# Dealer checking for Blackjack.. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 27, 2006, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246 "2006-07-27T11:59:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246/21 "2006-07-27T20:27:54Z")
[QUOTE=Blackjack Kid] In Australia EVERY blackjack table (which exceptions to high roller and private rooms) uses an automatic continuous shuffling device. This not only thwarts card counters, but speeds up the game, therefore increasing profits. Why haven’t most US casinos adopted these yet? [/QUOTE] I’d guess that the number of people who _think_ they can gain an edge by counting cards is significantly larger than the number of people who _can_ gain an edge by counting cards. According to a math professor where I went to school who taught an occasional blackjack strategy seminar (in addition to being a math professor, he is a professional magician, and has been blacklisted from some casinos for counting cards), if you mess up basic strategy on one hand per hour of blackjack, you’ve negated any advantage you might have had from the counting. Blackjack basic strategy isn’t rocket science, but it’s a lot more complicated than basic strategy for most casino games. I bet most people who try to count cards end up screwing it up and betting more with worse odds. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingCowOfDoom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyingcowofdoom/32/21776_2.png) [@FlyingCowOfDoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingCowOfDoom)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246/22 "2006-07-27T20:34:15Z")
[QUOTE=Long Time Lurker] Correct, natural blackjack beats a three or more card 21. [/QUOTE] [nitpick]You can only get blackjack by being dealt a 10/face card and an ace…getting 21 by hitting is not blackjack, it’s 21.[/nitpick] –FCOD ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246/23 "2006-07-28T00:34:08Z")
[QUOTE=KRM] You lost me **Bricker** , how does one double-down or split if the dealer has a BJ? [/QUOTE] \*\* That’s \*\* the difference between hole card and no-hole card games. Hole card games - dealer checks for BJ, if it’s found, players lose immediately. No hole card games - players may double down or split before the dealer gets his second card. If the dealer gets BJ, player loses double. No hole card is a method of increasing the house advantage. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246/24 "2006-07-28T02:42:42Z")
[QUOTE=KRM] You lost me **Bricker** , how does one double-down or split if the dealer has a BJ? [/QUOTE] If the dealer doesn’t check, then how are you to know? If the dealer has an A showing and doesn’t check the hole card, and you have an 8 - 3, basic strategy tells you to double. If it turns out the dealer had the BJ, you lose only your original bet, not the doubled poprtion. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246/25 "2006-07-28T03:27:38Z")
[QUOTE=Bricker] If the dealer doesn’t check, then how are you to know? If the dealer has an A showing and doesn’t check the hole card, and you have an 8 - 3, basic strategy tells you to double. If it turns out the dealer had the BJ, you lose only your original bet, not the doubled poprtion. [/QUOTE] Well, I’ve never seen it other than that if you double or split against a dealer blackjack you lose all bets. ---
**Author:** ![Blackjack\_Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ebca7d/32.png) [@Blackjack\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackjack_Kid)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246/26 "2006-07-28T11:16:20Z")
For the record, you lose only one bet (if you double/split) on Blackjack here. Also regarding the CSM (or “shufflers”) i fail to see how they can be predicatble, when all cards put in them are shuffled manually beforehand. In no game will we EVER put cards into a shuffler without being manually shuffled prior. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246/27 "2006-07-28T11:43:18Z")
[QUOTE=Bricker] If the dealer doesn’t check, then how are you to know? If the dealer has an A showing and doesn’t check the hole card, and you have an 8 - 3, basic strategy tells you to double. If it turns out the dealer had the BJ, you lose only your original bet, not the doubled poprtion. [/QUOTE] OK. Thanks **Bricker** and **Peter Morris**. I had forgotten the context of the OP because I’ve never played in a game where the dealer didn’t check. I’d never even heard of it. ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246/28 "2006-07-28T12:13:08Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] No hole card is a method of increasing the house advantage. [/QUOTE] I do not know whether that is true. The reason that was given by the Government(who decided that casinos will not deal hole cards in Austraia) was that it would eliminate possible cheating from a dealer looking at the hole card. A dealer could give signals or possibly people at other tables could see the hole card -leading to cheating. I have no cite to back me up. Just 5 years casino croupier experience. ---
**Author:** ![Blackjack\_Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ebca7d/32.png) [@Blackjack\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackjack_Kid)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246/29 "2006-07-28T12:37:01Z")
And i’d see that as the one that makes the most sense. Its just a security breach waiting to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246/30 "2006-07-28T12:52:31Z")
Well, certainly it has the _effect_ of increasing the house edge, even if that’s not the stated aim. No doubt there are several reasons for it, and that is one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246/31 "2006-07-28T13:09:04Z")
[QUOTE=asterion] Well, I’ve never seen it other than that if you double or split against a dealer blackjack you lose all bets. [/QUOTE] Where have you played? The rule that you lose only your original bet is, as far as I know, true in Nevada and Atlantic City, and in the riverboat casinos in Mississippi, in Foxwoods, and in the Dominican Republic. That’s everywhere I’ve played. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246/32 "2006-07-28T13:14:39Z")
[QUOTE=Bricker] Where have you played? The rule that you lose only your original bet is, as far as I know, true in Nevada and Atlantic City, and in the riverboat casinos in Mississippi, in Foxwoods, and in the Dominican Republic. That’s everywhere I’ve played. [/QUOTE] Let me add Blackhawk and Central City - limited stakes gambling in Colorado. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2006, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246/33 "2006-07-28T13:15:47Z")
[QUOTE=Bricker] Where have you played? The rule that you lose only your original bet is, as far as I know, true in Nevada and Atlantic City, and in the riverboat casinos in Mississippi, in Foxwoods, and in the Dominican Republic. That’s everywhere I’ve played. [/QUOTE] What does “losing only your original bet” mean when splitting? Surely you don’t get to play the second hand for free. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealer-checking-for-blackjack/366246.md?page=1)