Second dealing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Second dealing is a method of manipulating a deck of cards, during a card game, by way of dealing the second, rather than the top, card of the deck, for the purpose of cheating.
A card cheat who specializes in manipulating playing cards is called a card mechanic; a card mechanic who specializes in second dealing is called a "second dealer", a "two dealer", or a "number two man."
Second dealing is only useful when the cheat knows the value of the top card of the deck. Once the value of the top card is known the cheat may resort to second dealing in order to avoid dealing a good card to an opponent, or to avoid dealing a bad card to himself (or to a secret accomplice).
In order to secretly gain knowledge of the value of the top card, second dealing is always used in conjunction with other cheating methods. One of the easiest, and most common methods of gaining knowledge of the top card is to employ the use of marked cards. When marked cards are not in use the cheat can still gain knowledge of the top card by means of peeking, flashing (to an accomplice; and receiving signals), or by employing the use of various mechanical devices that enable the cheat to see the value of the top card of the deck.
Second dealing is generally done by dealing the cards from the hand. While holding the deck in the hand, the dealer will either push the top card to the side, and strike the second card instead (this method is known as the strike second deal), or by pushing two top cards as one, in almost perfect alignment, and pealing off the second card while pushing the top card back flush with the deck (this method is called the pushoff second deal). Both methods have some advantages and disadvantages, depending on the situation.
Second dealing can also be done when the cards are dealt from a dealing shoe, such as in many casino games. In this case the dealer will push the top card upwards and strike the partially-exposed second card. Although this method is usually employed with the use of a gaffed dealing shoe, an expert card mechanic can do it with a regular dealing shoe as well.
The practice of using a "burn card" developed to help prevent this method of cheating. When burn cards are used, the top card is always discarded and the second one dealt. This is intended to prevent the dealer from gaining information about the next card to be dealt, since the second card is concealed by the top.
[edit] See also
[edit] Resources
- John Nevil Maskelyne, Sharps and Flats. ISBN 0-87019-049-0
