If you have a hand greater than that of the dealer, whose total is greater or less than 21, you beat the dealer and win. The rules of blackjack couldn’t be simpler and more straightforward than that. But even if this game would be simple and fast, is it possible to cheat in blackjack? How do you know if someone is at fault?
Croupiers can cheat by replacing one of the cards in their hands. So you should know some of the tricks that dishonest croupiers do with the card game so you can spot them.
Fake Card Mixes
If this technique seems familiar to you, it is because it is used by magicians in the execution of their tricks, which effectively deceive their spectator. If executed correctly and quickly, this is exactly what the dealer and his partner would do to cheat and rip you off.
Different Types of Fake Mixtures
As a player, the shuffling of cards is what should reassure you and convince you that the game is fair and honest. In fact, the hype must allow no one, not even the dealer, to know which card will appear next. This would not be the case; however, if the dealer cheated on you with what appears to be legitimate hype but which is, in fact, a truncated hype that does not mix the game at all. Here are some examples:
Fake American Mix (or Dovetail)
Like most types of threshing, the dovetail mix is convincing to the naked eye, especially when done at high speed. However, in a false “dovetail”, the croupier cuts the package in half, shuffles the edges and, using the top card as a cover, it does not take into account the actual mixing of the packages and is content to insert the top part where it was originally located.
Fake French Mix (or Overhand Shuffle)
For a French shuffle, the croupier holds the entire deck in one hand while the other hand pulls sections down, which then randomly puts back into the game and thus changes the position of the set of cards. During a false mixing, the croupier cuts the package into small sections and puts them back in order, keeping an eye on the top and bottom cards.
Fake Distributions and Cups
After pretending to shuffle the deck, the dealer asks one of the players to cut it by placing the cut card anywhere in the center of the deck. He can then put the pick in the shoe and start a new round. If no player wants to cut, the dealer does it himself.
That being said, it is essential to always exercise great caution at every game table, especially in blackjack, where you are playing against the dealer. So, if you want to spot and avoid cheating and scam attempts, carefully observe the behavior of the dealer. Compare his manipulations and gestures to those of other croupiers, and if you observe strange or incongruous things, report them immediately to the competent authorities.