A card that negatively influences the outcome for a player in a game. This concept is particularly relevant in games like blackjack, where players may engage in card counting to gain an edge over the house.
In blackjack, card counters assign values to cards to keep track of the ratio of high to low cards remaining in the deck. High cards (10s, face cards, and Aces) are favorable to the player, while low cards (2s through 6s) are advantageous to the dealer.
A penalty card in this context is a low card that, when dealt, decreases the player’s advantage by increasing the proportion of high cards left in the deck. This shift can lead to less favorable conditions for the player, as the likelihood of achieving strong hands like blackjacks diminishes.
Casinos are aware of advantage play techniques, such as card counting and often implement countermeasures to mitigate potential losses. One such measure is preferential shuffling, where the dealer reshuffles the deck earlier than usual when the remaining cards are more favorable to the player.
This practice introduces penalty cards into play, disrupting the player’s count and reducing their advantage. While preferential shuffling is controversial, it is a legal tactic employed by casinos to protect their interests.
