Dealer error THINKFAST!

Dealer error THINKFAST!
(Originally posted CCCafe Aug. 2001)

My last trip provided a rash of dealer errors
that were exploitable only by thinking fast - like the
dealer hard 20 that was then hit with 2 Aces while I
stood on 99 with a maxBet - as the dealer called the PC
over I yanked my 9s up and started scratching - had
the PC seen my cards tucked he likely would NOT have
called it a dead hand.

Same dealer/table w/ 2
maxBets out I was dealt 1 card to each, whereupon I found
an 8 on one and a 10 on the other, dealer showing 10
- careful to keep them seperate the dealer called a
floorgal who did not respond - dealer then attempted to
push them together to make 1 hand whereupon I pushed
them appart again and requested a PC, who upon
arriving said "deal him 2 more cards." I now held 8-4 on
the 1st hand and PC asks if I want to play it - "no"
- 2nd hand is 10-10 - "yes" --keeping the cards
seperate was key.

At the Hshoe recently 2 ploppies
invaded my heads-up game and somehow I was dealt 3 cards
which I quicly glanced at 8-3-5 - I kicked back the 5
in front of my bet and when the dealer got to me he
asked "whats this?" "I dunno." He quickly burned it
stating that if he calls the suits over it will be a dead
round.

I had more of these incidents in 14 days of play
then I can recall in any previous 200 days of
play.

Be alert for dealer errors and THINKFAST! zg

Your first example crosses a line that I personally wouldn't feel comfortable crossing. Not meaning to be judgemental, Zen, thats just me.

that's why you should always keep an ace and a 10 in your pocket, that way if they are like what was your hand you just thrown down the blackjack and say whats up. :laugh:

I don't get this one ZG.? If you are playing two spots why would the dealer try and put your cards together? Do you mean she forgot to deal the second round of cards for your hands?

i was in reno last weekend and somehow the dealer not thinking when about 4 hands after i went down to 1 hand in a DD game dealt me a 2nd hand, ended up with a 14 on one and a 12 on the other, the 14 had a 9-5 to make it up, she had a face up instead of seeing if i wanted to kill the hand she just threw the 9 onto my 12 and told the dealer hit out her hand, worked out good for a medium sized bet. burned the 5 and dealer would have pulled a push out of it, had the hand been dealt right i would have hit a pat 20 vs 17 out of it

Yes, I received only one card per hand. I have experienced this several times. zg

The profit margin in this business is very small. The ability to not only spot the errors but to decide the best way to exploit them (sometimes at lightning speed); is what separates the men from the boys.

This reminds me of a rather common dealer error that I'm sure that MOST of us are familiar with and know how to handle anyway:
If you double down and the dealer forgets to give you a card; the best thing to do is to usually just keep your mouth shut. If the dealer busts, they will HAVE to pay you. If the dealer makes a hand, THAT'S when you "notice" that you didn't get a card. The floor will ALWAYS call your hand dead. At least; I've never seen them rule otherwise.

Ive had a run of errors all go against me. Dealer took my push, dealer busted me on 21. Dealer taking splits bets in an original bet only game. Make sure to keep an eye on everything.

unexplicable dealer error

Oops, title should say inexplicable. I had a dealer who asked if anyone wanted insurance. Everyone pretty much said no. The TC was at +2 so I had a fairly big bet out there but not big enough to take it. Then she's in the process of checking it and was just about to about to lift the card over signaling she had blackjack when an elderly man tells her tow ait because he wanted insurance. As soon as I saw her make the motion to flip the card over I knew she had it so right after she was done with the man I did my best ploppy imitation and said, "You know what, I'll take it too." Hard to believe but that one mistake by her, essentially meant I had a + EV for the whole trip.

I don't think I understand the above sentence.
TC indicated insurance, but your bet wasn't big enough? zg

tc>=+3 for insurance zg, but the tc was two, but the dealer gave him a tell so he took insurance, is how i read it.

dealer errors

I had a few dealers this week make mistakes that speed was of an essence in capturing the advantage. Pulling payoffs on pushs quickly is another example so no one else can say anything. I find the surrender sign is misinterpetted as a hit to some dealers which was a good surprise to me.

I played at a SoCal casino Monday, SD game. PC asked players not to signal surrender, as it can be misinterpreted. If you want surrender, you toss the cards face up and tell the dealer you surrender.

signals

I disputed the verbal surrender since it's my understanding that hand signals are on camera and recorded. It's bad enough sometimes that dealers have poor language skills and no talky engrish, it leaves you no arguement against a hit on a big bet.Some dealers don't talk because they can't much less understand what you said. It happend to a split I had, four 8s splits against a 10 up dealer goofs the third signal and hits the fourth hand instead the third draw they wouldn't back up the card. I let it go and went on to beat three out of four ands.

That can create a big extra edge played just infrequently. zg

Your only judgmental was about your comfort level.
Has your comfort-level increased over the past 12-months? zg

Ps - I've used this ploy many times, standard tactic for this type of error.