Cut Card Effect

Introduction

This appendix will address how the introduction of a continuous shuffling machine (CSM) influences the house edge. The CSM is designed to continuously mix discarded cards back into the main deck, making it feel like every hand is played with a freshly shuffled shoe. It's important to differentiate this technology from automatic shufflers, which only shuffle a complete deck or shoe.

While many players criticize the CSM, it actually tends to reduce the house edge. To demonstrate this, I conducted extensive simulations both with and without a cut card under standard rules. The results show how significantly the house edge is minimized with the presence of a continuous shuffling machine compared to a game using a cut card. blackjack The subsequent two tables illustrate how different ranks are distributed in both game types, each using a single deck.

Distribution of Ranks in a Game with a Cut Card

I have been asked about the timing of small cards appearing in a cut card game. There is no specific moment they can be expected; the odds remain consistent throughout the last hand compared to the full shoe. However, if the dealer deals significantly more hands than average, the final hands can be particularly disadvantageous for players. This often happens because previous hands resulted in little action, leading to a surplus of large cards and leaving an abundance of small cards later in the shoe.

It’s also crucial to understand that the CSM allows the dealer to keep dealing without interruption, thereby increasing the hourly number of hands played. For those utilizing basic strategy, this can lead to higher expected losses within each hour. In real casinos, I often observe the use of these machines in shoe games; however, the effects are comparable in online contexts, where games are frequently shuffled after each hand, regardless of the number of decks. The impact of shuffling after every hand aligns closely with that of a CSM.

Splitting Strategies for Players Wagering from the Back

Internal Links

• Blackjack Side Bets
• Introduction to Card Counting
• The Hi-Lo Count
• The Wizard's Ace-Five Count
• When to Surrender in Blackjack
• Value of a Free Ace
• Dealer Exposes Both Cards
• Comparative Analysis of Total Dependent vs. Composition Dependent Basic Strategies
• Double after Splitting Aces Allowed
• Continuous Shuffling Machines
• Cut Card Effect
• Variance in Blackjack
• 678 and 777 Bonuses in Blackjack
• Risk of Ruin in blackjack
• Expected Returns Analysis with Infinite Decks
• Odds for the Dealer in Blackjack Following U.S. Regulations
• Odds for the Dealer in Blackjack Following European Rules
• Estimating the Count of Decks in Online Blackjack Games
• Effect of Card Removal in Blackjack
• Blackjack Expected Values
• Composition-Dependent Basic Strategy for Single Deck When Dealer Stands on Soft 17
• Composition-Dependent Basic Strategy for Single Deck When Dealer Hits on Soft 17
• Composition-Dependent Strategy for Double Deck When Dealer Stands on Soft 17
• Excellent article exploring the impact of the cut card effect here

External Links

• There is an informative discussion regarding the cut card effect found here BlackjackInColor.com .
• Mathematically sound strategies and data available for various casino games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and many more. Casino Verite .

Written by: Michael Shackleford