hole-card: blackjack vs. 3 Card Poker

Some dealers will inadvertantly briefly expose their hole card. Is it more common in blackjack or 3 card poker? Does it benefit the blackjack player more than the 3 card poker player? Are blackjack players more vulnerable to detection?

Quote: reno

Some dealers will inadvertantly briefly expose their hole card. Is it more common in blackjack or 3 card poker? Does it benefit the blackjack player more than the 3 card poker player? Are blackjack players more vulnerable to detection?

Flashing a hole card is more common in 3CP than in BJ. It benefits the blackjack player more than the 3CP player. 3CP hole card players are more vulnerable to detection.

--Dorothy

It does put you in a difficult position in Blackjack. If you see the hole card is a ten with a 9 showing upstairs, and you have a seventeen (the exact situation the last time I accidentally saw the hole card), do you hit the 17? On a 9? Is it worth the attention, or do you take the loss? It's a little different if the dealer doesn't have a pat hand when you see both...

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Many years ago, I had the pleasure of playing at a table with a dealer that flashed her hole card to first base (my seat) virtually every hand. It was a small casino and the dealer seemed very new. She had this strange method of picking up the hole card and placing it under the upcard. You could see it if you were playing right up against the pit rope at first base.

I never hit a hard 17 or higher, that would be far too obvious and expose my secret. In these cases, I ate the loss. I obviously used it for almost all my stiff hand decisions, which helped immensely, and perhaps the best of all, whether to double. If she had a stiff hand and I had any soft total up to 19 or hand 11 or under (including 5), I doubled. I also wouldn't double the usual hands like 10 if she had a strong total. I looked like a terrible, terrible player, it was pretty funny.

I drew the line at hitting 15 and 16 vs a 5 or 6 when I knew she had a 2-5 or an ace hole card. I stood in these cases, also in the interest of cover play.

After I did this, I saw the wizard published a strategy, which was fairly similar to how I played without the cover. If I had to choose the best balance of power and cover, I would tell anyone to follow it closely but ignore the advice to hit hard hands above 17 and certain stiff hands against a 5 or 6 and possibly 4. You can stand on whatever you want, that is never a problem. The advantage is still substantial using this cover.

Sadly, I returned to this casino on a later date, found the same dealer and discovered she no longer flashed her card. Must have gotten in trouble.

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Quote: Ibeatyouraces

I practically quit counting cards and went to hole-carding because of the opportunities where I play (many dealers, not just one). BJ is best followed by Ultimate Texas Hold-Em and then 3 card poker. Ultimate has a best player advantage but it is ALOT slower so the blackjack win rate is higher.

Why do you play 3 card over Ultimate then? Where Im from ultimate is dealt from a shoe so its not possible to hole card.

Sorry I was thinking of shootout. Where is the strat for ultimate?

I read all these posts about hole-carding; and Ive never been able to see it in the casino I go to. I know just about all the dealers they have have a good deal (no pun intended) of experiance so its probably hard in the first place... does the machines they use also have an effect. the one I go to on all but some of the blackjack and bac tables they use the auto-shuffler- and the dealer picks the cards up out of a small pit in the table that they get spit into- im guessing that maybe because shes lifting them up half an inch from inside a hole onto the table she dont hav to litterally lift up beyond the surface of the table and thus is preventing the showing- but i was just wondering if it really is that prevelent an issue and this has no barring and ive just not seen it.. i sit in seat 1 alot and in 7 alot.

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To revive an old tread or start a new one? Let's try bringing this one back from the dead...

Anyway, last night in a non-vegas casino a dealer changed their procedure dramatically mid game. I was in a great seat to see rank and suit of one of the dealers hole cards, but then about 10 hands in, the dealer corrected the error. It was a dramatic change in dealing procedure.

No one from the pit tapped the dealer on the shoulder and the dealer was not out of sight even for a second on a break.

I wonder if the dealer noticed me watching the deal closely or noticed some odd plays and self corrected or if there is some other way for the pit or security to notify them on the fly?

Quote: prozema

To revive an old tread or start a new one? Let's try bringing this one back from the dead...

Anyway, last night in a non-vegas casino a dealer changed their procedure dramatically mid game. I was in a great seat to see rank and suit of one of the dealers hole cards, but then about 10 hands in, the dealer corrected the error. It was a dramatic change in dealing procedure.

No one from the pit tapped the dealer on the shoulder and the dealer was not out of sight even for a second on a break.

I wonder if the dealer noticed me watching the deal closely or noticed some odd plays and self corrected or if there is some other way for the pit or security to notify them on the fly?

Just to be clear, although it is probably obvious to everyone but me, you ARE talking about 3-Card, right?

If the game matters, sure.... We can call it 3CP.

You’re likely playing a dealer who’s been corrected but slips in and out of old ways. Your strategy or posture may have reminded them how to deal.

There are plenty of dealers like that who look to be promising but freeze up with any action, odd plays, etc.

Quote: prozema

If the game matters, sure.... We can call it 3CP.

It mattered to me, although maybe it didn't have to. I was just thinking in my head about the different "tip-offs" in both games and I needed to read your post a second time to catch that you referred to the dealer's hole 'cards', (plural), so I just asked for clarification. Be patient with me. I'm old.

Quote: bobbartop

It mattered to me, although maybe it didn't have to. I was just thinking in my head about the different "tip-offs" in both games and I needed to read your post a second time to catch that you referred to the dealer's hole 'cards', (plural), so I just asked for clarification. Be patient with me. I'm old.

No worries. I appreciate your response!

Quote: mcallister3200

You’re likely playing a dealer who’s been corrected but slips in and out of old ways. Your strategy or posture may have reminded them how to deal.

There are plenty of dealers like that who look to be promising but freeze up with any action, odd plays, etc.

At least I made a few dozen dollars while they were figuring it out. Ha!

Could be anything. Could be a hand cramp that loosened up.

Sometimes the simplest explanation, if not the best, is at least viable.