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How to Avoid Being Cheated in Blackjack
If you are adept at counting cards, you may be able to detect a short deck. A short deck is one with some cards removed. It is dangerous though for player to even imply cards are missing, because this indicates that he is able to "count" the cards in the deck. A single deck with extra small cards is a foolhardy practice for any casino, since the extra card is liable to appear with its duplicate. Deleting a card is far easier, since only the most observant player will be aware of this move. The fact that the deck is spread on an open table, even a new deck that is in order, does not prevent the dealer or house player from secreting one of the cards.
Watch the backs of the cards as they are dealt. Notice if the top card is moving. Observe the border (on decks that have borders) at the edge at the dealer's right hand. If this fails to move very much, you may be a victim of a second-dealer. Beware of the dealer who tilts the rear of the pack backward so far that even a standing "kibitzer" cannot see the top of the deck. He may be trying to keep anyone from observing him deal seconds.
Listen to the sound of the cards being dealt. The card coming off the top of the deck has a distinctly different sound than a second card. If you can hear the scraping sound of a second rubbing against two cards, instead of the swish of the top card, you are in an unusually quiet casino. Make it even quieter by taking your noise elsewhere.
Observe the way the deck is held. Be wary of the mechanic's grip. Look for any suspicious moves. Look for possible shiners concealed on the table or in an object on the table. In the better clubs in the Reno-Tahoe area, many of the female dealers have been taught to flip the top card from the front of the deck, which looks similar to the tilt peek. This kind of move makes second-dealing almost impossible. When you see this move you can probably rest assured that you are not being cheated by a second-dealer. However, if this move is interspersed by two-hand dealing, you may be the victim of a tilt peek.
In order for the dealer to take advantage of dealing "seconds," he must first peek at the top card. Watch the dealer's eyes. If he looks down at the deck too often, he may be peeking. Although it is best to have another observe his eye movements, use caution with associates. If the cards are marked, he only need see the back of the cards to know. The dealer should look at his hole card only if an ace or 10 is his up-card. If he looks with something else up, beware!
Occasionally, the dealer will do something that the skillful observer can note and use to his advantage. When the dealer has an ace up, he should offer insurance. He may, by his mannerisms, be trying to offer advice to one or all players as to whether or not he already has Blackjack and therefore insurance is a certain winner, or conversely, that he does not have Blackjack and insurance is a bad bet. If you can decipher his intentions and mannerisms, you will have a most valuable ally. Be sure to toke this dealer, as we need him around.