Not-So-Trivial Pursuit

Whereas the old Soviet Union was—as famously and quotably described by Winston Churchill—a “riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma,” what we have for you today is something different.

It’s a quiz.

Wrapped in a column.

Inside a trade magazine.

Can you run the table in our table-games gauntlet? Do you know the history, lingo and lore that surrounds the green felt jungle? Then it’s time to put up or—well, actually, it’s just time to put up. Take out that sharp mind and that Sharpie, and see how you fare.

Unless, of course, you reading this on your phone or laptop. Then, like Terrell Owens after he scored that touchdown back in the day, you’re better off keeping that Sharpie sheathed.

Here we go:

1. Nickname for a turtle or a blackjack natural (seven letters, starts with “s”)
2. Constipated, or type of dice game where two, three, 11 and 12 are points (eight letters, starts with “c”)
3. What is win divided by drop?
4. “_____ odds,” the math behind a call in poker (three letters)
5. 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 in blackjack (six letters)
6. Etiquette says you never shoot from here
7. Who held the “Dead Man’s Hand?”
8. Chinese game played with buttons
9. Pai Gow “recipe” (two words, eight letters total)
10. The one watching us all, according to Robert De Niro in the movie Casino
11. Chuck-a-Luck’s other name (two words)
12. Bet after the outcome; crossroad tactic (two words, both start with “p”)
13. Playing card insect
14. James Bond’s original casino game of choice (three words)
15. Name for a generous player or a curious primate
16. Roulette purgatory (two words, French)
17. In baccarat, a two-card eight or nine
18. What a salesman gets, or the 5 percent in pai gow or baccarat
19. Also known as “tie” or “standoff”
20. What hand did the dead man in Question 7 hold?

How do you measure up?

• 0-10 correct: Uh, don’t leave your day job.
• 11-13: Floor supervisor
• 14-15: Pit Boss
• 16-17: Shift Boss
• 18-19: Casino Manager
• 20: Look out, Ace Rothstein, you’re coming for his job!

ANSWERS

1. Snapper
2. Crapless
3. Hold
4. Pot
5. Stiffs
6. The “Don’t” in craps
7. Wild Bill Hickok
8. Fan Tan
9. House way
10. The eye in the sky
11. Sic bo
12. Past post
13. Bee
14. Chemin de fer
15. George
16. En prison
17. Natural
18. Commission
19. Push
20. Two pair: Aces and eights