Get a Competitive Edge by Recognizing Blackjack Dealer Tells
Subconscious mannerisms and gestures displayed by a blackjack dealer are known as dealer tells. These tells can give you invaluable clues that will contribute to your competitive edge at the table. Although casinos thoroughly train their dealers and each dealer has a different set of tells, it is possible to spot them.
Small Cards
Cards with a value of 2-6 are more difficult for a dealer to read. So if your dealer takes a little longer than normal to read a card, chances are his hold card has a small numerical value.
Large Cards
Face cards are much more easier to read. If a dealer takes a split second to look at the hole card, he or she probably has a face card.
A “Cheerleader” Dealer
If you are playing with a dealer who likes to root for blackjack players at his table, he is more likely to unknowingly give away information, especially when his hand is particularly weak or strong. If he seems pleased, he might have a weak hand.
A “Naysayer” Dealer
If you are playing with a dealer who seems determined to root against you and your fellow players, he will seem more happy with a strong hand and less happy with a weak one.
Hand Motions and Card Placement
Hand motions and card placements are other indicators of what type of hand a dealer is holding. For example, some dealers will do certain things with their card placement or hand if they feel they are going to hit soon.
Of course, reading dealer tells is not an exact science. So do not base your entire blackjack strategy on what the dealer is doing. Instead, make tells a small yet important part of overall game strategy. And always remember to keep your newfound information to yourself.