What Indicates The End of a Round - Cut Card or Dealer Choice?

I am confused about something, which, again, is not something novel.:)

I was under the impression that wherever the player placed the cut card (in a �thin to win� position, I was told), that position determined when in the shoe or hand-held game that the dealer would stop dealing. In other words, when the cut card comes out, that signals to the dealer that she is to deal no more cards and it is time to shuffle. This seems pretty cut and dry and not open to subjectivity on the part of the dealer.

So, if that is true, how can some dealers be said to be more liberal when it comes to penetration? (For example, "Richard is my favorite dealer because he allows more penetration.").

Again, I was under the impression that a round�s play stops when the cut card comes out (thus indicating some player control over penetration), not when the dealer decides its time to shuffle.

The card serves two purposes. The player uses it to indicate to the dealer where he should cut the cards. After the cut, the dealer then places the card in the freshly cut deck. Some places use a slot in the discard tray to ensure that the dealer always places the shuffle card in the same place. At other places, the dealer eyeballs it, and some of the latter places allow for greater variation between dealers.

Once you actually get to a casino and see this process, it will make more sense.

I think you have confused the cut card with the stop card.
The player that the dealer determins who cuts the cards by placing a colored card ( usually red or black in color and made of a heavier plastic material than the playing cards)) can use the colored plastic card to insert it into the deck. The deck is held by the dealer and usually presented to the player squarely with the bottom card of the deck low to the table. The player/ person using the cut card inserts it into the deck. The dealer then takes the deck and uses the plastic cut card point and reverses the deck. That is... brings the cards below the cut card to the top of the deck. (why am I explaining this?..everyone already knows this). So then after all this then the dealer places a stop card into the deck.
Where that stop card goes is subject to dealer, house rules or a slot in the discard tray. When the play of cards ends and the stop card is the next card to be dealt then the dealer shuffles the deck. If the stop card comes out during the play of hands on the table then the play continues until all hands are settled. If the dealer runs out of cards after the stop card comes out then usually the played cards are left on the table and the remaining cards are shuffled to resume play of unfinished hands. Using the "thin to win" is not always practical because most casinos have house rules to the player cutting cards. Those rules limit the number of cards cut usually to 1/4 to 1/2 deck. Sometimes you can cheat a little with that thin cut.

it'll become clear. As all said above..you cut, then after the cards are cut where you indicated the dealer places the shuffle card at the pen she chooses (or the pen set by the casino).