In blackjack, 'cut card' can also mean the card that brings the hand total over 21, a different meaning from the casino dealing card.⁴

Casino & Table Games

Cut card

A cut card is a plastic or stiffened card that a dealer places beneath the deck to conceal the bottom card and indicate where the deck was split before play begins.

Purpose: Hides the bottom card and marks where the deck is cut.¹²
Used in: Poker, baccarat, and most casino card games.¹²
Baccarat placement: Placed in front of the seventh from last card in a 6- or 8-deck shoe.³
Signal: When reached in baccarat, it signals the last coup of the shoe.³

Key points

The dealer places the cut card under the deck before dealing, then the deck is cut onto it.²
It stays at the bottom of the active stack to prevent the bottom card from being exposed.¹²
In baccarat, reaching the cut card indicates the final round of the shoe.³

How it works

The dealer places the cut card under the deck or shoe before dealing, and the deck is then cut onto it.² It stays at the bottom of the active stack to prevent the bottom card from being exposed.¹² In baccarat, when the cut card is reached, it signals the last coup of the shoe.³

Common questions

What is a die cut card?

A die cut card is a card that has been cut into a specific shape using a die, often for promotional or decorative purposes. It is not a standard casino dealing tool.

What is a cut card electrical?

The term 'cut card electrical' has no established meaning in casino gaming. It may be a confusion with other uses of 'cut' in electronics, but it is not a recognised gambling term.

How to cut card stock?

Cutting card stock typically requires a sharp blade, a straight edge, and a cutting mat. For precise cuts, a paper cutter or die-cutting machine is recommended.

Not the same as

Blackjack cut card — a term that can refer to the card that makes the hand total exceed 21, not the dealing cut card

Casino games Blackjack cut card Explains the blackjack-specific meaning of the term, where it can refer to a bust card. Casino games Dealer cut cards Covers the same concept as the cut card, used by dealers in casino card games. Casino games Cut cards for him meaning Discusses the slang or personal meaning of the phrase, not the casino tool. Casino games Blackjack strategy card A reference card showing optimal blackjack decisions, not a dealing tool. Casino games Card shoe The device that holds multiple decks for dealing, often used with a cut card. Casino games Craps odds chart A craps odds chart is a reference table

Sources

Glossary of poker terms - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Defines the cut card as a tool to hide the bottom card and mark the cut point.
Poker dealer - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Describes how the dealer places the cut card and its role in the dealing process.
Baccarat - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Provides specific placement and signalling details for baccarat.
Glossary of blackjack terms - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Distinguishes the blackjack bust-card meaning from the dealing cut card.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.