Destination TS
================
[Gaming](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming) / Across the Felt: Learning the Language of Blackjack
Across the Felt: Learning the Language of Blackjack
===================================================
Sit down at a blackjack table and you’ll quickly realize that dealers, floor supervisors, and pit managers speak a language that is all their own.
Some of the words and phrases are intuitive—short and snappy but obvious references to player behavior, money transfer, or cards. Other sayings are totally perplexing, and they leave even some veteran players wondering what the heck their counterparts across the felt are talking about.
“Some of the phrases can be hard to learn,” admitted Guy Renzi, Vice President of Gaming Operations.
One of the terms to master is “coloring up,” which is when a player seeks to change-up lower-denomination chips (say, red $5 chips) for higher-denomination ones (green $25s or black $100s).
Another important word: “toke,” which is table games parlance for a tip that a player gives to a dealer.
The plastic apparatus on the table that holds the cards before the dealer distributes them? That’s called a shoe. Each shoe is designed to hold multiple decks. Here at Turning Stone, unless otherwise specified, our blackjack tables use 8-deck shoes. That means each one holds 416 cards.
Speaking of cards, the game of blackjack has lots of different phrases for cards, and they all sound eerily similar.
There’s the “up card,” which is the one in the dealer’s hand that’s showing when they finish a deal.
Blackjack tables also have a “cut card,” which is a yellow card that the dealer lends to one player to cut the shoe of cards after the cards have been shuffled. Then there’s the “burn card,” which basically is the first card in a new shoe. Dealers place this card face-down with the discards before play begins. Nobody sees it again until it is shuffled into a new shoe.
Even players at the blackjack table have special monikers. The person who sits closest to the shoe, in the seat immediately to the dealer’s right (when facing the dealer), is known as “first base,” while the person to receive cards last (and therefore act last) is called the “anchor.”
Try these phrases the next time you sit down at one of our tables to play!
[ prev ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/food-drink/chef-to-nfl-stars-loves-ts-steakhouse)-
-
-
[ Next ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/featured/salmon-running-at-36-acre-private-fishing-destination-in-central-new-york)
### Related
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/new-lounge-for-ts-rewards)
Gaming##### [September 15, 2021
New Lounge for TS Rewards ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/new-lounge-for-ts-rewards)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/new-lounge-for-ts-rewards)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/new-side-bet-fit-for-a-king)
Gaming##### [September 15, 2021
New Side Bet Fit for a King](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/new-side-bet-fit-for-a-king)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/new-side-bet-fit-for-a-king)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/aim-to-match-the-dealer-in-popular-side-bet)
Gaming##### [August 05, 2022
Aim to Match the Dealer in Popular Side Bet](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/aim-to-match-the-dealer-in-popular-side-bet)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/aim-to-match-the-dealer-in-popular-side-bet)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/stretching-dollars-in-march-sports-betting)
Gaming##### [March 16, 2022
Stretching Dollars in March Sports Betting](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/stretching-dollars-in-march-sports-betting)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/stretching-dollars-in-march-sports-betting)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/welcoming-new-yorks-first-wsop-circuit-event)
Gaming##### [March 01, 2022](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/welcoming-new-yorks-first-wsop-circuit-event)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/welcoming-new-yorks-first-wsop-circuit-event)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/blazing-new-trails-in-blackjack)
Gaming##### [February 08, 2022
Blazing New Trails in Blackjack](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/blazing-new-trails-in-blackjack)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/blazing-new-trails-in-blackjack)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/mobile-sports-betting-is-here)
Gaming##### [January 19, 2022
Mobile Sports Betting is Here](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/mobile-sports-betting-is-here)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/mobile-sports-betting-is-here)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/the-vibe-of-velardi)
Gaming##### [September 15, 2021
the Vibe of Velardi ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/the-vibe-of-velardi)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/the-vibe-of-velardi)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/bingo-for-handbags)
Gaming##### [April 18, 2022
Bingo for Handbags](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/bingo-for-handbags)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/bingo-for-handbags)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/blazing-7s-crowns-first-winner)
Gaming##### [May 04, 2022
Blazing 7s Crowns First Winner](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/blazing-7s-crowns-first-winner)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/blazing-7s-crowns-first-winner)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/blazing-a-trail-of-winners)
Gaming##### [June 21, 2022
Blazing a Trail of Winners](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/blazing-a-trail-of-winners)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/blazing-a-trail-of-winners)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/book-now-for-summer-bingo-blowout)
Gaming##### [July 05, 2022
