Scare CardA card that may well turn the best hand into trash. If you have T ♣-8♣ and the flop comes Q♦-J♦-9 ♠, you almost assuredly have the best hand.
Scobe's WagerIf it doesn't hurt to play as if something is true, then you have nothing to lose by playing this way as long as you don't increase your time or risk at…
Second PairA pair with the second highest card on the flop. If you have A ♠-T♠, and the flop comes K♦-T♥-6 ♣, you have flopped second pair. See "top pair."
Section ShootingThe act of placing the ball in a given section of the wheel.
Section SlicingDividing the wheel into sections based upon which numbers have been hitting for the purpose of discovering biases.
SellAs in "sell a hand." In a spread-limit game, this means betting less than the maximum when you have a very strong hand, hoping players will call whereas…
Semi-BluffA powerful concept first discussed by David Sklansky. It is a bet or raise that you hope will not be called, but you have some outs if it is.
SessionThe period during which Congress assembles and carries on its regular business.
Session StakeThe amount of money set aside for one session of play.
SetThree of a kind when you have two of the rank in your hand, and there is one on the board.
ShakeShake - this is another name for Pai Gow Poker.
ShardSoul Shard. An item gained by the Warlock through Soul Draining, used to cast several spells such as Ritual of Summoning and to conjure Soulstones.
Shift BossThe individual in charge of the casino during a given work shift.
ShillA casino employee who pretends to be a player. Shills often play at empty tables in order to attract action.
ShillsA young lady, who works for the casino, used to lure players to the Baccarat table.
ShinerA member of the shiner family often used for bait. The most common in Arizona is the gold shiner.
Shoethis is the wooden box that is used for holding and dispensing playing cards to be dealt.
Shoe gameA blackjack game dealt from a shoe. Multiple deck games are almost always shoe games, while single deck games are often dealt by hand.
Short EndThe side of the bet that has to pay off less than it will win.
Short OddsLess than the true odds payoff for a bet.
Short RunThe limited amount of time during any given session when probability theory will seemingly be skewed by streaks and fluctuations. Also called Short-Term.
Short StackA number of chips that is not very many compared to the other players at the table.
ShowdownThe point at which all players remaining in the hand turn their cards over and determine who has the best hand - i.e.
ShuffleAt the start of each game when the dealer mixes up the order of the cards is said to shuffle the cards.
Shuffle MasterA company which manufactures automatic shuffling machines which constantly shuffle the blackjack decks.
Shuffle trackingAn advantage play technique in blackjack where a player keeps track of where the high cards are in the deck, then cuts into the deck so that the…
Shuffle UpPremature shuffling of playing cards by the dealer.
Side countAn additional count of a particular set of cards, kept in addition to the point count. Aces are often tracked in a side count.
Side PotA pot created in which a player has no interest because he has run out of chips.
Slow PlayTo play a strong hand weakly so more players will stay in the pot.
Small BlindThe smaller of two blind bets typically used in a hold'em game. Normally, the small blind is one-third to two-thirds of a first round bet.
Small PetsAn animal following the player around. While this does not directly influence the player or monsters, it is cool to have around, especially the rare ones.
Smooth CallTo call. Smooth call often implies slow playing a strong hand. Example: "I flopped the nut flush but just smooth called when the guy in front of me bet -…
SnareRefers to spells and abilities that slow down or completely stop a target's movement.
Split BetA single bet that one of two particular numbers will hit on the next spin.
Split HandSplit the initial two-card hand into two and play them separately - allowed only when the two first cards are of equal value.
Split PotA pot that is shared by two or more players because they have equivalent hands.
Split Two PairA two pair hand in which one of each of your cards' ranks appears on the board as well. Example: you have T9, the flop is T-9-5, you have a split two pair.
SpookingThe act of standing behind the dealer to peak at the hole card and then secretly convey the information to a partner player sitting at the table.
SpreadIn the most general sense, a spread is the difference between two similar measures.
Spread-limitA betting structure in which a player may bet any amount in a range on every betting round.
StandTo decline additional cards and keep your existing total.
Stand or StayNot requiring any more cards, to refrain from taking another card.
Standard deviationStandard deviation is a statistical measurement of how far a variable quantity, such as the price of a stock, moves above or below its average value.
Standing HandIn blackjack, meaning a hand which hard-totals to 17 or more, which is very likely to bust if one more card is called and therefore the player is expected…
Starterthis is the employee of the casino who is suppose to sit at an empty table to attract players to the game.
SteamingA blackjack term where a player has become frustrated with how badly the events of a session of play have turned out.
Stiff HandHard hands that total between 12 and 16. Stiff hand are likely to bust when drawn to.
Stop loss limitAn amount of money that a gambler is willing to lose in a situation. Once the stop loss limit is reached, the gambler stops playing that session.
StraddleA straddle is hedging strategy that involves buying or selling a put and a call option on the same underlying instrument at the same strike price and with…
Straighta hand of five cards of consecutive value, e.g. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, irrespective of suit; an Ace cannot count as both low and high, as in e.g. Q, K, A, 2, 3
Straight betwhen a player bets on just one number. Betting in this manner gives the player a higher pay out, in case he wins
Straight flusha hand of five cards of consecutive value, e.g. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, all of the same suit; an Ace cannot count as both low and high, as in e.g. Q, K, A, 2, 3
Street betA bet that one of three particular numbers will hit on the next spin.
String BetA bet (more typically a raise) in which a player doesn't get all the chips required for the raise into the pot in one motion.
StructuredUsed to apply to a certain betting structure in poker games. The typical definition of a structured hold'em game is a fixed amount for bets and raises…
SurrenderDeciding not to play the hand you've been dealt. You get to keep half your bet if you surrender. Not all casinos offer surrender as an option.