Dealer Peeking Question

[radioguy21]

I played several sessions at an off-Strip casino last week, and found several good games. One in particular was a double-deck pitch game with great rules and penetration. There was a sign on the table that said the dealer only peeks at the hole card if an ace is showing. BUT I noticed that each dealer DID peek almost every time they had a ten up, as well. I had never encountered this before ... and I didn't want to get the dealer in trouble by saying anything. (Plus I ended up doubling my session bankroll ...)

Has anybody else encountered this? Is there anyway to turn it into an advantage? Any thoughts?

 

[tedloc]

I played several sessions at an off-Strip casino last week, and found several good games. One in particular was a double-deck pitch game with great rules and penetration. There was a sign on the table that said the dealer only peeks at the hole card if an ace is showing. BUT I noticed that each dealer DID peek almost every time they had a ten up, as well. I had never encountered this before ... and I didn't want to get the dealer in trouble by saying anything. (Plus I ended up doubling my session bankroll ...)

Has anybody else encountered this? Is there anyway to turn it into an advantage? Any thoughts?

Didn't they have the mirror to check the hole card?

 

[radioguy21]

I should have mentioned that ... no, they did not use the mirror-thingy.

 

[tedloc]

I should have mentioned that ... no, they did not use the mirror-thingy.

I have been playing for almost 45 years. I can tell you, that in the old days before the mirror, if you were making bets for the dealer, they all would cheat for you. Two examples come to mind. I'm sitting with 6/10 in a face up game, the dealers is showing 10. She checks the hole card, and says to me" You don't really want to hit that 16 do you?" The other times, after checking the hole card, the dealer passes right by and goes to the next person. They always wanted to win, when money was bet for them.

 

[jimbiggs]

You should definately use this to your advantage. I visited a casino where the dealers peeked at the hole card. I tried to determine by how long they studied the hole card whether the card was high or low. A couple of times it helped me. If the dealer was showing a ten and I thought they had a low card, I might not hit a 15 or 16 or even a 14 etc.

My best experience is worth writing about. Dealer is showing a ten. I have my max bet on two hands. Dealer peeks at the hole card. Then stops, smiles, and checks the hole card again. I immediately start thinking that her four looks a lot like an Ace and she had to double check. So believing that the dealer had 14, I didn't hit my hard 15. Then I split threes on my second hand. I got 11 on one, doubled down and got 21. I got ten on the other, doubled down and got 20. The dealer did have 14, then drew a four for 18. I won both my double downs with my max bet. It was a crazy play, but it was awesome.