In the world of gambling, the word “muck” has several different meanings. When it comes to poker, the word muck refers to the pile of the discarded cards where the players throw all of their folded hands and where the dealer would place the burned cards. Mucking also means the action of throwing away a hand into the muck pile.
What is Hand Mucking?
The process of mucking the cards when they have been discarded helps ensure that no other player can determine the cards which were a part of the folded hand. It also is sometimes referred to the action which a player will take when he/she has not folded the hand. However, when it comes to cheating at gambling, blackjack cheating for example, the word has a different meaning altogether.
Is Mucking a Cheating Method?
When it comes to cheating at blackjack or in any other type of gambling card game, mucking is one of the most used techniques which require skill from player. Hand mucking or mucking, as it is known is a type of sleight of hand and is very often used by players for cheating. Basically, it is a method of concealing a card and removing it from the play so that it can be used later by the player whenever he/she wants.
How is Hand Mucking Done?
Hand mucking had been initially one of the most preferred cheating methods for the players at casinos. In the early years the security at casinos had not been quite strict and there had been no surveillance cameras used at casinos. For that reason it was quite easy for the players to perform hand mucking.
Basically, for hand mucking a player would very discreetly remove a particular card from the table in such a way that the dealer as well as the other players on the table would not come to know about it. Once the card is removed from the play, it is stored away somewhere and hidden by the player, usually in the pocket or under the table using various different devices for it.
Any card which has been removed from the play can be later inserted back into the game in order to increase the advantage of the player. For example, when it comes to blackjack, a player might remove an Ace from the play at the table. Later on, when he is dealt a ten during the game he/she might re-insert the Ace to his hand so that he can make a blackjack.
Does Hand Mucking Work?
Hand mucking had worked quite well in the past years in the casinos when the security had not been very tight. However, casinos today have become quite well aware of the tactics that the players use to cheat at the games and are quick to catch such moves of the players. The dealers themselves are well trained to be able to identify such moves. Even if the dealer would miss the move, there are surveillance cameras everywhere and the ever present pit bosses keeping an eye on the table so there are low chances of hand mucking working today.
