Dealer error, pit says you may play the hand or not. What would you have done?

[ccl]

i had this happen 2 nights ago here in louisiana, didnt push the issue with the pit because i ended up taking 2 cards first was an ace (which was the 2nd card down in the shoe) and then busting with an 8 for like a 24, the ace wouldnt have helped anyone else at the table and would have made the dealer a 20 instead of a 19 so it worked out for one person at the table

 

[ihate17]

A misdeal would be a real gift here

One related situation I ran into recently where the pit was not quite so generous. We were at a moderate plus count ~+1.5TC, and the dealer flipped over his second card accidentally as he was trying to turn the first. He called the pit over, and asked what he should do. I was of the opinion that it should have been a misdeal, or at a minimum I should have been allowed out of the hand. Pit said to just play the hand as dealt, with the "wrong card showing."

I had a stiff and wanted to back out, and gently suggested it, but as this is a small place and I don't want to wear out my welcome here, I didn't make a stink about his decision. I only had a $25 bet out as well, making the situation a bit more tolerable.

Question is: what has been your experience in having a situation like that called a misdeal and being allowed to back out? Is it worth it in other shops to push that issue if it comes up again?

If I understand you correctly, everyone there received the proper cards and that the only thing wrong is that the dealer exposed their hole card for the table to see. If this is the case, I would love the option of bowing out of the hand but would not expect it. I got what I would have had and so did the dealer. I also got to know the dealer's hand and have the opportunity to play my hand accordingly.

ihate17

 

[Beefcake]

Not quite right...

If I understand you correctly, everyone there received the proper cards and that the only thing wrong is that the dealer exposed their hole card for the table to see. If this is the case, I would love the option of bowing out of the hand but would not expect it. I got what I would have had and so did the dealer. I also got to know the dealer's hand and have the opportunity to play my hand accordingly.

ihate17

Oh, if it were a simple case of double exposure, I agree with you completely, and would have loved the opportunity to play the hand correctly.

However, this was a case where the dealer flipped the incorrect card, thus showing us his "down card," but not showing us his "up card." So technically, on average, this wouldn't harm any players, as you can well imagine -- the players are statistically ambivalent about which of the two cards is shown. I was hoping, though, that as a would-be ploppy, I could make the argument that I might now be making the wrong play -- i.e., that if his other card were showing, the statistically correct play might be completely different for me and the rest of the table. A superstitious player could certainly raise some "legitimate" issues, no?

 

[rollem411]

these are really important plays. its good that a lot of people are on here sharing them. The first time it happens to you, you kind of are like what the heck should I do. A firm grasp of dealer bust rates (usually around ~30%) and BS really goes a long way. Even better are opportunities when you know the next card out of the shoe; if the dealer overhits their hand and then has to save the card for first.

Agreed. You should always know what hands are your +EV hands. It helps in situations where others double for less or are reluctant to split. Also, these situations arise much more than a dealer misdeal and are great money makers.

 

[ihate17]

Got it, and what if it was not a mistake

Oh, if it were a simple case of double exposure, I agree with you completely, and would have loved the opportunity to play the hand correctly.

However, this was a case where the dealer flipped the incorrect card, thus showing us his "down card," but not showing us his "up card." So technically, on average, this wouldn't harm any players, as you can well imagine -- the players are statistically ambivalent about which of the two cards is shown. I was hoping, though, that as a would-be ploppy, I could make the argument that I might now be making the wrong play -- i.e., that if his other card were showing, the statistically correct play might be completely different for me and the rest of the table. A superstitious player could certainly raise some "legitimate" issues, no?

Over the years I have spotted a couple of dealers who cheated players by dealing "selective hole cards". They would tilt the first card slightly when removing it from the shoe and turn the second card if they did not like the first. It is a serious form of casino/dealer cheating in my opinion but it is also rare.
I agree that always you should be given a choice in this kind of instance, mistake or on purpose. In fact in order to eliminate any thought of cheating in this case, I think the casino should play out every hand, pay the winners and push the losers.

ihate17

 

[EasyRhino]

Not directly related, but just because this "dealer error" topic is on the top.

I recently had a personal first. Dealer had just rotated in to the table, was generally distracted. I get dealt a A,9. Dealer immediately proceeds to pay me as if I had a blackjack. I just kept very, very still, waiting for her to notice her mistake. She didn't. And my hand began to make a move to put out a small tip (as I often do after a blackjack) but I decided it would be best not to in that situation.

Too bad it was a minimum bet!

 

[ihate17]

tip her later or when she leaves

Not directly related, but just because this "dealer error" topic is on the top.

I recently had a personal first. Dealer had just rotated in to the table, was generally distracted. I get dealt a A,9. Dealer immediately proceeds to pay me as if I had a blackjack. I just kept very, very still, waiting for her to notice her mistake. She didn't. And my hand began to make a move to put out a small tip (as I often do after a blackjack) but I decided it would be best not to in that situation.

Too bad it was a minimum bet!

Rhino
You did right by not tipping right away. These things are often seen by the eye but especially with a small bet they do not bother to call the pit, stop the game and get a few dollars back from a player. Of course, if the eye sees you toke on the following hand they now might zero in on you and the dealer to see if perhaps you two are working together. You do want any extra attention, so you tip her either several hands later or at the end of her time at the table.

ihate17

 

[Beefcake]

I just kept very, very still, waiting for her to notice her mistake. She didn't.

Be vewwy vewwy quiet. I'm hunting dealer ewwows.

I always have a hard time not "jumping the gun" and pulling back the payout too quickly.

 

[Mimosine]

A dealer was about to mispay me two weekends ago, and some prick at first did a huge double take as the dealer made it to him, thus the dealer looked back at my hand, and *poof* a push.

I played it off a little and there were no hard feelings with the dealer.

 

[Beefcake]

A dealer was about to mispay me two weekends ago, and some prick at first did a huge double take as the dealer made it to him, thus the dealer looked back at my hand, and *poof* a push.

I played it off a little and there were no hard feelings with the dealer.

I haven't had too many dealer error situations, but in my limited anecdotal experience, other players at the table have corrected the dealer errors in my favor more than *half* the time. It makes me want to scream at them, but of course, I can't. Ugh.