Part I: Card Game Cheating · CARD MARKING METHODS

Shade Work / Tint Work

How it works

Shade work (also called tint work) involves lightly tinting or washing specific areas of the card back design with a diluted ink solution of a similar color to the card back. Rather than completely blocking out an area, the cheater applies a subtle wash that changes the shade slightly. For example, the head of a small angel figure on the card back might be tinted to indicate an ace, the left wing for a king, the right wing for a queen, etc. The two is typically left unmarked.

Where it appears

Poker, Blackjack, Baccarat

On the record

Shade work is considered a more refined and subtle technique than block-out work. Professional card markers often specialize in shade work as it is harder to detect.

Published as a detection reference for surveillance, compliance and gaming-operations professionals. Thresholds and tuning are set by the property. Nothing here is instruction — the method is described so it can be recognised.