating as "to alter the selection of criteria which determine (a) The result of the game; or (b) The amount or frequency of payment in a game." [NRS §465.015(1)] The Nevada courts have also commented that card counting can not be considered cheating. In one court case the following statement was issued:

"By way of contrast, a card counter -- one who uses a point system to keep track of the cards that have been played -- does not alter any of the basic features of the game. He merely uses his mental skills to take advantage of the same information that is available to all players."

In New Jersey, the Administrative Code [NJSAC §5:12-113(a)] states "any person who by any trick or sleight of hand performance, or by a fraud or fraudulent scheme, cards, dice or device, for himself or another wins or attempts to win money or property or a representative of either ... is guilty of crime."

check rack. See chip tray.

checks. Non-metallic gaming tokens, the size of a silver dollar, of various colors and denominations used in casinos in place of currency. More commonly called chips. The most typical color scheme and denominations used at most blackjack tables are as follows:

• Whites (Aces or singles) = $1
• Pinks (Twofers) = $2.50
• Reds (Nickels, Fives) = $5
• Greens (Quarters) = $25
• Blacks = $100

Check colors above $100 are not as common with the following being an example:

• Purples = $500
• Oranges = $1000
• Grays = $5000

Chips can also be used by players to:

• Keep track of the count.
• Keep track of the shuffle.
• Manage their money.
• Signal teammates.

Three types of chips are typically used within a casino:

• Negotiable chips.
• Non-negotiable chips.
• Match play chips.

checks play.   A term often used by dealers to notify pit personnel that a player has increased his bet significantly.  See black action.   See green action.

cheque.   See checks.

Chinese Blackjack. A dealer hand with a ten up-card and a 4 in the hole. A 4 looks like an ace. Many Orientals have the custom of "squeezing" their cards, opening up their 2-card hand a small fraction at a time until the second card comes into view.
[90 Patterson Blackjack: A Winner's Handbook 74]

chip tray. Also call the rack. The rectangular metal tray which contains the casino's chips and silver for a particular table. This tray lies flat in the middle of the table in front of the dealer. Chips are typically organized by denomination: silver and lower valued chips on the outside and higher valued chips in the middle.

chips. See checks.

CHS. Acronym used in this book to refer to a cheating strategy method.

chunk. To over-bet or to bet in large amounts.

Churilla, Ken R.  Ken provides a comprehensive directory of blackjack on the web for the serious player.
[ http://www.best.com/~mentorms/blackjack/ ]

Cierzan, Don.  See TIMES.

CIN.  See Casino Information Network.

C-K Count. See Precision Count.

clap. As in clap hands. What many dealers do as part of casino policy when they are relieved by another dealer. This is done to show the watchful eyes of security that the dealer has not palmed any checks.

club. The black figure marking one of the four suits of playing cards.

Clump Card Blackjack. (CCB) {RWC} (1991) (Steven Heller). According to Heller, "CCB is a systematic approach to exploiting excessive clumping often found in shoe games. The method includes specific table selection and departure criteria as well as five specific betting strategies designed to take advantage of various game type personalities."

clumping. As in the clumping of cards. When specific card denominations stay together during the shuffle process. See like-card clumping.  See clump-trackers.
[3/87 Olsen Blackjack Confidential]
[90 Patterson Blackjack: A Winner's Handbook]

clump-trackers.   A reference to the many variations on card-clump blackjack strategies as presented by E. Clifton Davis, Jerry Patterson, Ron DiBenedetto, Steven Heller, Leonard Benson, Ron Fitch and others.  The methods presented are often non-scientific and should not be confused with valid shuffle-tracking techniques.  These systems are not recommended by the author of this book.

