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Blackjack has long been a popular gaming option when it comes to trying your luck at the casino, be it a classic land-based casino or its increasingly prevalent online counterpart. There are several variations of blackjack, which certainly keeps things interesting. With that being said, things can also become a little confusing when it comes to the rules of the game and associated myths.
Even if you consider yourself one of the most experienced players out there, at some point, you probably thought such misconceptions were actually facts. So you needn’t feel ashamed because they’re masked pretty well. But worry not! Because now you know what’s true and what’s not, and you can focus on the more important thing – playing your favorite game at the best online casinos with Blackjack bonuses.
The Aim of The Game Is To Hit 21
Generally, blackjack players strive to get their hands as close to 21 as possible. However, this isn’t actually the aim of the game. Chasing 21 can be detrimental if it leads to you going bust. The actual goal you should aim for is to beat the dealer by having a better hand than the dealer and not busting before they do.
Good Blackjack Players Have A Head For Numbers
Another common myth about blackjack is that it is designed for people with mathematical minds. In actual fact, the math skills required for the game are limited to basic addition and subtraction and the ability to count to 21. By that token, even a child with a basic level of education could play blackjack pretty well.
Card Counting Is Illegal
Popular media has given rise to the belief that the famous blackjack technique of card counting is illegal. Technically it isn’t. However, most land-based casinos don’t encourage card counting, and if they find that a player is using this technique to their advantage too often, they can ban you if you get caught. Although card counting can work at a physical casino, it isn’t effective when it comes to online blackjack. This is because cards get shuffled before each hand, making it impossible to track low and high cards.
The Dealer’s Winning Streak
Lots of players believe the myth that revolves around hot and cold dealers. This is why many blackjack players refuse to join a table where they can see the dealer is riding a winning streak. They instead opt to play with dealers that also lose from time to time. However, in truth, while it is possible to perceive whether a dealer is on a winning streak, you can’t say for sure where the game will end. The cards simply don’t know how many hands the house or a particular player has one over time. Furthermore, no one knows whether you’ll win the next bet or what cards the dealer will get in the next round. All in all, the results of past games don’t affect future results.
Unskilled Players Lower Your Chances of Winning
We all know it is easier to blame someone else for your problems than it is to take accountability for your own losses, and this is what the next common misconception is about. It basically stems from a belief that when the player before you makes a bad move, such as hitting only to bust, they receive a card you need to win. However, in actual fact, no player can affect your game because their moves have no impact on the dealer’s ability to win or lose. Essentially, you are all playing against the dealer, so the result is random. So don’t stress yourself out working out which tables or bad players to avoid.
You’ll Always Win After Consecutive Losses
People often fall into the trap of believing that they’ll eventually win after playing consecutive losing rounds. This, in turn, leads to them raising their bets with the hope that their eventual winning will cover the cost of past losses. However, the fact is that each hand in blackjack has the same chance of winning regardless of how the previous hand worked out. Anyone who falls for this myth is in for a real disappointment.
Blackjack Always Has The Lowest House Edge
One of the reasons blackjack is so popular is that it has one of the lowest house edges of all casino games, and the perfect strategy can lower this to 0.5%. However, some players think they will get this low edge at every blackjack table, which simply isn’t the case. The truth is the house advantage is low when there are favorable rules in play, and the right strategy is in use. Poor strategies can serve to improve the house edge quite significantly.
In short, blackjack is a great casino game that has retained its popularity over the years. However, if you truly want to get the best out of the game , it is important to stop taking these common myths seriously to focus on having fun and improving your chances of winning big.