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How to Avoid Being Cheated in Blackjack
There are a number of techniques, which will assist you in avoiding cheaters. No system can win against a stacked deck or a mechanic. Therefore, you must avoid the cheating dealer to the best of your ability. You can do it by possessing knowledge of what to look for, being watchful of what the dealer is doing, discouraging the casino from cheating you (by not appearing to be a winner), and regularly moving, to limit the effect of any cheater on your bankroll.
One of the best ways to avoid being cheated is to look like a loser. The casino has nothing to fear from the average player, so it is normally satisfied to win from him at the typical rate of loss.
Avoid playing in out-of-the-way casinos, bars, or private games. Select your casino carefully. You will usually be safe in the larger casinos. Always play at a well-lighted table. Try to avoid the tables that are close to sources of loud noise, although you will never find a really quiet area in any major casino. If you can hear the sound of the cards being dealt distinctly, that is a sufficiently low level of noise.
Observe what is occurring, but also be casual about the manner you use to observe. Avoid suspicious looks or unnecessary stares. A dirty look may be effective in business or personal relationships; in the casino it will probably antagonize someone who may be tempted to cheat you. If you are not satisfied by what you see, then move to another table or another casino.
If a partner or spouse is assisting you, he or she can be the one who pays careful attention to what is going on while you concentrate on the game. If you are seen in the constant company of another person, this pattern may tend to identify you and ruin your anonymity. You should be cautious about having an associate accompany you on a regular basis to the same places. The casinos are wary of people who play together in teams.
If the dealer does anything to make you feel suspicious, even though you cannot put your finger on it, assume he is doing something to your disadvantage. You should be particularly suspicious if there is more than one incident of a similar nature. If cards are incorrectly dealt and strange things seem to be happening with the hands, assume the worst, unless you know that the dealer's fumbling are due to the fact that he is a break-in or new dealer who has no card-handling experience. Be particularly wary of the "old-man" who has apparent difficulty in dealing.
Be aware of deliberate attempts to distract your attention by the dealer, floormen, dealer's potential confederate, or shill. They may be trying to get your attention so that the dealer can peek or deal seconds. It isn't necessary for the dealer to cheat you continuously to restore the edge the house has lost due to your superior skills. Once in a while may suffice, especially if you have just made a large bet.
Watched the way the cards are picked up. If you notice a small card being slipped between a pair of high cards, instead of being picked up in the natural order, there is a good possibility the dealer is making a high-low stack. Get a good look at the way the cards are spread out at an empty table. They may be stacked with a Kentucky Step-Up, or a High-Low Stack, or all the 10's may be toward the front of the rear.
Look for the false shuffle. Be wary of an incomplete shuffle. The dealer is specifically taught to shuffle the cards thoroughly. If a large batch of cards is left unshuffled, beware of a stack. If the dealer suddenly shuffled the cards in the middle of a hand without having run out of cards, he is probably cheating. This means that he has seen the top card and doesn't wish to give it to a player or take it himself, whatever the case may be. He usually cannot deal seconds, so he achieves the same effect by reshuffling. This practice is expressly forbidden and should be called to the attention of the floorman. He should pay your bet.