CM.   Acronym for the "Chinese mafia", an expression used by Atlantic City locals.
[bj21.com Blackjack Glossary]

Col. Acronym for casino collects a fee per hand, generally at least 1%.
[Wong Current Blackjack News]

cold. As in the deck is cold. 1) To signify that the deck or shoe has recently been very unfavorable. 2) To signify a deck or shoe that is unfavorable to the player, that is, with a high minus count. See hot. See cooler.

cold turkey. Slang for a hand consisting of two face cards.

Collver, Donald I.  See below.

Collver Advanced Casing. {PCS/U}. (Donald I. Collver) (c1966). A card counting system in which the player keeps track of the excess of tens over other non-ace cards and low cards (2-5) over other non-ace cards plus a count of aces.
[66 Collver Scientific BJ & Complete Casino Guide]

Collver Scientific Blackjack. {PCS/L1}. (Donald I. Collver) (c1966).

color. 1) A designation of the denomination of table chips by color. 2) A reference to a jack, queen, or king.

color for color. An instruction to a dealer to pay the player's bet in the same denomination as those making up the original bet. See barber pole.
[87 Clark Dictionary of Gambling & Gambling 47]

color up. To exchange one denomination of chips for higher ones. Dealers will often ask players to color up before they leave the table. This is usually done for one of two reasons: (a) The dealer's chip tray is in need of lower denomination chips, and/or (b) The dealer wishes to make known the amount of your win or loss.

Colorado. Low limit blackjack games were available in this state at time of writing. These limits are expected to increase to $25 - $100 in the next few years. Areas of interest include Blackhawk, Central City and Cripple Creek.
[Bryan The Gambling Prospector]

Colorado rules. TBD

Comdex. This is one of the largest yearly computer conventions in the United States and attracts over 100,000 attendees.  It is quite often hosted in Las Vegas.  You can expect expensive room rates and very busy gaming tables during Comdex week in Las Vegas.
[ http://www.zdevents.com/comdex/ ]

comp. Abbreviation for complimentary. The privilege of using casino hotel services free of charge. A comp gives a player, depending on his level of play, the use of a variety of hotel casino services, meals, lodging or entertainment at no cost. RFB (room, food, beverage) comps are the most typical but high rollers are often given free airfare and other special privileges as well. Comps are promotional tools intended to maintain a list of patrons who wager in large amounts. Most professional blackjack players shy away from accepting comps due to fear of being detected and barred from playing in that casino.
[5/80 Wong How to Profit From a Comp NBJ 83]
[80 ...About Junkets, Comp Guidelines C&S Vol.11,14]
[12/89 The Flower The Comp Report BJF]

comportment. As in casino comportment. The ways and manners of proper behavior in a casino. Proper casino comportment typically comes from experience.
[76 Andersen Turning the Tables on Las Vegas]

composition dependent strategy. Usually a reference to basic strategy, but based upon the exact cards dealt to the player rather than just the total of the player's hand.  See basic strategy section.

Compucount. Compu Tek, Canyon Lake, CA. A concealable computer developed by G.G.(?) and once marketed by Jerry Patterson for about $800. This was a true count calculator that did not advise the player how to play his hand.
[3/84 Wong Nevada Blackjack 41]
[90 Patterson Blackjack: A Winner's Handbook 70]

computer software. See chapter 3.7 for a list of available blackjack software products.

computers (concealed). Concealed computers that are used as an aid in counting cards are not permitted in casinos. Blackjack computers have been designed to determine the true count or to make perfect playing decisions based on a given count. Specific statutes exist in Nevada that make it a felony to use these devices. In Atlantic City, you'll be asked to leave if you're caught with a concealed computer. If you return with your device, you can be arrested on a disorderly conduct charge. Atlantic City casinos are now lobbying for a tougher law. See George. See David. See Compucount. See Casey. See Uston 21Counter. See Fred.