Book Now for Summer Bingo Blowout](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/book-now-for-summer-bingo-blowout)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/book-now-for-summer-bingo-blowout)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/progressive-poker-jackpot-power)
Gaming##### [September 15, 2021
Progressive Poker Jackpot Power](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/progressive-poker-jackpot-power)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/progressive-poker-jackpot-power)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/letting-it-ride)
Gaming##### [September 15, 2021
Letting it Ride](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/letting-it-ride)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/letting-it-ride)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/slotting-for-success)
Gaming##### [September 15, 2021
Slotting for Success](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/slotting-for-success)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/slotting-for-success)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/on-a-roll-with-turning-stone-craps)
Gaming##### [September 15, 2021
On a Roll with Turning Stone Craps](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/on-a-roll-with-turning-stone-craps)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/on-a-roll-with-turning-stone-craps)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/multi-million-dollar-expansion-at-ybr-casino-sports-book)
Gaming##### [September 15, 2021
Multi-Million Dollar Expansion at YBR Casino & Sports Book](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/multi-million-dollar-expansion-at-ybr-casino-sports-book)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/multi-million-dollar-expansion-at-ybr-casino-sports-book)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/sailing-into-2022)
Gaming##### [December 15, 2021
Sailing into 2022](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/sailing-into-2022)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/sailing-into-2022)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/four-poker-players-crowned-first-wsop-main-event-winners)
Gaming##### [November 15, 2022
Four Poker Players Crowned First WSOP Main Event Winners](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/four-poker-players-crowned-first-wsop-main-event-winners)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/four-poker-players-crowned-first-wsop-main-event-winners)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/travel-the-world-with-new-tri-casino-promotion)
Gaming##### [January 18, 2023
Travel the world with new tri-casino promotion](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/travel-the-world-with-new-tri-casino-promotion)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/travel-the-world-with-new-tri-casino-promotion)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/vote-for-slot-madness-champion)
Gaming##### [April 01, 2022
Vote for Slot Madness Champion!](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/vote-for-slot-madness-champion)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/vote-for-slot-madness-champion)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/dealer-school-in-session)
Gaming##### [November 17, 2021
Dealer School in Session](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/dealer-school-in-session)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/dealer-school-in-session)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/world-series-of-poker-events-at-turning-stone)
Gaming##### [November 03, 2021
WSOP is Coming to Turning Stone](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/world-series-of-poker-events-at-turning-stone)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/world-series-of-poker-events-at-turning-stone)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/monstrous-money-for-all)
Gaming##### [September 28, 2021
Monstrous Money for All](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/monstrous-money-for-all)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/monstrous-money-for-all)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/making-waves-and-bank-in-the-sports-book)
Gaming##### [September 15, 2021](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/making-waves-and-bank-in-the-sports-book)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/making-waves-and-bank-in-the-sports-book)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/casino-update-membership-has-its-privileges)
Gaming##### [September 15, 2021
Casino Update: Membership Has its Privileges](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/casino-update-membership-has-its-privileges)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/casino-update-membership-has-its-privileges)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/tracking-payouts-one-hit-at-a-time)
Gaming##### [June 07, 2022
Tracking payouts, one hit at a time](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/tracking-payouts-one-hit-at-a-time)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/tracking-payouts-one-hit-at-a-time)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/props-drive-baseball-playoff-wagering)
Gaming##### [October 12, 2021
Props Drive Baseball Playoff Wagering](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/props-drive-baseball-playoff-wagering)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/props-drive-baseball-playoff-wagering)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/a-primer-understanding-craps)
Gaming##### [February 16, 2023
A Primer: Understanding Craps](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/a-primer-understanding-craps)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/a-primer-understanding-craps)
[  ](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/presale-open-for-new-years-bingo)
Gaming##### [December 02, 2021
Bingo](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/presale-open-for-new-years-bingo)
[Read More](https://www.turningstone.com/destination-ts/gaming/presale-open-for-new-years-bingo)
We use cookies to give you the best website experience. By clicking “Agree & Proceed”, you agree to our [Privacy Policy](https://www.turningstone.com/privacy-policy)
Advanced Reservations Encouraged