So... The dealer figured out I was holecarding

I'm not going to post details since this is a public forum, but I know with 99% certainty that the dealer knows I knew what his hole card was. Partly because he immediately began protecting his hand and looked nervous as well once I made the revealing play. He also became very quiet and stopped talking or joking around with anyone at the table. Thats another reason I left as quickly as possible without making it too obvious. Not only did the game turn -ev, I now have A dealer who looks like he has a problem and the last thing I need is the pit asking questions

I'm just wondering what are the odds anything comes from this. I played a few more hands afterwards then colored and left. Obviously I will never play against this dealer again. I know if I was the dealer I wouldn't say anything about it since it would make me look very bad that I let someone rip me off the past few hours, but I don't know the mentality of the dealer. Unfortunately I was playing rated so if something was said they have my name and player card #. In the future, if I think the dealer is catching on to what I'm doing... What's the best way of shaking the heat with the lowest probability of something negative happening?

This is why you should never, and I mean NEVER, let the casino know who you are. Why take the risk for a comp. It is not worth it.

To shake heat--play at any one casino no more than once a month, and limit your play to one hour or until you double your buy-in whichever is first. Never bet more than twice your minimum bet. If the pit boss takes a phone call while you are there and he/she looks at you--leave,not just the table, but the casino, do not wait to color up.

Assuming that you weren't cheating in the sense of using a mechanical device, mirror, etc; assuming that the dealer was flashing the card by his own error; you did nothing wrong, IMO. Even if it was that he had a highly mirrored belt buckle that you were seeing reflections in, that's him, not you. If the dealer was flashing me cards, I would keep quiet and play. And I think I'm pretty freaking squeaky honest. If it turned out that someone caught on, I would do as you did; color up, leave, never play with that guy again. I don't think anyone will say anything, for the reason you mentioned.

Hcer -

Since after he caught on, he not only changed the way he was dealing, but changed his personality, leaving was the best thing you could do - for BOTH of you.

I'd bet that after you left, he continued to deal correctly, but returned to his normal personality. To do otherwise might have tipped off the pitboss.

No matter what, no harm will come your way. You weren't cheating, but exploiting a dealer weakness. Totally different thing. It's kinda on the same level as card counting. It's not cheating, but the casino can ask you to not play there anymore. Except, with holecarding, to ask you to not play anymore, the casino basically has to admit that they have a dealer with inadequate training. If they retrain the dealer, your holecard advantage goes away, so they really would NOT have a reason to bar you.


The only possible way you could get in trouble, is if they think you were partnered with the dealer, and the dealer was deliberately flashing. In that case, they'd fire/prosecute the dealer, but more than likely do nothing more that bar the player.

Well, unfortunately I don't have a big enough edge yet to be able to overcome the cost of a hotel room, so I need to play rated to at least get that. The only real concern I have is the dealer being dumb enough to say something about what I was doing. I left quickly enough where I doubt the PC would realize something was up with the dealer unless he says something.

Oh, and I'm not so worried about legal trouble (since frontloading isn't illegal unless you're using a device). More so about having a black mark on my players card, and of course the casino protecting their games better eliminating the opportunity.