Most people associate tells with poker, where players might involuntarily reveal their intentions through certain mannerisms and changes in behavior. Skilled poker players can pick up information from their opponents’ tells and use it to their advantage.
Yet, poker players are not the only ones who give off tells. Many people may not realize this, but it is also possible to exploit the subtle cues of blackjack dealers in a similar way. Of course, not all dealers are prone to giving off unintentional tells, but those who do can help savvy blackjack players increase their chances of winning certain hands.
Information is power in blackjack, and spotting your dealer’s cues enables you to make better-informed decisions about standing, hitting, doubling, or surrendering. Furthermore, applying this technique is no longer restricted to the blackjack tables at brick-and-mortar casinos.
Many online casinos now offer live blackjack games hosted by human dealers in real time, making it possible for players to exploit potential tells from the comfort of their homes.
Let’s start by defining tells in blackjack. Tells are unconscious psychological responses that reveal nonverbal information about the dealer’s hand, and more specifically about the value of their hole card, that is, the dealer’s facedown second card.
It follows that exploiting dealer tells is possible only in hole-card blackjack variations, where the dealer starts each hand with two cards. The first card is dealt face up, while the second card, the hole card, is dealt face down.
Furthermore, the peeking rule should be in place, whereby dealers check their hole card for blackjack when showing an ace or a ten-value card such as 10, Jack, Queen, or King. The dealer’s nonverbal reaction to their hole card can sometimes reveal valuable information.
This helps the player make an informed judgment about whether the card is high or low. This nonverbal reaction may appear in mannerisms, facial expressions, or other forms of body language.
Picking up tells is usually possible only when the peeking dealer shows a ten-value card. Depending on the specific house rules, the dealer may peek only when their face-up card is an ace. Tells are irrelevant in this case, because the dealer prompts the player to accept or decline insurance before peeking rather than after.
If the dealer does have a ten-value card in the hole, they will immediately reveal it, and the player will lose unless they also have blackjack. If not, the round continues as usual.
Some dealers check for blackjack when showing a ten. If they have an ace in the hole, the round ends immediately. If they have any other card, play continues, and the dealer’s reaction may unintentionally reveal whether their hole card is low or high.
Reading tells is impossible in variants like European Blackjack, where no hole cards are in play. In these games, the dealer receives one face-up card at the beginning of the round and draws a second card only after all players have acted. This structure makes it impossible for the dealer to peek for blackjack.
Giving off tells is inherent to human psychology, so the best skilled players can do is exploit human nature to their advantage. While dealers do not display such cues on every hand, players can sometimes spot enough tells to improve their winning rate.
Recurrent Tells of Blackjack Dealers
The concept behind reading tells is to determine the dealer’s likely range of cards, not to pinpoint the exact value of the hole card. With this insight, you can more accurately assess the odds of the dealer busting or standing on a strong pat hand. The two most common tells appear when the dealer peeks under the hole card to check for blackjack.
Low-Card Dealer Tells
Face-Card Dealer Tells
Low-Card Dealer Tells
Low-card tells can occur when the dealer peeks and sees a pip card valued 2 through 6 in the hole. In these situations, it is harder for the dealer to distinguish the exact value. Consequently, they often bend the hole card higher than they would with face cards so they can clearly see the pips.
Some dealers also double-check by peeking twice instead of once to make sure they do not have an ace in the hole. This extra check usually happens with 4s, which are difficult to distinguish at a glance because they partly resemble aces.
The same applies to 2s and 5s, which can look alike from certain angles. Some dealers take several peeks in these cases to confirm the card’s value. Such repetitive peeks can indicate to the player that the dealer has a stiff hand and is more likely to bust.
Face-Card Dealer Tells
By contrast, face cards and those valued 7, 8, 9, and 10 are easy to identify with a single peek, so the dealer does not need to bend them higher to read their values. This is particularly true when the dealer has a 10 in the hole. Tens are the only cards in the deck with a two-digit value, which makes them easily recognizable.
The same applies to face cards such as Jacks, Queens, and Kings, which stand out because of their elaborate illustrations. Since all three face cards share the same value, the dealer does not have to differentiate among them.
When the dealer sees a colorful card, they know immediately that it is worth ten and do not bother to double-check. Likewise, an observant player can be fairly certain the dealer holds a stronger card valued above 6 when the dealer takes just a quick peek.
How to Spot Blackjack Dealers Prone to Giving Off Tells
Casino operators know that skilled players look for tells to gain an edge. To counter this, they instruct their dealers to avoid actions and cues that might reveal the value of the hole card.
Even so, dealers are human and can still make mistakes, no matter how well trained they are. Below are several cues that can help you spot a dealer who gives off tells.
Card Placement
Dealers Who Check Their Hole Card Frequently
Sloppy Dealers Who Aid Hole Carding
Sloppy Front-Loading Dealers
Dealers’ Facial Expressions
Card Placement
One way to spot a potential tell is to watch where the dealer places the starting hand after peeking under the ten to check for blackjack. Most dealers set their first two cards squarely in front of them, centered on the layout.
