Blackjack Myths
Blackjack, the superstar game of the casino, is a talked-about, written-about and rumor-laden game. Like any celebrity, blackjack has its myths and legends that just won't go away, no matter how hard the experts try. Blackjack myths abound but in order to play the game well and win at blackjack you have to separate the blackjack truth from the blackjack myth.
Remember Your Goal When You Play Blackjack
The most damaging blackjack myth is more a misconception than a myth. If you've heard that the goal of blackjack is to reach 21 then you've heard wrong and you should re-address the basics of how to play blackjack ASAP. Reaching 21 is the mythological goal; the real goal is to beat the dealer. Repeat: to win at blackjack, you must beat the dealer. That is why strategizing based on the dealer's card and your cards is so important. If you have 12 and the dealer is showing a 6, the best blackjack strategy is to stand. There is a good chance that the dealer will bust, and if he does, guess what? Your lowly 12 has just won a game of blackjack! So if you've been playing with only your own hand as the focus and viewing 21 as the only goal, you've been falling for the oldest blackjack myth around.
It's Not Where You Sit at the Blackjack Table
One of the more amusing myths making the rounds is that where you sit when you play blackjack makes all the difference. No way. A specific seat may be "lucky" over the course of a few hands, but, in the long run, it doesn't matter where you are situated at the blackjack table. If you play with the blackjack basic strategy, it's only sticking to the strategy that matters, not where you stick your rear end. Of course, if you play blackjack in an online casino you'll want to sit in a nice comfortable chair in front of your computer.
Insurance Is a Bad Blackjack Bet
Another popular blackjack myth is that the insurance bet is an attractive one. Wrong! (As a reminder, the insurance bet is a wager on the possibility of the dealer getting a natural after showing an ace as his up card.) The real bottom line is that you shouldn't waste your time with insurance; keep your betting hand away from your money when the dealer is dealt an ace and you'll be better off. |
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Not Myths: Blackjack Basic Strategy and Card Counting
The value of the basic blackjack strategy and the advantages of blackjack card counting are not myths, but there are other numbers-related tales and so-called rules that are just wrong. For instance, there's a myth that says that if a dealer shows a 2, you're in trouble. Well, while it's true that a dealer 21 can start with a 2, the fact is that a dealer's face card is way more detrimental to you than a 2.
Another numbers-based myth has to do with splitting 9s when you're facing a dealer 9 - the myth that says you shouldn't. But if you do the math, you'll see that if you don't split and you stand on your 18 (the sum of the two 9s) and the dealer adds a face card to his 9, which is a very likely scenario, you'll lose. On the other hand, if you do split, you have two good chances to win or at least push. So, go ahead, split that pair of 9s and put another blackjack myth to rest.
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