Cut Card
A solid-coloured plastic card used by players to cut the deck before dealing begins.
Detailed Explanation
After the dealer shuffles a multi-deck shoe, the deck is presented to a player with a solid plastic cut card. The player inserts the cut card somewhere into the deck, and the dealer divides the cards at that point. This procedure ensures no single person has complete knowledge of card order after the shuffle.
The cut card also serves a second function: it is inserted approximately 75–80% of the way through the shoe to mark the penetration point. When the cut card appears during dealing, the dealer finishes the current round and reshuffles. The position of the cut card determines shoe penetration, a critical variable for card counters.
Some casinos reduce penetration to as little as 50% when card counters are suspected at a table. Managing cut card placement is a key countermeasure tool for casino surveillance and pit staff.
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