There are many card gaming terms and slang. But one of the most distinguished is the Blackjack monkey. It stands out for its debated origins.
“Monkey” is a popular expression among blackjack players, which they exclaim at the table whenever they want and hope for a ten or face card. Face cards are capable of tuning a weak hand into a winning one. These cards include King, Queen, or Jack.
Getting a natural deal blackjack requires having an Ace and a face card. So when a player gets first an Ace, such a person might shout “monkey” when getting the next card, hoping that it will be a face card.
Today’s casino news looks into the origin of the term “blackjack monkey” and discusses its place among the many colorful expressions used in casinos in the 21st century.
Blackjack Monkey, Lucky Charm of Origin Unknown
Blackjack money is a gaming term used by players with an ace and trust to get a face card to form a natural 21-card hand.
We don’t know the definite origin of the blackjack monkey. “Monkey” has long been used in baccarat before it became popular in blackjack. However, many theories have connected several sources to the term. Let’s see some of the most commonly proposed origins.
Monarchy
One of the theories suggesting the blackjack monkey’s origin reveals that the term originates from the word “monarchy.” Monarchy means royalty, rulership, or sovereignty, and it best describes the face cards—King, Queen, and Jack. So, players usually shout “monarchy” whenever they need a face card. But how does it relate to “monkey?”
Monarchy does not relate to “monkey” in terms of meaning. However, you’ll agree that the word sounds like a monkey if you pronounce it correctly with an English accent. Asian players in American casinos couldn’t distinguish the difference between the two words and find it hard to pronounce “monarch” correctly. So, with their heavy Mandarin or Cantonese accent, they pronounced monarchy /ˈmɒnəki/ as monkey /ˈmʌŋki/. Over time, everybody accepted “monkey” as face cards.
However, some people don’t agree with this theory.
Miàn kǎ (Chinese)
To an English speaker, this Chinese word, “face card,” sounds like “monkey.” Many believe Chinese players yell this word whenever they want a face card. However, an English speaker would call it “monkey” (or mun-kay!) until the term became a part of the casino culture. And now, speakers of every language use the term “monkey.”
Mo Yair (Cantonese)
“Mo yair” is a phrase that means nothing and is used to describe the face cards. In baccarat, a 10 and face card has the value of zero. Players who hope to receive the card would often chant the word for good luck. Over time, the term became popular and evolved into “monkey.”
Superstition
Some players believe that “monkey” is a sign of good luck. So they shout out the term as a ritual whenever receiving a card from a dealer, hoping it turns out to be a face card.
Blackjack Monkey: Just One of the Many Colorful Lingos in the 21st Century Casinos
While blackjack monkey is a popular term used in the casino, it is not the only interesting term common among card players globally. There are many more slang terms. For instance, “bad beat” means a hand lost by chance and luck favoring the winner. “Dead card is a card you can’t use in play. “Stand” means to decline more cards and maintain your recent hand value.
In blackjack, “bust” means to lose because you’ve exceeded your hand value of 21. “Hard hand “means a “hand” with no Ace or one with an Ace with a value of 1 to prevent being busted. Very seldom will you see these terms in an online casino, unless the same offers a voice chat to entertain the players present.
Understanding Blackjack Monkey and Its Impact on Players
Blackjack monkey is a term with unclear origins. However, what matters is that you’ve understood the term’s meaning. And now you’re confident you can use it on one of your visits to the blackjack online real money table. Remember that the term is used when you are likely to form a natural 21.
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