Trying to access a specific movie clip with a string

Of course you can't set the properties in your changed variant, because it's an array of strings. So what good would the _x be for a string?
Your variant loads a clip, because the target parameter being a string is ignored. In the example with temp_mc it's an object, so it's not being ignored. You probably are loading the image, but don't see it, because something else is wrong.
Trace the return code on the mImageLoader.loadClip function call.
By the way, for me this line is dubious:
cards.push("holeCard0" + this.m_CardsDealt++); I know the ++ should increase the Number variable after being used, but you are constructing a string there. Did you ever trace your movieClip names? Maybe there's something wrong there.
I would definitely go with the temp_mc variant. In general, this works. I have used it successfully. But you need to update your depth counters, and CardsDealt, of course.
Good luck
Wolf

I would not push string variables but direct references to the created movieClips, like so:

temp_mc = _root.createEmptyMovieClip....
then
cards.push(temp_mc);

rest unchanged (and I mean the original code, not the one with eval)

Can you repost please, with code attachment. I'll have a look.
Oops, sorry, I see you have already. Will be back in a few moments...

You need to decide whether you want holeCards or holdCards :-)
Is it BlackJack?
Also, please use code attachment, otherwise all your [array indices] go awry, and code becomes very difficult to read.
Good luck
Wolf

I've also tried this....



for(var i = 0; i < this.m_CardsDealt; i++)
{
//var holder:MovieClip = eval(cardArray );
var holder:MovieClip = this[cardArray];
_root.holder._x = 200;
//_root.cardArray ._x = 200;
holder._y = 250;

mImageLoader.loadClip("../Flash Project/Images/Cards/" + this.getDeck().getFile(), holder);
trace(this.getDeck() .getFile());
trace(_root.holder._x + " X VALUE OF MOVIE");
}


And also this....



cards.push(this["holeCard0" + this.m_CardsDealt++]);