Blackjack Hole Card Reader

Tech Art, formed in 1989, is the preeminent provider of blackjack hole-card readers around the world. The company has a dominate market share in a field that they created with the invention of the. The Incorrect Assumption the Dealer Has a 10 in the Hole. Many misguided blackjack players would recommend others to always assume the dealer’s hole card has a value of 10. However, one such assumption is utter rubbish from a probability perspective. This “tactic” fails to accomplish everything else but an increase in the house edge. I'm reading up on hole card readers and thinking of purchasing the non-electric type for the BJ tables at out charity gaming events. I'm mostly interested in them because they say that the house can increase hand-per hour by as much as 20% - 30%.

Plato

Dear readers,
Whenever a dealer's up card is an Ace Insurance is offered and after it has closed she peeks to see if she has a natural. My question is the following: apart from the aforementioned scenario is there any other time where the dealer peeks to see if she has a Blackjack?
Thank you.

MAXTime® is the only hole card reader that has no moving parts, needs no power source and is 100% accurate. The cards used with our device have no unsightly black spots and look like a normal deck. Because the dealer can see the pip if the hole card produces blackjack, there is no tendency to 'double clutch' when checking the hole card. Credit card reader: September, 1991: Andrew: D14/385: 5039102: Card reader for blackjack table: August, 1991: Miller: D317951: Instrument for viewing the face of a playing card while the card is face down on the playing table: July, 1991: Miller: D312247: Electronic card reader: November, 1990: Simoneaux et al. D14/385: D305882: Card reader.

Deucekies

If the up card is a ten-value card, the dealer will immediately check for an Ace underneath.
If the up card is an Ace, the dealer will offer insurance, and then check for a ten-value card underneath.

Casinos are not your friends, they want your money. But so does Disneyland. And there is no chance in hell that you will go to Disneyland and come back with more money than you went with. - AxelWolf and Mickeycrimm

Plato

'If the up card is a ten-value card, the dealer will immediately check for an Ace underneath.'
If the dealer indeed has an Ace underneath, will she reveal it immediately?

charliepatrick

I believe most US casinos 'peek' for any possible Blackjack, so would check when their up-card is a ten-value card or Ace. For completeness there are some casinos that don't 'peek'. Also I've seen reference to some that might only peek Aces and/or Tens.
(US) Atlantic City used to (may still do) not deal a second card to the dealer, so their Blackjack is only determined when all players have acted. However if the dealer does get Blackjack, only the original bet is lost - any doubles or splits are not lost.
(ENHC) In Europe, it is called European No Hole Card, the dealer also does not take a second card but any doubles or splits are lost. This means a slight change in strategy; also, unless you have a Blackjack, insurance isn't normally offered.
(Australia) There are various rules and the Wizard's site has details.

Dieter

Blackjack Hole Card Reader App

If the dealer indeed has an Ace underneath, will she reveal it immediately?

Usually.
It is in the casino's interest to do so, from a hands-per-hour perspective.

May the cards fall in your favor.

1BB

I remember the 'old days' when the hands were completed before checking for blackjack. It could be frustrating at times for dealers and players alike in that the split and double portion of all bets had to be returned to the player. Split aces, get two 21s and lose. Yikes.
I say old days but that's how Foxwoods started and they opened in '92.

Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth. - Mahatma Ghandi

Dieter

I say old days but that's how Foxwoods started and they opened in '92.

Hole card peek devices were fairly new at that time. I believe that the Tech Art version was introduced around 1990.

May the cards fall in your favor.

beachbumbabs
Administrator

Hole card peek devices were fairly new at that time. I believe that the Tech Art version was introduced around 1990.

We didn't have them in 1985, I know that much. They were very particular as to how we peeked without exposure (finger placement etc.)

If the House lost every hand, they wouldn't deal the game.

Plato

Usually.
It is in the casino's interest to do so, from a hands-per-hour perspective.

So, everyone who does not have a natural loses immediately?

Dieter

Blackjack Hole Card Reader Tool

So, everyone who does not have a natural loses immediately?

Yes.
The long version:
A natural 21 ('Blackjack') ties another natural, and beats every other hand.
Anyone who does not have a natural is going to lose, no matter what they do.
Stopping the play at this point allows the next round of play to begin, increasing the number of hands per hour - which is advantageous to anyone playing with a positive expectation.

This should be exactly equivalent to 'OBO' (but not OBBO) for settling the current round, but changes subsequent rounds.

Blackjack Hole Card Reader Free

I believe there are some variants where the hole card of a ten-up might not be checked right away, and they may push any player 21.

Blackjack Hole Card Reader Game

Ask if the house rules for blackjack are available to review. There are about two dozen rule variations I can think of, and most of them combine with each other to make a broad variety of rule sets.

Blackjack Hole Card Reader Online

Blackjack Hole Card Reader For Sale

If you encounter a 2:1 table where any two card 21 gets the 'natural bonus', let me know -- I will make a detour for a few hours. (I fully expect that this unicorn is next to the faro tables.)

Blackjack Hole Card Reader

May the cards fall in your favor.