All Gambling Terms Dictionary

 S 
Ship-in [Horse Racing]
Horses that have to travel to be able to race.
  
Shiperio [Golf]
Similar to a mulligan where a player is allowed a second shot without penalty but is allowed to choose which ball to play, the first one or the second one.
  
Shipshape [Sailing]
Neat, orderly and ready to use.
  
Shirley [Poker]
A timid player; always preceded by play like. If someone says to you, "You play like Shirley," he is accusing you of having no gamble.
  
Shiro [Martial Arts]
White
  
Shiro Obi [Martial Arts]
White belt
  
Shisei [Martial Arts]
Posture" or "stance.
  
Shishi Ya [Archery]
A hunting arrow, Japan.
  
Shitahara [Martial Arts]
Lower abdomen.
  
Shito Ryu [Martial Arts]
A style of karate founded by Kenwa Mabuni. Shito ryu is one of the four major Japanese karate systems.
  
Shiwari [Martial Arts]
Break, breaking tests
  
Shizen Dachi [Martial Arts]
Natural position, posture
  
Shizentai [Martial Arts]
"Natural position." An encompassing term for numerous karate stances in which the body remains relaxed but alert.
  
Sho [Baseball]
Shutouts
  
Shoal [Sailing]
(1) Shallow water. (2) An underwater sand bar or hill that has its top near the surface.
  
Shock Absorber [Motor Sports]
A term used for what are really dampers. Fittings used to absorb the energy that the wheels convey to the springs. The dampers keep the springs from continuously rebounding. The majority of shock absorbers are hydraulic.
  
Shock Absorbers [Motor Sports]
Suspension device near each wheel that dampens the up-and-down movement of the vehicle. Inside a shock absorber, a piston rides up and down in a cylinder filled with thick fluid or compressed gas. The shock absorber counteracts the up-and-down movement allowed by the springs.
  
Shodan [Martial Arts]
A first degree black belt.
  
Shoe [Blackjack]
This is the shoe box shaped transparent or wooden device that holds up to eight decks used in blackjack. It allows the dealer to deal one card off the top quickly and efficiently. Two, four, and six deck shoes are common.
  
Shoe Boil [Horse Racing]
See capped elbow.
  
Shoe Clerk [Poker]
1) A player who does not stay for a raise (with the implication that he is dropping out of fear) or, particularly in a no-limit game, for any large bet.2) Someone who is not serious about playing a particular pot, and thus will not call a raise. For example, for definitions 1 and 2, you might hear an aggressive player say, "Let's raise and get the shoe clerks out." Also known as ribbon clerk. 3) A weak player.
  
Shoe Game [Blackjack]
A reference to blackjack games which use a shoe to hold the cards.
  
Shoes [Motor Sports]
Tires.
  
Shoestring Catch [Baseball]
A running catch made just above the fielder's shoetops.
  
Shomen [Martial Arts]
"Front" or "forward." Often refers to the front wall of a dojo.
  
Shoot [Wrestling]
(noun) Reality. Something that is not in the script. Wrestling is fake, but when something from real life creeps into the show, it is called a shoot. For example, say two wrestlers who dislike each other in real life are having a match together, and they decide to settle their differences by throwing legit punches at each other during the match, that would be a shoot. If a wrestler takes a bump and breaks his arm, the injury would be a shoot because it was real and it wasn’t part of the "act". Every so often a wrestler will be cutting a promo and he’ll start shooting, saying things that he feels in real life that may or may not happen to go along with the storyline.
  
Shoot an Angle [Poker]
Use an angle (Any technically legal but ethically dubious way to increase your expectation at a game; a trick.).
  
Shoot it Up [Poker]
Raise.
  
Shoot Off the Dribble [Basketball]
A shot taken while driving to the basket.
  
Shoot Out [Motor Sports]
After a caution when all the cars are bunched together behind the pace car and there are only a few laps remaining when the race is restarted. Drivers will try and "shoot out" to the lead.
  
Shoot the Moon [Poker]
Scoop (1- Declare both ways in a high-low poker game that has a declare. 2- Win both ways in a high-low poker game that has a declare.). In both cases, this phrase is usually heard in home games, and not public card rooms. The term is sometimes shortened to simply moon.
  
Shoot the Pot [Poker]
Raise.
  