In c1966, Ed Thorp and Claude Shannon revealed their invention of a wearable computer, used to predict roulette wheels.  The system was a cigarette-pack sized analog computer with 4 push buttons. A data-taker would use the buttons to indicate the speed of the roulette wheel,  and the computer would then send tones via radio to a bettor's hearing aid. Though the system was invented in 1961, it was first mentioned in Ed Thorp's 1966 edition of Beat the Dealer. The details of the system were later published in Review of the International Statistical Institute, V. 37:3, 1969. Thorp also disclosed a similar system for beating the Wheel of Fortune gambling game in LIFE Magazine, March 27, 1964, pp. 80-91.
[3/78 The Perfect Blackjack System ReN Vol.10,#3]
[12/83 Wong Hidden Blackjack Computers BJW 199]
[3/84 Snyder Wired to Win: Concealable Computers BJF 4]
[9/84 Gwynn How Good Can a Pocket Blackjack... BJF]
[9/85 Snyder "Devices" Outlawed in Nevada BJF 14]
[3/86 ...Judge Rules Device Law Unconstitutional BJF 19]
[87 The 1964 Blackjack Computer BJF]
[88 Man VS Computer BJF]
[4/89 Morningstar Blackjack Confidential 32]
[90 Patterson Blackjack: A Winner's Handbook 68]
[Sept 90 Byte Magazine]
[12/90 Rose Nevada Casinos Panicked Over... BJC]
[Feb/Mar 92 Berendom A Blackjack Computer WIN]
[ http://wearables.www.media.mit.edu/projects/wearables/timeline.html ]
[ http://blackjack.webhop.net/ ]

Conklin, J. B. See below.

Conklin System. {PCS/L1}. (J. B. Conklin). TBD

Connecticut. Two of the largest Indian casinos in the United States are the Foxwoods Casino, located in Ledyard and the Mohegan Sun, located in Uncasville. See Indian blackjack.

Connecticut rules. TBD

continuous shuffler. See shuffle machine.

contra-D'Alembert. See D'Alembert.

conventional surrender. Also called late surrender.  See surrender.

conversion factor. (CF). The number by which the running count is multiplied or divided to derive the true count. This number is based on the percentage of cards that have not been put into play. For simplicity, it usually reflects the number of decks (in a shoe) or 1/4 or 1/2 decks remaining in a single-deck game.

cooler. {CHS}. A deck or a number of decks in prearranged sequence inserted into play by cheating players. See stacked deck.
[81 Uston Million Dollar Blackjack 251]
[81 Ortiz Coolers C&S Vol. 15, 64]

Core System. (Scott Frank) (1993) {RWC} A card counting system intended to beat non-random games. Only the 5s, 6s, 7s and 8s are counted.
[93 Frank Blackjack For Winners]
[9/93 Snyder Blackjack Forum 98]

correlation.   Correlation is the relationship between two variables. The correlation coefficient is a measure of the degree to which these two variables are linearly related.  See efficiency.
[ http://www.bjmath.com/bjmath/Stats/multicorr.htm ]
[ http://www.bjmath.com/bjmath/Stats/correl.htm ]

count. 1) Usually a reference to the running count which is the cumulative value of all cards played at any given time. There are a variety of different counting systems that assign point values to cards as they are dealt in a game. For example, the Hi-Lo card counting system would assign the following values to cards in a deck.

• 2,3,4,5,6 = +1
• 7,8,9 = 0
• 10,J,Q,K = -1
• Ace = -1

counter. Someone who counts cards.   See card counter.

counter-measures. As in casino counter-measures. See game control.

couponomy. The profiting from opportunities created by casino competition by the use of positive expectation gaming coupons. See funbook. See matchplay. See lucky bucks.
[82 Griffin The Small Player Vol.21,65]
[9/88 Curtis Las Vegas Advisor...]
[Curtis Bargain City]

cover. Measures used by card counters to disguise the fact that they are counting. Cover is quite often necessary due to casino awareness of valid blackjack winning strategies. See camouflage. See act.

cover bet. {CS}. A bet made by a card counter to disguise from casino personnel the fact that he is counting. These include making:

• a large bet off-the-top.
• a small bet with a favorable count.
• a large bet with an unfavorable count.

cover play. {CS}. A play of the hand made by a card counter to disguise from casino personnel the fact that he is counting. These plays are usually but not always a minor strategy error. See cover bet.

