Blackjack, a game loved by many, is not merely a game of chance. It's also a game of skill, where strategic players can employ techniques to tilt the odds in their favor. One such technique is called "Hole Carding".
What is Hole Carding?
Hole carding is a strategy used by advantage players in blackjack and several other card games. It hinges on the player gaining knowledge of the cards that are supposed to be hidden from view, namely, the hole cards. This information then assists them in making smarter, strategic playing decisions.
Primary Definition
The most explicit definition of hole carding describes it as a form of advantage play predicated on the act of obtaining knowledge of cards in the deck that are supposed to be hidden from the player's view. This technique can be used in blackjack as well as in other card games where some cards are dealt face down.
In blackjack, specifically, hole carding means to look at the dealer's hole card at the right time to see its value. If the player knows the value of the dealer's down card, they can use that information to make smarter playing decisions.
The Advantage of Hole Carding
If the player has been able to see the dealer's hole card and makes the correct moves using basic blackjack strategy, they can significantly sway the odds in their favor. Depending on the player's skills and other factors, the use of hole carding can help them gain an advantage over the casino of as much as 13%, which is a massive edge.
Scouting for Hole Carding Opportunities
Hole carding might seem like an easy technique to master, but it isn't. 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.
Identifying Opportunities
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.
Shuffling Machines and Table Layouts
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.
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.
Sloppy Dealers and Dealing Procedures
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.
Playing it Smart and Natural
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, 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.
Avoiding Suspicion
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.
Hole Carding and Its Legality
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.
Casino's Disapproval of Hole Carding
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.
Hole Carding Strategies
There are different strategies for hole carding depending on the number of decks in play. For example, the strategy for a six-deck game will differ from that for a single-deck game. A compromise strategy can also be used, designed to make it less obvious that a player is hole-carding.
The Impact of Hole Carding
Hole carding has revolutionized the way blackjack is played by advantage players. By viewing the dealer's hole card, these players can make informed decisions that significantly increase their chances of winning. As long as they act naturally and avoid suspicion, hole carding can be a powerful tool in the arsenal of any blackjack player.
Hole Carding: A Game of Skill and Strategy
To sum it up, hole carding is a strategic play that requires skill, observation, and a good understanding of the game of blackjack. It's not as simple as it may seem, but once mastered, it can turn the odds significantly in the player's favor. This makes blackjack not just a game of chance, but also a game of skill.
Author’s Biography
Thomas James is an experienced journalist and content writer who has worked in the online slots industry for years. He brings a wealth of insight and experience to his writing, having interviewed many of the leading slot developers and operators in the UK.