Shoot the Pot Up [Poker]
Raise.
  
Shoot-Out [Motor Sports]
When all cars are bunched together, usually because of a caution, and there are only a few laps remaining when the race is restarted.
  
Shoot-Out Finish [Motor Sports]
A race that has had a caution but is going under green for the last few laps, when all the cars are bunched together and really race for the checkered flag.
  
Shooter [Curling]
The curler who is currently delivering the stone, or the stone itself.
  
Shooter on the Dark Side, Says he Won't [Craps]
A don't pass bet by the shooter.
  
Shooter's Roll [Basketball]
The ability to get even an inaccurate shot to bounce lightly off the rim and into the basket
  
Shooting [Soccer]
When a player kicks the ball at the opponent's net in an attempt to score a goal.
  
Shooting Angle [Ice Hockey]
The angle determined by the position of the shooting player in relation to the goal at the moment he shoots the puck.
  
Shooting Circle [Field Hockey]
See goal circle.
  
Shooting Guard [Basketball]
A guard who is depended on to shoot more and handle the ball less than the point guard; often a good three-point shooter.
  
Shooting Range [Basketball]
The distance from which a player is likely to make his shots.
  
Shootout [Soccer]
The tie-breaking procedure after regulation time used in MLS games. In the shootout, each teams has five opportunities to score a goal in a one-on-one situation with the opposing goalkeeper. Each one-on-one situation begins with the goalkeeper in goal and the offensive player 35 yards away from the goal line. The player has five seconds to dribble the ball and score.
  
Shootout Tournament [Poker]
1) A special tournament in which a number of tables of players each play down to one winner, and then the winners of each table compete in the playoff. Often all players who make it to the final table receive a prize, usually ranging from an amount equal to the buy-in for the first busted out to the main prize, which often is 40 to 50% of the total prize pool. 2) A tournament in which one player ends up with all the money, one that is played till only one player remains.
  
Shop [Poker]
1) A card room. Also called joint or store. 2) Stop in at a card room just to check out the action.
  
Shore [Sailing]
The edge of the land near the water.
  
Shoreline [Sailing]
Where the land meets the water.
  
Short [Poker]
1) Low on funds. 2) Shy of a complete bet. "Who's short in the pot?" implies that someone has not put in a full bet. "He's short $10" means that he was not able to call the full bet, and implies that a side pot will be generated. 3) Be unable to pay time due to having insufficient chips (in respect to a certain cutoff point established by the house, usually equal to only a few chips, as for example less than $4 in a game with a $20 buy-in). 4) Not put the full amount of the bet in the pot. "Who shorted the pot?"
  
Short Block [Motor Sports]
A block with crankshaft, rods, and pistons (but no cylinder heads or valvetrain), to "long block", which is a complete engine less carb, manifolds, ignition, and accessories.
  
Short Bow [Archery]
A bow usually half the height of the archer using the bow.
  
Short Buy [Poker]
A buy-in of less than the minimum required for the game.
  
Short Call [Poker]
While going all in, calling less than the full bet (and thus generating a side pot).
  
Short Cards [Poker]
Any card game other than poker (such as gin or klabberjass), usually used to describe a game played by two (sometimes more) players while awaiting a seat in a poker game.
  
Short End [Roulette]
The side of the bet that has to pay off less than it will win.
  
Short Field [Horse Racing]
A race with seven or fewer race animals.
  
Short Flush [Poker]
Four-card flush, so termed mainly in European countries.
  
Short Game [Poker]
1) Less than a full table. "I don't like to play in a short game." 2) Two-handed game. Many card rooms have among their rules one that reads, "No short games." They do not want players to play head up
  
Short Irons [Golf]
The highly lofted irons.
  
Short Money [Poker]
1) Less than a player would normally buy in to a particular game with.2) Having not enough money to survive the ordinary fluctuations of a particular game. "The game's terrific, but Jim's not going to last unless he gets real lucky; he's playing on short money
  
Short Odds [Poker]
The odds for an event that has a good chance of occurring.
  
Short Pair [Poker]
In high draw poker, a small pair; often any pair less than jacks; any pair smaller than the opening requirements for the game. Also called shorts, pair of shorts
  
Short Pin [Bowling]
A rolling pin that doesn't quite knock down a pin that's standing.
  