C-R Point Count. {PCS/L2}. (Carlson R. Chambliss and Thomas C. Roginski).

Crayne System. {PBS}. (Charles Crayne).
[80 Revere Playing Blackjack as a Business 161]

credit line. The amount of credit established for a player in a given casino.  See credit player..

credit player. A player who has money deposited in the cage or has been approved for credit for the purposes of gambling. See front money. See marker.

credit slip. See fill slip.

crimping. {CHS}. A cheating method of bending a card to identify it for future play.
[6/82 Case Crimps - Invisible Devils BJF 18]

critter. See pit critter.

crossroader. A cheat, hustler, con man or scam artist.

cruise ships. Cruise ship gambling has become a growing phenomenon in recent years. For example, although Florida voters rejected casino gambling on the state's territory, it can't stop ships from offering gambling once they get 3 miles off the coast. It is interesting to note that most of the cruise ship companies in this country are foreign owned and most are registered in other countries.  See Florida.
[83 Lynch Miami Cruise Ships... C&S Vol.23,20]
[2/83 Miller Gaming on the High Seas GT 16]
[84 Florida Gambling Cruise Ship... C&S Vol.27,28]
[11/89 Saito Cruiseship & Foreign Blackjack... BJC]
[90 Dalton The Florida Cruise Ship Report]
[10/90 Clark California Cruisin' - A Maritime... WIN]
[10/90 WIN Guide to Cruise Lines WIN 37]
[1/91 Saito Floating Casinos - Blackjack... BJC 4]
[4/91 Clarke Gambler's Guide to Cruise Ships WIN 43]
[10/91 Roberts Reg. Gaming on the High Seas WIN 8]
[12/91 WIN Guide to Cruise Ship Casinos WIN 47]
[Sum 93 Dalton The Sea Escape - Florida 29]

cruise ship rules. Blackjack rules vary somewhat even on the cruise ships, however, the following is a typical example:

• 6-deck shoe game
• Double on 9, 10, 11 only
• Double after splits allowed

Crush Count.   An over-under 13 game card counting system. TBD

CSR. Acronym for Continuously Shuffled Cards.  Generally a reference to a machine device that continuously shuffles the cards after each round.

CTR. Acronym for Currency Transaction Report.

CTS. Acronym for Stanford Wong's book Casino Tournament Strategy.   See entry under Books.

cut. 1) Offered by the dealer to the player just after the shuffle and before the first hand. The cut tends to split the deck or shoe into a different order. Most casinos require that players cut a minimum number of cards from the top or bottom (e.g., 10 cards). Players who are able to track shuffles can influence the game by placing the cut card in a more favorable position. Other sophisticated card location techniques also exist. See shuffle tracking. 2) As in cutting the checks. When the dealer runs his finger across two stacks of checks to verify they are the same.
[?? Gordon The 'Two-Card Drop'... C&S Vol.21,23]]
[9/84 Master Take a Good CUT BJF 7]

cut card. Also called shuffle card.  A solid piece of plastic (typical), the size of a regular playing card, that is inserted into the deck or shoe to determine the point at which the cards will be shuffled. Use of a cut card in a game is known as a fixed shuffle point. In home games the cut card is often the joker. See cut.

cutoffs. As in tracking the cutoffs. The unplayed cards at the shuffle point and behind the cut card.

CV. Acronym for Norm Wattenberger's blackjack software program Casino Verite.   See entry under Software.

CVSIM. Acronym for Norm Wattenberger's blackjack simulation software program Casino Verite Simulation.  See entry under Software.

CW. Acronym for cocktail waitress.
[ bj21.com Blackjack Glossary ]

Last Update 12/30/03

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