- Slots
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Live Dealer
- Baccarat
- Great selection of slots
- High-quality live dealer games
- Excellent welcome bonus
- Crypto-friendly
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Live Dealer
- Baccarat
- 300+ games
- Crypto-friendly casino
- Live dealer jackpot
- Bonus galore for different verticals
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Live Dealer
- Baccarat
- Accepts cryptocurrencies
- Generous welcome bonus
- Loyalty program
- Kahnawake Licence
If you’re after a new blackjack strategy, stick around. This article will discuss hole carding and how and where you can use this tactic.
What Is Hole Carding in Blackjack?
Hole carding is an advantage strategy where the player attempts to uncover cards that should remain concealed in the deck. These cards are called hole cards, which is where the technique gets its name. It can be used in various casino games, from poker to blackjack.
Since the rules in these casino classics are different, the use of this technique differs too. Blackjack rules require the dealer to deal both the players and themselves two cards. In most standard blackjack games, the player receives two up-cards while the dealer receives one up and one down-card or hole card. The hole card is used as the basis for players’ decisions. The game’s outcome depends on its reveal at the end of the round.
To that end, hole carding in blackjack involves the player trying to catch a glimpse of the dealer’s hole card. Knowing the hole card’s value can help you take full advantage of the basic blackjack strategy and significantly improve your winning odds. In fact, the proper use of the hole carding strategy can help players increase their advantage over the house by as much as 13%.
How to Find Hole Carding Opportunities?
The key to using hole carding in blackjack is paying close attention at the right moment. Most blackjack players don’t focus on cards at the moment of dealing. So, the first step to adopting this advantage strategy is to watch the cards.
Naturally, your actions aren’t the only factor that influences gameplay. The second step would be finding the table that provides the best conditions for hole carding. Some casinos leave more room for you to take full advantage of hole carding, while others make using it impossible.
You can look for the following signs if you’d like to know whether a casino offers good hole carding opportunities:
Shuffling Machines
Most, if not all, land-based casinos today use card-shuffling machines. These devices are imperfect, and blackjack experts have discovered specific models have distinct weaknesses.
The machines we’re referring to are the iDeal and the Shufflemaster Ace shuffler. Their design makes the dealer almost compelled to reveal their hole card. Many players who notice casinos using either of these machines join a blackjack table with the intent of using hole cards.
Table Layouts
Blackjack tables are usually designed to hide the shuffling machine from the player’s view. Nevertheless, that’s not the case in every casino hosting blackjack.
Certain gambling venues have tables where the shuffler is placed on the table before the players. This layout makes hole carding much easier, so taking the right seat can do wonders for your winning odds.
Dealers
Peeking at the dealt cards also heavily depends on the dealer.
Inexperienced or sloppy dealers are known as flashers or flashing dealers in the hole carding community. They tend to grip the cards in a way that makes hole carding a breeze.
You can learn whether a dealer is a flasher by searching for flaws in their dealing procedure before you decide to join the table.
Tips for Proper Hole Carding
Once you’ve ensured a casino offers the right conditions for hole carding, there are a few more things you can do to help your odds:
Find the Right Seating Position
It’s known that seat positions in blackjack can be significant in gameplay. They provide a specific table view and determine when you’ll play. However, that’s not all.
Your blackjack seat can also influence your hole carding strategy.
The best seats for a hole card reader are right in front of the dealer. Players who want to make the most of this advantage strategy usually take first or third base.
Play The Angles
Whether you’ll see the dealer’s hole card in blackjack also depends on your angle.
Your view might be hindered by the dealer being right or left-handed or simply their dealing procedure.
In this case, it’s best to try out different seats to see what angle gives you the best view of the cards. Some players recommend slouching closer to the table or leaning back in your chair to improve visibility.
Avoid Suspicion
An underrated part of the hole carding strategy is keeping a low profile.
Learning the dealer’s hole card will make you feel more confident about your next move. However, you shouldn’t make your intentions obvious.
You can raise suspicion by making bold moves in circumstances where other players are standing or placing bets that are too big for your budget. Try to avoid both of these approaches.
Is Hole Carding Allowed?
Our last tip raises the question, “is hole carding legal?” The answer is not that simple. To help you understand the ambiguity tied to this advantage strategy, we’ll use a 1983 Las Vegas legal case.
Namely, the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas caught one of their players using the hole carding strategy. The case went to trial, but the Nevada Supreme Court deemed that the hole carding involved in this case wasn’t violating any cheating statutes.
This ruling was based on the fact that this blackjack hole card reader did nothing but look for a flashing dealer, sit at the right position, and look at the right spot at the right time.
Nevertheless, the situation would’ve been quite different had the player used a blackjack hole card mirror to gain an advantage. Leveraging instruments of this kind would constitute cheating, and the player would be liable for criminal penalties.
It’s important to note that casinos don’t favor hole carders, with or without aid instruments. If used correctly, the strategy can significantly decrease the house advantage, which is why casinos tend to ask hole carders to leave their premises.
Conclusion
Blackjack is a highly competitive and widespread game, so players welcome any help they can get. A popular strategy they like to employ is hole carding. Harnessing this technique in the right way can significantly increase your winning chances.
All you need to do is spot flashing dealers, sit at the right table position, watch the cards, and strike it rich!
FAQ
- 21+3 Blackjack
- 6:5 Blackjack
- Advanced Strategy
- Atlantic City Blackjack
- Blackjack Bankroll Management
- Blackjack Etiquette
- Blackjack for Beginners
- Blackjack Odds and Probability
- Blackjack Soft Hands
- Blackjack Strategy Simulator
- Blackjack Switch
- Blackjack Terminology
- Blackjack Tournaments
- Blackjack vs. Pontoon
- Blackjack: Online vs. Offline
- Bonus
- Card Counting
- Card Counting Hi-Lo
- Dealer’s Up Card
- Double Attack
- Double Down
- Double Exposure Blackjack
- European
- Face-Up vs. Face Down
- Hard vs. Soft Hands in Blackjack
- Hit or Stand
- House Edge
- How to Win
- How to Win Live Blackjack
- Insurance
- Is Online Blackjack Legal in the US?
- Lucky Ladies Side Bet
- Mobile Blackjack
- Multi Deck
- Online Blackjack Rigged
- Online Blackjack vs. Live Blackjack
- Online Strategy
- Perfect Pairs
- Power Blackjack
- Progressive Betting
- Real Money Blackjack
- Rules
- Side Bets
- Single Deck
- Soft 17 in Blackjack
- Spanish 21
- Splitting
- Strategy
- Strategy Charts
- Surrender
- Variations
- Zappit
About the Author
