Nothing can better affect future results than tweaking some wrong assumptions, and this holds true for many things, including blackjack. Whether you’re a new blackjack player or a veteran, chances are that reading up on some blackjack myths can help you dispel any bad advice or information that might have found itself lodged in your game plan.
To that end, join us in our crusade to get as many blackjack myths exposed as possible in one article. We’ll tackle some of the most common blackjack myths out there as well as other misguided advice that might have made it your way.
Blackjack is a game of luck
While not the most outlandish blackjack myth out there, it is one nonetheless. The chances of winning at blackjack soar once a player understands that luck is just a part of blackjack, not its entirety.
Choosing whether to hit, stand or double down should never be done at random. Instead, a basic strategy must be followed in order to optimise each situation while also minimising the house edge. In fact, it is said that a blackjack basic strategy brings the house edge down to just 0.5%.
The goal of blackjack is to get as close to 21 as possible
While not exactly off the mark, this statement is only partially true. The game of blackjack revolves around getting 21, but it is not the end goal, per se. In fact, chasing 21 can lead to more money lost than won, since a player’s main hope is that the dealer busts.
Going for a win in blackjack isn’t synonymous with trying to hit 21 at all costs. Hitting a hand value of 19 or 20 can often lead to a win, but this will always depend on the dealer’s hand.
Card counting is illegal
The practice of counting cards is limited to land-based casinos, where players with good math skills can determine whether they or the dealer has an advantage going into the next hand. While not technically illegal, blatant card counting will often result in a player’s suspension from the casino.
Should you be wondering whether it is possible to count cards in online blackjack casino games, you will be disappointed. There is no way to do so, seeing as the cards are shuffled before each hand commences.
Card counting guarantees that you will win
If one thing is certain, it is that card counters do not win all the time. Many blackjack players try to emulate the success of card-counting geniuses, but few realise that it is, firstly, not a simple strategy to adopt, and secondly, it is far from a surefire way of guaranteeing a win.
Debunking the blackjack myth that card counting is illegal is one thing, but debunking the myth that it works every time verges on the “stating the obvious”. If card counting were successful 100% of the time, no casino would offer blackjack tables.
Always take blackjack insurance
For the unaware, the Insurance bet is offered to players when the dealer holds an Ace as a face-up card. The Insurance bet aims to ‘protect’ the player in case the dealer’s Ace precedes a 10 in the hole, thus, making a natural (blackjack). Should it be successful, this bet pays even money (2 : 1).
However, this bet is notorious for inflating the house edge; often called a ‘sucker bet’ or ‘bad bet’ by most blackjack players. Most blackjack players refuse to take insurance because the likelihood of it paying is low, and when playing consecutive hands, taking insurance will dent your bankroll more than it will help it.
Thinking you’re about to win
Playing blackjack for a long period of time can make a player believe that they can win if they believe it enough. “I’m due to win anytime now.” “They have to be due to win soon, it’s been too long!” The drawing of each card is completely random, which means that the next bet must not take into account the previous hand.
Unskilled players who discard strategy in favour of blind luck often fall victim to this mentality, which offers no concrete basis whatsoever. The best explanation of this belief is that it is one of the many urban legends perpetuated by players who don’t know that skill is a larger element of the game than they think. Leaving the fate of your blackjack hand up to luck is always a bad idea.
A successful blackjack player is one who refines their decision-making processes and adopts a good plan depending on the hand dealt by the dealer. After all, this practice offers a higher probability of landing a win than wishful thinking.
The dealer always wins
Losing several hands in a row can often result in the formation of the above sentence, but this is not entirely true. In fact, the concept of hot and cold dealers is based on their performance at the table, even though the dealer themself do not have any bearing on the outcome of their hands.
The corrected sentence would be “the casino always wins“, which is not a lie. Although a winning streak might give many players the idea that they’re in for a big profit, chances are that they might well see their profits disappear if they continue playing for a longer period of time. After all, every casino is in it for the business.
The dealer’s hole card is a 10
When trying to beat the dealer, many blackjack players tend to become frustrated when the dealer’s hole card ends up being a ten card (or a ten-value card), thus, making a blackjack. Other players might assume that the dealer has 10 in the hole as a strategy in and of itself, especially when coupled with counting cards.
This is done as a way to optimise their decision-making process. For example, if the player’s hand value is 12 and the dealer’s up-card is two, a player should choose to hit, even if the dealer’s card in the hole ends up being worth 10. The reality is that there are many other cards that the dealer’s hole card could end up being, which makes this strategy not as comprehensive as most players think it is.
A bad player can mess up your game
A very particular blackjack myth is that bad players can easily decide whether you’ll win or lose a hand; the assumption being that the player’s bad decision led to the dealer using more cards than anticipated, thus, limiting your chances of winning.
Although it is one of the most common myths surrounding the game, this has long been debunked. It has been proven that, in the long run, so-called ‘bad’ players have no bearing on your hand.
Progressive betting will increase your winning chances
A very famous blackjack technique is utilising progressive betting systems, though this can be done in other games such as roulette and baccarat. Progressive betting, which is further subdivided into positive betting progressions and negative betting progressions, involves increasing or decreasing your bet depending on the previous result.
As one might imagine, tweaking the bet size has nothing to do with the hand itself. Increasing or decreasing a bet (usually even-money bets), does not affect your attempt to beat the dealer, so there is no point in believing as much.
Nevertheless, betting systems aim to stretch your bankroll for as long as possible, especially through the use of even-money bets. This makes them a very handy tool to use when playing with a budget, but one shouldn’t give assume that such practices affect the outcome of a hand.
CONCLUSION – DEBUNK THE MYTHS AND PLAY BLACKJACK
The best way to play blackjack is to stick to proven strategies and betting systems without adhering to unfounded claims, such as the ones we’ve detailed above. In any case, blackjack is meant to be an entertaining game. Should you wish to give a blackjack game a try at a superb online casino, look no further than LV BET.
FAQ
✅ Do you have a chance to win after several losses in a row?
Previous results have no effect on future results. With that in mind, it is definitely possible to win after facing several losses in a row, possibly even going on a good winning streak, too.
✅ Do I have to be a good mathematician to win blackjack?
While nice to have, good math skills are not a requirement to play blackjack efficiently. In order to do that, one must learn basic strategy and optimise their decision-making process.
✅ Can a new player always get into a blackjack game?
Blackjack is a very easy game to learn, which makes it very newcomer-friendly. After all, all the blackjack players in the world started from somewhere.
✅ Is it better to adopt a defensive strategy in blackjack?
This largely depends on what the dealer holds as an up-card. Numbers two through seven have a good chance that the dealer busts, if you’re lucky, which means that you can risk a hit. However, if you’re dealt a total of 19 or 20, it is better to stand and hope that the dealer makes a bust.