Blackjack players are always looking for ways to bring the house edge down and to turn things in their favor. Perhaps the most popular way of doing this is through card counting. When this technique is fully mastered, there is the opportunity for players to gain a 1 – 2 % advantage. The problem with card counting today is that many casinos are wise to this, and it only takes a few hands before it becomes clear what you’re doing. That leaves players looking for an alternative and the blackjack card holing strategy is just one of these.
Card holing is an old technique that can still be used successfully when playing blackjack. In fact, this is a technique that can be used in a variety of card games once you know how. If you want to know what card holing is, and how it can help you win, keep reading.
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What is the blackjack card holing strategy?
When playing blackjack, the dealer will deal themselves one card that is face down. This is known as their hole card. Of course, if you knew what this card was you’d very quickly have an advantage when it comes to planning your next move. This is exactly what card holing offers you.
In truth, card holing is extremely simple. All that it needs is for you to catch a glimpse of what the dealer’s down card is. When you have that information, you plan your game accordingly. Interestingly, when a dealer is sloppy and inadvertently reveals their card, they’re referred to as a ‘flasher’.
Exploring the blackjack card holing strategy
There are no difficult lessons to follow here. Unlike card counting, card holing is extremely simple. The very first thing that you’ll need to do is to pay attention at the table. It’s usual that blackjack players will place all of their attention on the cards that they’ve been dealt. However, to be successful at card holing, you need to start looking towards the dealer too. The truth is that it’s highly unlikely that a dealer will frequently reveal their hole card. That means that you need to be ready for when they do. Fail to pay attention and you may miss your only chance of the night.
Paying attention should start as soon as you enter the casino. As you walk the floor, you need to be on the lookout for dealers who appear a little sloppy. Once you’ve found one, you then need to be getting the seat that gives you the best view. You then need to lower your stool so that your eyes are as close to the table as possible. Doing this makes it so much easier to catch a glimpse of the dealer’s down card as soon as they act that little bit sloppy.
Other casino games where card holing comes into play
While card holing works extremely well when playing blackjack, there are other casino games where it’s equally as effective. These include:
Let it Ride Poker
When playing this game, there are 2 hole cards to consider. If you manage to see either of them then you’ll be playing with a great advantage. If you’re able to get a sneaky peek of the first card, you’ll find yourself with an 8% advantage over the house. While that sounds great, spotting the second card is even better: a 24% edge. If you’re lucky enough to steal a glance at both cards, your edge goes as high as 40%!
Mississippi Stud Poker
The classic game is great for card holing as it comes with a number of opportunities where you can use this to your advantage. Just glancing at the first card can see the advantage go in your favour and this goes as high as 50%. It’s the third card that you really want to be seeing though as this sees you with a 100% edge over the casino! If you’re ever in Mississippi, spending the time to spot a last dealer can soon pay dividends.
Three Card Poker
The benefit from card holing here doesn’t quite match the other casino games that we’ve just looked at. However, it can still bring you a 3% edge and this is certainly worth having.
Caribbean Stud Poker
If you’re able to play with perfect strategy, card holing in the game can see you with an 11% edge over the house.
The blackjack card holing strategy – The importance of keeping your cool
If you’re playing blackjack and you manage to pull off card holing once then all well and good. However, the aim is to keep doing this throughout your session so that you can benefit as much as possible. Fail to keep your cool and you can be sure that the pit boss will soon be on your case, and you may even find yourself looking for a new casino.
You need to ensure that you’re blending in with other players. You need to be calm and collected so that you’re not drawing unnecessary attention to yourself. It’s not just about you being caught: if a lazy dealer is identified they’ll either be polishing up their skills or looking for a new job.
Is card holing against the law?
On a basic level, card holing is allowed and there are no rules that prevent it. However, you still need to be careful with how you do it just to ensure that you’re 100% on the right side of the law. In 1983, a player was caught card holing and the casino decided to push for a prosecution. The player argued that if they could see the dealer’s card that was down to the dealer being sloppy and that they shouldn’t be punished for it.
In the end, the court sided with the player by agreeing that card holing, in this form, was down to the dealer’s failings. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that using tools such as mirrors and other devices would be classed as clear cheating. In these cases, you would be breaking the law.
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