5 Blackjack Myths That Cost Players
Blackjack is full of advice passed from player to player, and much of it is wrong. These five myths sound sensible at the table, but they all lead away from basic strategy, the math-tested best play for every hand. You can test each one yourself in the Blackjack Trainer.
1. “Always assume the dealer has a 10 underneath”
Ten-value cards make up 16 of every 52 cards, about 31%. So the hole card is not a 10 most of the time. The rule of thumb leads players to stand on 12 against a 2 or 3, where hitting is correct, and to play scared on soft hands. Use the chart instead of the guess.
2. “Insurance protects a good hand”
Insurance is a separate side bet that the dealer has blackjack. It pays 2 to 1, but the dealer’s hole card is a 10-value card less than a third of the time, so the bet loses more than it wins over the long run, even when you hold 20. Basic strategy never takes it, which is why our tables don’t offer it.
3. “Never hit a 12, you might bust”
Only the 10-value cards bust a 12: four ranks out of thirteen. Against a dealer 7 or higher, standing on 12 loses more often than hitting. The correct play is to hit 12 against everything except a dealer 4, 5 or 6.
4. “A bad player at third base ruins it for everyone”
The last player to act can change which card the dealer gets, but they’re just as likely to help the table as hurt it. Over many hands, other players’ decisions don’t change your odds. People remember the painful hands and forget the times a “bad” hit saved them.
5. “Card counting is illegal”
In the United States, keeping track of cards in your head is not against the law. Using a device to do it is a different matter, and casinos, as private businesses, can refuse to deal to players they suspect of counting. Counting also takes far more practice than the movies suggest.
What to do instead
Skip the folklore and learn the one system that has been checked by computers: basic strategy. Start with the basic strategy chart, then practice until the right move is automatic. Remember that even perfect play leaves the house a small edge; Blitz is for fun and learning, with coins that have no cash value.