A Hypothetical Blackjack Cheat (Dealer Collusion).?

Question

The player 16 against a dealer 10 is a difficult call. If you know no other information you should HIT. If enough small cards are on the table you should STAND. Hypothetically if you had the option of PUSHING these hands the player would actually have a statistical player edge (you will have to trust me on the mathematics).

- THE HYPOTHETICAL CHEAT (involves dealer collusion): When the dealer peeks for blackjack he signals with a code if he is PAT or STIFF. When player has a 16 vs 10 he hits when the dealer is PAT, and stands when the player is STIFF. It is important that the player does not use the collusion signal on any other hand or it will eventually attract the attention of casino security.

- This "small" cheat will give the player the same kind of statistical advantage that can be achieved by card counting and would be impossible to detect by security. Also, unlike card counting, you can continue to flat bet.

- Most dealer collusion cheats are caught because the player makes unbelievably accurate "guesses". Or if a dealer is paid to deal a "card slug" he is caught because the player suddenly place huge winning bets. A camera review shows the same cards as the previous hand. The advantage of this cheat is that it only provides a subtle increase in probability (you have to trust me on mathematics).

- What do you think? Would you do it?

Answer 1

You are going to go broke so fast the dealers are going to have to deal in slow motion or they will miss you.   There is no 'difficult call' about a  16 against a dealer 7 or above.  16 is a losing hand full stop.  You might as well hit it.  It is for that reason you split your 8's.  Most casinos don't do that 'Peek' bullshit stuff anymore anyway.

Blackjack is a STAKING game.  You just play your standard game and press your bets when you are playing with the house money or feel lucky.

Answer 2

I would not have anything to do with this.  The reward is simply not worth the risk.  Card counting depends on being able to vary the size of your bet.  This isn't possible in your system, all you're doing is winning a hand (sometimes) you would have otherwise lost.  And only in a very specific situation.  Let's say all your numbers and methods are accurate.  How often would this situation come up, and how often would the information actually change the outcome?  Once, maybe twice an hour?  That's below the signal to noise ratio of the expected variance.  In order to capitalize on that slight edge you would need to play a LOT of hands.  And all it takes is one pit boss to notice that you've "gotten lucky" with 16 a few times to call for a review of the tapes.  And then you're screwed.  The pattern would stand out like a red flag.  Collusion is real cheating, and real cheating sends you to jail.  And the number of hands necessary to make this a profitable play increases the likelihood of being caught.  All that for an extra bet or two per hour?  Not worth it.

Answer 3

If it took any more than 10 minutes to spot you following a dealer around his/her allotted tables I would want to know why. If my security department didn't know you knew the dealer, I would also want to know why. If your dealer could pull off a signal that allowed you to pick up on 16 against a 10 consistently there would be a big reshuffle in my CCTV department.

Been abandoned in europe? I think you will find that it was never used out side the US.

Answer 4

You are of course assuming that there are still casinos where the dealer actually peaks at the card.  Most, if not all, have gone to electronic readers eliminating the dealer.  Your last comment about most casinos in America still using the peek is misinformed.  Tell me where they still peek and I will book a flight.

If you want to win at BJ you should be sitting at a table that allows a surrendure of 15/16 against that dealer 10.  Yes, hypothetical statistics would indicate if there are 5 players at a table with 2-6 decks in play, and you are at 3rd base with 16 against a dealer 10, and the first 4 players drew 2+ cards to make their hands that you are hitting a 10.  So what!  Without collusion, you can come to a similar conclusion about the dealer's card.  The reality is, depending on the shuffle and number of decks you could have 40 low cards all play in a round followed by 12 high cards played in the following.

Unless you have a huge bankroll, and can play under the raydar with incredible counting skills that can outplay the current decks and rules being implored by most casinos, your best bet is to lay basic strategy at the best rules to the odds tables and stop trying to out-think the game .. . it will kick your butt.