Blackjack is considered one of the most complicated casino games. To effectively play blackjack, you really should make great efforts. You should learn how to choose the most profitable game versions and the optimal strategy for it. Then you should control yourself to make correct bets, and maybe even count cards when it comes to brick and mortar casinos. In short, this is one of the most smart games.
So it's not surprisingly that many casino customers (especially beginners) believe in many misconceptions and myths about blackjack. we mentioned the most common of them in other articles on Casinoz, and now we want to continue this topic.
So, let's start to disassemble mistaken assumptions about blackjack.
Professional player always has the advantage over the casino.
It's not true. In most blackjack rules it is impossible to achieve, even with the same chances as the casino, if do not use additional techniques such as card counting. However you should understand that properly chosen strategy for the game always increases the probability of winning.
Permanent shuffle machines increase the casino advantage.
In fact, they increase the speed, so this rule have the percentage of benefits, although it remains the same, quickly manifested as about by twenty percent more hands are played in an hour. But this number does not directly increase.
You can't play properly because partners on the table are disturbing you.
This is a very common misconception. Actions of other players at the table do not affect your chances of winning. Of course, in each individual hand something depends on them if they're sitting next to you, but on a long stretch of the game (and you should focus on it), they can not affect you.
Side bets in blackjack are profitable for the player.
As many other casino games, side bets offered in different varieties of blackjack have at least two percent house edge (some even more). In this case the best strategy for this game usually allows using lower bets at the basic rate.
Betting system help to win in blackjack.
You must determine the size of the bet by your financial capabilities and know the correct score of counting cards (if you do it). Changing the bet according to any progressive system without considering these factors makes no sense. Systems such as Parlay, Martingale, d'Alembert and others are completely useless in blackjack (as well as in any other game of chance).
Probability of winning in blackjack does not change with the taking cards from a shoe.
It changes it a lot ! This is the basis of card counting in blackjack. In short, the more large cards remain in the deck, the higher probability of winning in the next hand.
In blackjack with one deck and 6:5 payout ratio you have the same chance of winning as in the usual game with six decks.
With the same other rules, the game with one deck is really profitable. However payment ratio of 6:5 not only eliminates this advantage, but even increases the casino's advantage. We described this version of the rules in more detail in another article on Casinoz.
You do not lose with even money
When the dealer offers you even money, it is tempting to have at least half of the winning and not lose the total amount. But it is wrong in the terms of the optimal strategy. Do not agree to equal money, because this rule is beneficial for the casino. This tactics may be good on a long stretch of the game.
Insurance in blackjack is no good.
Indeed, in most cases, insurance is not profitable for a player. But sometimes it is good for card counters. If there are many dozen in the deck, it significantly increases the probability of a dealer's blackjack.
Counting cards is illegal.
As far as we know, there was no case when someone was put to jail or fined for card counting. Nevertheless, the casinos usually prohibit such practices and refuse to let in players they suspect of counting cards. They can also introduce certain rules or use other techniques to make counting cards less effective.
Blackjack is the most cost-effective casino game
This statement may be true for land-based casinos, where customers can play blackjack according to the best strategy and count cards or use other techniques. In online casinos, card counting is pointless, we told that in a special article, so in some online casinos, the most profitable games are video poker or craps with certain bets.
We hope that our article will help you to better understand and play blackjack.