Hole Cards

If you are playing blackjack in a casino in which the dealers check hole cards under 10s, tells are a possibility; that is, you may be able to learn about the hole card under the 10 by watching the dealer closely after s/he checks under the 10. For this reason, most casinos no longer have their dealers check hole cards under 10s. But in case you encounter such a situation, here is a story from Peter Giles:

I had 4-4 once when the pit boss was watching the game. The dealer had 10 up and I read her for 9 or 10 in the hole. I laid my two cards side by side on the table for a split. I got about halfway out with my chips and then stopped. "Wait a minute," I said, "I think I'll double down." Then I stopped again and finally threw in my cards. "I surrender," I said. The pit boss laughed — as well as the other players and the dealer. Someone said, "Go get 'em, Tiger!" I acted embarrassed. But I smiled when the dealer showed twenty.

Later, when the pit boss was watching again, I had a four-card soft twenty-one. I looked at the cards as though I were trying to add them up. I finally threw them in for a bust. The dealer dutifully placed them under my chips for me.