Short Price [General]
Low odds, meaning a punter will get little return for their initial outlay.
  
Short Run [Roulette]
The limited amount of time during any given session when probability theory will seemingly be skewed by streaks and fluctuations. Also called Short-Term.
  
Short Shoe [Blackjack]
A shoe from which certain cards have been removed, usually as a means of cheating players. For instance, ten valued cards or aces may be removed from the shoe, which would give the house an unbeatable advantage. Sometimes, the reverse occurs, wherein cards are added to the shoe which would be detrimental to the player, such as five's and sixes.
  
Short Side [Ice Hockey]
The side of the goal cage where the goaltender is playing; so called because there's a smaller area to shoot at on that side.
  
Short Splice [Sailing]
A quickly made splice joining two lines together. A short splice is wider than the original line and will not fit through blocks or fairleads.
  
Short Stack [Poker]
A short stack is a stack that's too small to cover the likely betting in a hand. A player who has such a stack is said to be short-stacked. This has advantages (e.g., that you cannot be pressured to fold) and disadvantages (e.g., that you cannot get maximum value from your winning hands).
  
Short Straight [Poker]
Four-card straight, so termed mainly in European countries
  
Short Studs [Poker]
The British name for five-card stud and its variants.
  
Short the Pot [Poker]
Any cheating move. "He has to get a little booze in him before he takes a shot."
  
Short Track [Speed Skating]
A type of competition conducted on a 111-meter track on an international size hockey rink. Skaters race in packs, not pairs.
  
Short-Cards [Poker]
An obsolete name for poker.
  
Short-Chipped [Poker]
Playing with only a small amount of money, thus limiting one's risk and reward.
  
Short-Handed [Ice Hockey]
Descriptive of a team that has fewer players on the ice than the opposition because of a penalty or penalties. See also power play.
  
Short-Handed Goal [Ice Hockey]
A goal scored by a player whose team is short-handed. See also power play goal.
  
Short-Range Waxes [Skiing]
Grip waxes with specific temperature ranges, used primarily by racers for maximum performance.
  
Short-Shafting [Golf]
He process of installing a shaft short of the bottom of the hosel bore. In effect this makes the shaft play softer than it was designed to play. Most common in deep bore metal heads.
  
Short-Stacked [Poker]
Playing with only a small amount of money, thus limiting one's risk and reward.
  
Short-Swinging [Skiing]
Tight-radius parallel turning, used mostly in narrow gulleys, or steep slopes.
  
Short-Term Policy [Motor Sports]
A policy written for a period of time that is shorter than usual for that type of coverage.
  
Shorten [General]
When the odds of a horse decrease, usually because a lot of money has been wagered on that horse. A shortener is a horse which opens at a specific price at the start of betting, and is at a lower price when betting closes.
  
Shorteners [Horse Racing]
The implements used to shorten the length of a horse's hopples. Sometimes horses need a smaller stride during the beginning of a race, in order to ensure they maintain their gait and don't race too fiercely. In this case, a trainer would use hopple shorteners, which are pulled out at a later stage during the race to enable the horse to increase its stride and therefore speed.
  
Shorthanded [Poker]
A game is said to be shorthanded when it falls below a certain number of players. Most poker tables accommodate nine or ten players. Five players is clearly shorthanded, nine players is clearly not. Since many people are uncomfortable playing shorthanded, some card rooms make special provisions for shorthanded tables - reducing the blinds or the rake, or providing shills or props. Since the number of players at a table has a significant impact on strategy, learning to play well shorthanded is an important skill. This is especially true in tournaments, where shorthanded play is much more common.
  
Shorts [Poker]
Short pair. Sometimes a pair of shorts.
  
Shortstop [Baseball]
Defensive player positioned between second and third bases.
  
Shorty [Baseball]
Club baseball and softball term for game situation where one team is 'short' of a player and incurs an automatic out when "Shorty" is supposed to bat.
  
Shoshinsha [Martial Arts]
"Novice" or "beginner." Any unranked Japanese martial artist.
  
Shot [Poker]
1) An Angle shot (A poker player who uses various underhanded, unfair methods to take advantage of inexperienced opponents. ). 2) A chance to play. "I'd sure like a shot in that game." 3) A stake. If a player (usually one without money) asks a floor person to "Give me a shot," he is asking if the floor person would put him in the game, that is, stake him. 4) Any cheating move. "He has to get a little booze in him before he takes a shot."
  
