The cards that Whipped your bankroll
Dear Mark,
I was playing (single deck) blackjack on the same table
for four hours and witnessed the pit boss changing the deck
almost every hour. Is that normal, or do the playing cards
just plain wear out? Finally, what happens to playing cards
after they leave the table? Jed C.
On
average, casino cards retain their high gloss and snap for
only an hour on a single deck game, two hours with double
deck, or for an eight-hour shift if dealt from a shoe. Once
used their allotted time, the old deck is taken off the
game by the floorman, counted and sorted on the spot, then
initialized as to the dealer, shift, and date.
The
United States Playing Card Company in Cincinnati manufactures
the vast majority of playing cards used today. Cards are
made with the highest quality paper, laminated, and then
go through an enameling process. A pit
boss will change the cards to keep a quality deck on the
game and to squelch hanky panky from sinister players. The
favorite card style of most casinos is the Bee Diamond Back
introduced by the US Playing Card Company in 1902.
These
cards are used because they are more difficult for cardsharps
to mark, and they provide more reference points for observation.
Many
casinos send the old cards back to the manufacturer for
slight alterations so they won't be used by, again, sinister
players. Once the cards are returned, the casino may sell
them as a promotional item in their gift shop, or a philanthropic
pit boss may give them away to asking patrons.
Considering the price of a new deck of cards at Wal Mart, you might as well ask a pit boss for a free souvenir of your losses. Many will oblige.
Dear Mark,
Does the bet size ever influence the house advantage? For
example, does in make any difference if you bet $5 on red
in roulette or $500? Clay S.
None whatsoever, Clay. Every single casino game has a built-in edge working for the house. This house edge does not discriminate against the size of a wager. With your example, the casino will hold the same 5.26% advantage on a red wager in roulette whether you bet $5 or $500. Friend of mine invented a game in which the dealer could do just what you suggest alter the odds during play. Chance that his invention will see casino life: Zilch, Zip, Nada.
Dear
Mark,
The only blackjack I have played in the past was the single
and double deck games in Reno, Nevada. Now three new casinos
have opened in Detroit, and they offer only games dealt
from a shoe where the player cannot touch the cards. I must
admit there was a bit of confusion at first, because I didn't
know the correct hand signals. Plus, the dealer would not
allow me to say I wanted a hit, stand or split. For the
inexperienced, you might want to review the correct signals
for blackjack on a shoe game. Marge G.
Some
games, particularly blackjack, involve hand signals to signify
how you want to play your cards. You must use hand signals
since verbal instructions will not satisfy casino eye-in-the-sky
security. They only monitor physical
signals, Marge, not the conversation you have with the dealer.
Here
is some easy hand signals when the cards are dealt face
up from a shoe:
o Hit: Lightly tap the table with your hand.
o Stand: Wave your hand back and forth, palm down parallel
to the table.
o Double/Split: Place your matching bet next to, but never
on top of, your original wager. If you have two 4s or two
5s you should hold one finger up for doubling and two for
splitting.
Gambling
thought of the week: "Gambling is a principle inherent
in nature."
Edmund Burke, House of Commons speech (1780)
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