Do Poker Dealers Make Good Poker Players

Do all dealers have an ace up their sleeves? Think about the last time you were in a casino and sat at a card table enjoying a game of poker or black jack. You were no doubt impressed by the skill of the dealer and perhaps you even stopped to wonder how long it took them to learn their trade. The manner in which they shuffle, juggle and throw cards around is sometimes quite astonishing and there is little doubt that hours have been spent in perfecting their skill.

But fancy card tricks aside, there is another question that may have crossed your mind as you watched their skillful display. If they are this good with dealing cards, are they this good with playing cards too? Now this is indeed an interesting question and certainly one that perhaps casinos would not like to bring into the open. We already know that most card games are played in such a way that they ultimately go in favor of the house, but if the dealer is a good player too, does this increase the chances of the house winning (Blackjack for example)? The answer to this question is actually no, as there are various regulations in place that prevent this. But back to the dealer, as a player, would it be worrisome to see a person you knew to be a poker dealer sit down to a game of poker that you were playing in? Is it likely that they are good players as well?

Dealers Know the Intricacies of the Game

At the very least the dealer should have a very good knowledge of the game, the way in which it works and its particular nuances. This would already put them at an advantage over an occasional player. When this thinking is applied to poker it becomes even more relevant. Courts throughout the United States have recognized that poker is a game of skill and one can not just rely on blind luck, strategy and careful planning are most often required. A player should have a fundamental understanding of the game and some form of plan; if this is not the case then this is where careless gambling begins.

There are many instances in which dealers finish their shifts at the tables and then join their erstwhile customers to have a quick round or two. They are no doubt there to relax but it seems as if they let down their guard as well and far from being the consummate professionals that they are when on duty, they almost seem to abandon any sense of the game that they have. This obviously means that they lose any perceived sense of advantage over their opponents.

Poker Dealers can be Winning Poker Players

But poker experts agree that it is all about the dealer’s intention. If they want to simply just relax and don’t care about the consequences of their actions, then the situation outlined above is bound to happen. If they approach the game carefully and make use of the level of knowledge that their profession affords them, then they stand a much better chance of winning a hand than the average Joe would. Proof of this point is the list of successful players that were formerly casino dealers, including the likes of Johnny Chan and Scotty Nguyen.

So if you find yourself at a poker table with a dealer, be warned, if their head is in the right place then they could be a real threat!