Casino cards are often dealt face down to ensure free and fair gaming. However, some players have found a way to take advantage of the irregular patterns at the back of playing cards. This is termed “edge sorting”.
Today’s casino news describes how edge sorting works and discusses whether it is legal.
Edge Sorting: The Controversial Art of Beating the House
Edge sorting is a controversial gaming strategy in which players observe the varying patterns on the backs of playing cards and use them to defeat the house. The patterns on the backs of most cards are not perfectly symmetrical. Players can leverage these flaws to suit them.
How Edge Sorting Works
For edge sorting to work, the cards used in the game have to have patterns that are not perfectly symmetrical. For example, a deck with a diamond pattern on the back may have half-diamond shapes on one end and full-diamond shapes on the other. A trained eye then spots these differences in the game.
Once players identify the patterns, they can assign them to high and low-value cards. This way, they can identify whether the next cards dealt will be high or low and play accordingly. However, Edge sorting mostly works in home casino games. Usually, you won’t have time to observe cards in a new online casino, except if you are like Phill Ivey.
Controversial Edge Sorting Case of Phil Ivey
Edge sorting is not a new practice. However, it made headlines in 2012, when Phil Ivey made over 10 million dollars from using the technique. He got away with it until Borgata Casino sued him for the controversial practice.
Phil Ivey often gets special treatment since he is a high-stakes player. He requested a specific style of Borgata playing cards and for the casino to use the same eight-deck shoe cards for his entire playing session. Phil requested that some cards be turned 180 degrees, claiming that he was superstitious.
He also asked them for an automatic shuffler machine so that the turned cards would not be turned back by mistake. The casino unknowingly agreed to all these terms, which led to him winning so much that night. However, the casino sued him later for the money he won.
Smart Play or Cheating?
There’s no clear-cut definition of whether edge sorting practice is legal or pure cheating. On the one hand, players are merely very observant with cards. And when they request that cards be sorted to their liking, they do not threaten the casino to do it for them.
Players also do not use any special tools or handle the cards. The only time it can be termed cheating is in home games, where players intentionally sort cards for their advantage.
The Verdict On This Move?
Players enjoy edge sorting as it is one of the few practices that isn’t “exclusively” seen as cheating. There isn’t a law that says edge sorting is wrong or illegal. Casinos, however, find it less exciting. It leads to financial losses for casinos, among other things. This then falls on the producers of playing cards.
These manufacturers are the reason edge sorting is possible in the first place. It wouldn’t have been possible if they had used plain designs. The best solution would be to eliminate these design flaws. Some have suggested having white or black borders around their patterned cards.
In the meantime, casinos can take steps like using perfectly symmetrical decks or new decks every time they deal and ensuring proper card shuffle.
Strategy or Deception?
Edge sorting is about noting irregular card patterns and using them to defeat the house. The public is still divided about whether this technique is good or bad. While some claim that it is cheating and should not be done, others believe you should take every advantage you can get. After all, the house always wins. It is not currently illegal, as no laws explicitly prohibit it, but it can get players into trouble at casinos. Visit Vegas Aces Casino to play top card gambling games online.
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