Blackjack Superstitions and Myths
Blackjack Superstitions and Myths
As with so many things in this world, people have the tendency to believe that some mysterious favor can tilt the odds in your if you stick to following some rituals, movements, and stories that they probably picked up from a fortune cookie or read in a tabloid somewhere. The same is true in blackjack and the longer you play the game, the more you'll hear about strange and unusual tips and advices that are supposed to help you win the game.
Similar to urban legends, no one really knows the rationale or the origins behind these blackjack superstitions and myths but many players accept these beliefs as facts and actually follow them at every blackjack session they play. Some may even claim that it actually works for them but if you would look really closely, these instances where these myths seems to work have occurred only once or even twice - but failed miserably most of the time.
The following are some of the more widespread beliefs and myths circulating in many-a-blackjack-table across the globe. Players are advised to take a good look at these superstitions and myths and see for themselves how a belief that they taught was sound advice could actually be the reason for them to lose considerable amounts of money every time they play this game.
* Counting Cards Will Make You Win Every Time
This is one serious misconception that even veterans of this game have fallen prey to. Card counting can and will increase your chances of winning but it does not give you a guarantee that you will win every single hand. Even expert card counting teams do experience losing runs that is why the most successful teams only aim for certain targets in the number of hands they play.
* You Need to Be a Math Expert to Win in Blackjack
Although math geniuses such as the MIT blackjack teams clearly have a 9 out of 10 advantage in this game, other less mathematically inclined people can make use of simple card counting strategies. All it takes is for them to know how to add or subtract by 1's so they can keep track of the high cards or low cards that are left in deck - and use that info to decide on how much to bet.
* Take Even Money All the Time
95% of the time, players will simply take even money when they are dealt with a blackjack while the dealer's up card is an Ace. However, taking the risk may be worth it and there is sound mathematical evidence to support this. The chances for a dealer to have a 10 in the hole will only be 3 out of ten while the chances against that is a bigger 7 out of 10 - and come out a bigger winner.
* Always Take Insurance
Taking on insurance will make you give up 13% of the profit from your blackjack. Unless you're an excellent card counter who can guess correctly 1 out of 3 and break even with your insurance, then this strategy won't cut it for you and is generally a bad idea.
* The Goal of Blackjack is to Get as Close to 21 as Possible
Contrary to what many players believe, the goal in blackjack is not to get 21 but to simply beat the dealer's hand. There is no need to get a blackjack nor is it important to get as close to 21 as possible. What's important is have a hand that is higher than the dealer's. Many players fall for this pitfall and hit whenever they should stand and maintain a solid hand.
* Stay Away from Bad Players
Blackjack is a game pitting you against the dealer and what others do will not affect the outcome of your long term play. Success in blackjack is to think in terms of the long term and not dwell on other's bad plays which can only possibly affect a couple of hands.
* Expect a 10 as the Dealer's Hole Card
Many players maintain a strategy of expecting a 10 as the dealer's hole card. Statistically speaking, this is very poor advice as only 30% of the cards in a single deck can be 10s while 70% of the time they are not. As a rule of thumb, every time a dealer has an Ace as an up card, you have a 2-to-1 odd that the dealer's home card is not a 10.
* You Will Win - Eventually
Statistically speaking, you will eventually win 48% of your games in the long term but this would mean hundreds or even thousands of hours of playing time - which is impractical and improbable. Blackjack is an even game but each hand is independent from another and will not affect the outcome of subsequent hands.
Everyone has the probability of winning or losing in blackjack but no amount of superstitious or mythological beliefs can alter the chances in your favor. Blackjack is a game that relies on sound mathematical principle and using this knowledge to your best advantage is the only way for you to increase your edge over the dealer - and eventually win the game.
As with so many things in this world, people have the tendency to believe that some mysterious favor can tilt the odds in your if you stick to following some rituals, movements, and stories that they probably picked up from a fortune cookie or read in a tabloid somewhere. The same is true in blackjack and the longer you play the game, the more you'll hear about strange and unusual tips and advices that are supposed to help you win the game.
Similar to urban legends, no one really knows the rationale or the origins behind these blackjack superstitions and myths but many players accept these beliefs as facts and actually follow them at every blackjack session they play. Some may even claim that it actually works for them but if you would look really closely, these instances where these myths seems to work have occurred only once or even twice - but failed miserably most of the time.
The following are some of the more widespread beliefs and myths circulating in many-a-blackjack-table across the globe. Players are advised to take a good look at these superstitions and myths and see for themselves how a belief that they taught was sound advice could actually be the reason for them to lose considerable amounts of money every time they play this game.
* Counting Cards Will Make You Win Every Time
This is one serious misconception that even veterans of this game have fallen prey to. Card counting can and will increase your chances of winning but it does not give you a guarantee that you will win every single hand. Even expert card counting teams do experience losing runs that is why the most successful teams only aim for certain targets in the number of hands they play.
* You Need to Be a Math Expert to Win in Blackjack
Although math geniuses such as the MIT blackjack teams clearly have a 9 out of 10 advantage in this game, other less mathematically inclined people can make use of simple card counting strategies. All it takes is for them to know how to add or subtract by 1's so they can keep track of the high cards or low cards that are left in deck - and use that info to decide on how much to bet.
* Take Even Money All the Time
95% of the time, players will simply take even money when they are dealt with a blackjack while the dealer's up card is an Ace. However, taking the risk may be worth it and there is sound mathematical evidence to support this. The chances for a dealer to have a 10 in the hole will only be 3 out of ten while the chances against that is a bigger 7 out of 10 - and come out a bigger winner.
* Always Take Insurance
Taking on insurance will make you give up 13% of the profit from your blackjack. Unless you're an excellent card counter who can guess correctly 1 out of 3 and break even with your insurance, then this strategy won't cut it for you and is generally a bad idea.
* The Goal of Blackjack is to Get as Close to 21 as Possible
Contrary to what many players believe, the goal in blackjack is not to get 21 but to simply beat the dealer's hand. There is no need to get a blackjack nor is it important to get as close to 21 as possible. What's important is have a hand that is higher than the dealer's. Many players fall for this pitfall and hit whenever they should stand and maintain a solid hand.
* Stay Away from Bad Players
Blackjack is a game pitting you against the dealer and what others do will not affect the outcome of your long term play. Success in blackjack is to think in terms of the long term and not dwell on other's bad plays which can only possibly affect a couple of hands.
* Expect a 10 as the Dealer's Hole Card
Many players maintain a strategy of expecting a 10 as the dealer's hole card. Statistically speaking, this is very poor advice as only 30% of the cards in a single deck can be 10s while 70% of the time they are not. As a rule of thumb, every time a dealer has an Ace as an up card, you have a 2-to-1 odd that the dealer's home card is not a 10.
* You Will Win - Eventually
Statistically speaking, you will eventually win 48% of your games in the long term but this would mean hundreds or even thousands of hours of playing time - which is impractical and improbable. Blackjack is an even game but each hand is independent from another and will not affect the outcome of subsequent hands.
Everyone has the probability of winning or losing in blackjack but no amount of superstitious or mythological beliefs can alter the chances in your favor. Blackjack is a game that relies on sound mathematical principle and using this knowledge to your best advantage is the only way for you to increase your edge over the dealer - and eventually win the game.
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