Some, however, slide the cards slightly to the side, farther from the shoe. This could indicate that the dealer has a low card in the hole and is making extra room for the cards they expect to draw after taking one or more hits.
Conversely, if the dealer leaves the starting hand in the middle of the table after peeking, it may suggest a pat hand of 17 or higher and a plan to stand rather than draw.
Of course, these tells are not foolproof. Some dealers peek first and move their cards only after the players finish their hands, making it too late for you to exploit the cue.
Dealers Who Check Their Hole Card Frequently
As mentioned above, a dealer who peeks two or three times may be holding a low hole card, especially a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. The subtle differences among these pip cards are harder to spot at a glance. By contrast, the dealer would peek only once if holding a face card or a ten, because these are much easier to recognize.
In the latter case, the dealer is more likely to stand pat with 17 or higher. Experienced dealers rarely give off this tell, so look for rookie dealers if you want to capitalize on it.
Sloppy Dealers Who Aid Hole Carding
Whether from fatigue or inexperience, some dealers handle the cards sloppily, making them susceptible to an advantage play technique known as hole carding. This occurs when a player gets a glimpse of the dealer’s hole card while the dealer checks for blackjack.
Hole carding usually requires you to sit in the first-base seat (to the left of the dealer) for a clear view of the down card. Still, the ability to see the hole card’s value gives the player a powerful edge. Using this information, an observant player can significantly increase their winning rate through hole carding.
Regarding legality, hole carding is considered advantage play and is legal as long as the player does not use a device to gain knowledge of the hole card. Most casinos are aware of this technique and have taken measures to hinder it.
One effective deterrent is the use of special devices called hole card readers. These devices allow the dealer to determine whether they have a natural without bending the cards or even peeking.
Tens and aces are marked. When showing an ace or a ten, the dealer slips the cards into the reader. If the hand totals less than 21, a green light indicates no blackjack. If the two cards total 21, a red light turns on.
Whether from fatigue or inexperience, some dealers handle the cards sloppily, making them susceptible to an advantage play technique known as hole carding. This occurs when a player gets a glimpse of the dealer’s hole card while the dealer checks for blackjack.
Hole carding usually requires you to sit in the first-base seat (to the left of the dealer) for a clear view of the down card. Nevertheless, the ability to see the hole card’s value gives the player a powerful advantage over the dealer. Using this information, an observant player can significantly increase their winning rate through hole carding.
Regarding legality, hole carding is considered advantage play and is legal as long as the player does not use a device to gain knowledge of the hole card. Most casinos are aware of this technique and have taken measures to hinder it.
One effective deterrent is the use of special devices called hole card readers. These devices allow the dealer to determine whether they have a natural without bending the cards or even peeking.
Tens and aces are marked. When showing an ace or a ten, the dealer slips the cards into the reader. If the hand totals less than 21, a green light indicates no blackjack. If the two cards total 21, a red light turns on.
Sloppy Front-Loading Dealers
Sharp blackjack players sometimes exploit sloppy dealers who expose their hole cards while sliding them under the upcards. These dealers are called “front-loaders,” and their mistake has led to the front-loading technique, a subform of hole carding.
Players can use this method from any seat, but everything depends on how the dealer exposes the hole card. Some dealers tilt the card toward the shortstop spot, the seat in the center of the table. Others tip it to either side, making it more visible from the first-base or third-base seats.
However, casinos take precautions against front-loading, either by instructing dealers not to tilt the cards or by requiring them to shield the hole card with a hand while loading it under the upcard.
This defensive approach is understandable, given the sizable edge players gain when they know the value of the hole card. The exact advantage depends on how often the sloppy dealer exposes the card and on your accuracy in reading it.
Dealers’ Facial Expressions
Dealer tells can also stem from the dealer’s emotional involvement in the game. When a dealer roots for the player to win in hopes of receiving a tip, facial expressions may intentionally or unintentionally reveal the value of the hole card.
For instance, a dealer might give a subtle smile after peeking and seeing a low hole card that could create a stiff hand and bust, allowing the player to win. Conversely, a dealer rooting for the player may look displeased if a peek reveals a high card that would give the dealer a pat hand. Dealers who expect tokes, that is, tips, can be valuable to any observant player watching for tells.
You can also read tells from dealers who root against the players. Such a dealer may look unhappy when they see low-value cards under their ten and pleased when holding a strong hole card.
Ultimately, the dealer must be emotionally invested in the outcome to display profitable cues. It is nearly impossible to read a tell from someone who is indifferent to the results.
Dealer Tells in Live Online Blackjack
These telltale cues are possible only in live games that involve human dealers. Virtual blackjack games lack the human element because the cards are dealt by a random number generator.
On the bright side, most quality online casinos have added live games hosted by human dealers in real time. The action is streamed in high quality straight to your computer or smartphone, and you use the gaming interface to place bets and make decisions.
You may notice some dealer tells under these conditions. However, keep in mind that live dealers have been expertly trained and are therefore less prone to giving off such cues.
Of course, you must also look for online blackjack tables where the live dealers peek under the hole cards to check for blackjack. To exploit tells effectively, ensure the peek rule is in place at the tables you select. Look for games where the dealer peeks for blackjack under both 10s and aces.