Shot Clock [Basketball]
A clock that indicates the amount of time a team has in which to take a shot. The time limit is 24 seconds in the National Basketball Association and in international play, 35 seconds in men's college basketball, and 30 seconds for collegiate women. A shot must go through the basket or touch the rim before time has expired.
  
Shot Hole [Golf]
A par three hole.
  
Shot on Goal [Ice Hockey]
A shot that goes in the net or would have gone in the net if it hadn't been blocked or deflected by the goalie or another defensive player.
  
Shot on Goal (Sog) [Ice Hockey]
A scoring attempt that is successfully blocked or otherwise prevented by a goalie; a save.
  
Shot Peen Finish [Golf]
Type of finish applied to stainless steel iron heads that leaves the appearance of a “silvery, semi-rough” surface.
  
Shot Taker [Poker]
Angle shooter (A poker player who uses various underhanded, unfair methods to take advantage of inexperienced opponents. ).
  
Shotei [Martial Arts]
Palm heel.
  
Shotei Uchi [Martial Arts]
Palm heel strike
  
Shotei Uke [Martial Arts]
Palm heel block
  
Shotgun [Poker]
This game is basically Five Card Draw with the exception that there are more betting rounds. In this game each player is dealt five cards of their own: Three down, followed by round of betting, another down followed by another round of betting, the fifth card down followed by another round of betting. Everyone can then draw up to three cards and then there is a final round of betting. This is an expensive game due to all of the betting rounds. A high two pair often takes this game.
  
Shotgun Formation [Football]
A formation where the quarterback lines up behind the center five yards deep. He takes the snap like a backwards pass thru the legs of the center.
  
Shotmaker [Golf]
A player who has the ability to play a great many different shots.
  
Shotmaking [Golf]
The ability to play a great many different shots.
  
Shotokan [Martial Arts]
A popular Japanese karate system founded by Gichin Funakoshi and influenced directly by the Okinawan style of Shuri-te.
  
Shoulder Charge [Soccer]
Minimal shoulder-to-shoulder contact by a defender against a ball carrier; the only contact allowed by the rules unless a defender touches the ball first.
  
Shoulder Deke [Ice Hockey]
A quick move of the shoulder in one direction and the player in another to fake out the opponent.
  
Shove Off [Sailing]
To push a boat, as from a dock or another boat.
  
Shovel [Skiing]
From the widest point of the front section of the ski, known as the shoulder, to the ski tip.
  
Show [Greyhound Racing]
The third greyhound across the finish line. A wager to show means you collect if your selected greyhound finishes either first, second or third.
  
Show Bet [Horse Racing]
Wager on a horse to finish in the money; third or better.
  
Show Cards [Poker]
1) Those cards dealt face up in stud games; the cards on one's board; up cards. 2) Expose one's hole cards (in a stud or hold 'em game) or all or part of one's hand (in a draw game) to one or more other players. If Jim shows his hand to his neighbor, someone might say, "Hey, Jim. Don't show cards."
  
Show Down [Poker]
Participate in a showdown.
  
Show Five Cards [Poker]
A variant of seven stud, found only in home games, in which each player receives seven cards and then, on a signal from the dealer, exposes one card at a time, each followed by a round of betting, until five are exposed; the game is often played high-low
  
Show Jumping [Equestrian Sports]
An event in which the horse must clear a number of obstacles on a set course within a specified time.
  
Show One, Show All [Poker]
Most card rooms have a rule, generally referred to as "show one show all," that if a player shows their cards to anyone at the table they can be asked to show everyone else (even if they would ordinarily not be required to show their hand). This usually comes up at the end of a hand that did not reach showdown (e.g., if a player shows a friend a successful bluff). Obviously showing one's hand to someone else who has cards is illegal for more reasons.
  
Show Openers [Poker]
In a game with minimum opening requirements, such as jacks or better, prove that you had openers when you opened a pot. If you opened the pot and then bet after the draw and are not called, or if you fold, you must show openers. You do so by showing only as much of the hand as it takes. That is, if you opened with three jacks, you need show only two of them, but if you opened with a pat straight, you must show the entire hand. If you opened with a full house, 10s full of 3s, you need show only the three 10s; with 7s full of jacks, you need show only the two jacks
  
Show Room Stock [Motor Sports]
A racing series where new production cars are raced with very few or no modifications.
  
