There are two types of blackjack players – those who like to leave things purely to chance and those who always scout for opportunities to gain an edge over the casino.
The second type includes a very special group of players who use different techniques to increase their odds for a positive outcome known as advantage players.
And while card counting may be the most popular advantage play technique out there, it is certainly not the only one. Seasoned blackjack players have devised many more such techniques for others to perfect them to one degree or another.
In our previous two articles dedicated to the game of blackjack we discussed shuffle tracking and ace sequencing, while in this article we are set to dwell more thoroughly on hole carding.
But what does hole carding involve and what should players watch out for when harnessing this technique? Here is a bit more information for aspiring hole-carders.
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What is hole carding in blackjack?
The most concise but also the most explicit definition of hole carding says that it is a form of advantage play based on the act of obtaining knowledge of cards in the deck that are supposed to be hidden from the player’s view, that is to say hole cards. Hole carding can be used in blackjack as well as in other card games where some cards are dealt face down.
In blackjack, in particular, hole carding means to look at the dealer’s hole card at the right time in order to see its value. If the player knows the value of the dealer’s down card, they can use that information to make smart/er playing decisions.
If the player has been able to see the dealer’s hole card and makes the correct moves using basic blackjack strategy, they can sway the odds significantly in their favor. Depending on the player’s skills and other factors, the use of hole carding can help them gain advantage over the casino of as much as 13%, which is a massive edge.
Important things to know when scouting for hole carding opportunities
To many, hole carding might seem like an easy technique to master and use. But it is not. Players must remember that not all casinos offer equal hole carding opportunities and not all blackjack tables at a casino offer the same opportunities to harness this technique.
When hitting the casino floor, hole-card players should find the blackjack game and the blackjack dealer that offer the best hole carding opportunities.
But how do players scout for such opportunities? Well, they could look for at least three things – less sophisticated card shuffling machines, poorly designed blackjack table layouts, and sloppy dealers with sloppy-ish dealing procedures.
When it comes to shuffling machines, blackjack experts have discovered that two common devices have weaknesses that can be exploited by hole-card players, with those two being the Shufflemaster Ace shuffler and the iDeal shuffler. Both machines are manufactured in a way that sometimes it is almost impossible for a dealer not to reveal their down card.
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Gaming tables are supposed to be designed in a manner that makes it possible for shuffling machines to be placed out of players’ view. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes the design of a blackjack table requires for the shuffler to be placed on top of the table, making it easier for a hole-carder to spot the dealer’s down card.
When shuffling machines are placed at first base, they are particularly vulnerable from most seats around the blackjack table.
Sometimes a sloppy or inexperienced dealer is just enough for a player to include hole carding in their overall strategy. Players should look carefully for barely noticeable but consistent issues in a dealer’s dealing procedures.
For instance, some dealers grip the cards the wrong way, thus exposing just enough for the player to spot the hole card or at least see if its a face card. And knowing if the dealer’s down card is a face card is extremely valuable information in blackjack.
Other useful tips to take into account
Players must remember that no matter how sloppy a dealer might be, they do not flash their hole cards all the time. In addition, the flawed patterns in some dealers’ dealing procedures can be so insignificant that players can only see if a card is a face card or not. But, as we mentioned above, even the tiniest amount of information on the dealer’s down card could be more than enough for players to significantly increase their edge.
In addition, some positions at the blackjack table are more favorable than others. The best seats for a hole-carder to take are directly in front of where the dealer is or at first or third base. But that also depends on whether the dealer is left- or right-handed and what dealing procedures are used at the table.
Players may want to try different seats to see if they can find the best angle to spot the hole card. Some say that shorter players get a better angle for a chance to see the card their card of interest. Some hole-carders slouch closer to the table, while others lean back in their chairs.
An important thing that players need to remember is to try to act as naturally as possible in order not to raise suspicion.
And one more important thing, players should always size their bets carefully, yet again to avoid raising suspicion. Making too bold moves at times when most players would typically stand could give a hole-carder away.
Is hole carding legal?
The short answer to this question is yes, the longer one is – it depends. A 1983 case involving hole-card players caught at the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas saw the Nevada Supreme Court rule that the players’ conduct “did not constitute a violation of the cheating statutes.”
In other words, the Supreme Court did not deem hole carding a cheating technique. That is because this technique does not really involve anything else but scouting for a sloppy dealer, sitting at the right spot at the blackjack table, and looking at the right place in the exact right time.
However, if a player uses a mirror or some other device to see the dealer’s hole card, that certainly constitutes cheating and such player could face criminal charges.
It should also be noted that as it is with all other advantage play strategies, casinos really frown upon hole carding and if hole-card players are spotted at their tables, they are usually escorted out of the gaming floor.
This is why hole-carders should be extremely careful when harnessing the technique. Not only will they be asked to leave the casino, which is certainly an embarrassing experience, but they will also lose a perfect hole carding opportunity.