Show Tickets [Poker]
1) The third-best hand in a showdown. Comes from the horse racing term show, plus tickets. 2) A form of draw poker, found only in home games, in which the third-best hand wins
  
Showdown [Poker]
1) The point in a hand, after all the betting is over, at which the players turn their cards face up for comparison with all active hands, to determine which hand (or hands in a split-pot game) wins the pot (and, if there are one or more side pots, which hand or hands win which side pots). Sometimes called lay down. 2) A hand of poker played with no draw, and no bet beyond that made before the deal of the cards. Sometimes this is played by two or more players for the odd chips they have, or for an amount that will get one of them even and the others even more stuck. Often called a hand of showdown. "Okay, fellas, the three of us are all down about $20. Let's play a hand of showdown for $10, and then one of us will be even and the other two will be stuck $30 each."
  
Showing [Poker]
Pertaining to one's face-up cards in stud games, that is, the cards on one's board. "What's he got showing?" means what does he have on the board?
  
Shroud [Sailing]
Part of the standing rigging that helps to support the mast by running from the top of the mast to the side of the boat. Sailboats usually have one or more shrouds on each side of the mast.
  
Shuai Chiao [Martial Arts]
Along with chin na, this form of Chinese wrestling possibly influenced the formation of Japanese jujutsu.
  
Shubaku [Martial Arts]
A system of empty-hand combat similar to jujutsu which is considered the forerunner of judo.
  
Shuck [Poker]
1) Discard (Throw one or more cards from your hand.). 2) Substitute (Replace a card in stud, that is, receive a twist.).
  
Shuffle [Poker]
Before each hand, the dealer shuffles the cards - mixes them up in order to make their order as unpredictable as possible. Most card rooms have fairly specific requirements for how the cards are to be shuffled.
  
Shuffle Card [Blackjack]
A plastic card, usually the same as the cut card, which is inserted into a deck, pack or shoe to indicate when to break the deck and reshuffle the cards.
  
Shuffle in [Poker]
Add one or more cards to the deck while shuffling.
  
Shuffle in a Brief [Poker]
Shuffle in such a way as to produce a brief in the deck.
  
Shuffle Master [Blackjack]
The trademarked name of a mechanical device that some casinos use to shuffle the cards in multi-deck games, in order to speed up the game and defeat cheating and shuffle tracking.
  
Shuffle Stearing [Motor Sports]
A more accurate and less dramatic method of wheel-handling. For example, for a left turn, the left hand moves to the top of the steering wheel and pulls the wheel a full half-turn to the bottom, while the right hand slides downward to meet the left hand at the bottom. The right hand then pulls up on the wheel, while the left hand mirrors the movement until both hands meet at the top. This takes some getting used to, but is very efficient.
  
Shuffle the Spots Off [Poker]
Shuffle excessively. When Slow Sam gives the deck 15 painfully laconic shuffles, one of the losers is sure to say, "Don't shuffle the spots off of 'em." Also, rub the spots off.
  
Shuffle Tracking [Blackjack]
A sophisticated technique that requires a player to count the cards, observe where groups of high or low cards are placed in the discard tray, follow them through the shuffle, and then cut the cards in such a way as to bring excess high cards into play. It is a proven way to get an edge at shoe games.
  
Shuffle Up [Blackjack]
Premature shuffling by the dealer to discourage card counting or to harass a player who is usually suspected of being a counter. Also preferential shuffle.
  
Shuffler [Poker]
The person who shuffles the cards just prior to dealing. The term usually refers to someone other than the dealer, when the dealer does not perform the shuffling. Sometimes in home games, the player to the right of the dealer (the person who actually distributes the cards) shuffles the cards, offers them to the person on his right for a cut, and then hands the deck over to the person on his left for dealing.
  
Shuko [Martial Arts]
A type of feudal age brass knuckle used by the ninja. Besides the small metal plate that slipped over the knuckles, the shuko had spikes extending from the palm so an enemy's face could be raked. It was also useful for gripping when climbing walls.
  
Shunt [Motor Sports]
A collision; British.
  
Shuri [Archery]
The shaft of an Ainu arrow.
  
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