What blackjack statements are factual below?

* When other players use incorrect strategy, that will result in your losing blackjack games.
* If you lose several consecutive hands, you are due for a win in blackjack.
* Blackjack players on third base should always get the dealer's bust card.
* You will lose if a player jumps into a game in the middle of a shoe because it changes the order of the cards.

Well, well, well! You're in for a surprise. When you are experiencing a losing session of play in blackjack, it's easy to blame others. Some players even blame the chips, cards, seats, other players, dealers, or the ambience. These players are reluctant to consider that their losses are due to their lack of knowledge about basic blackjack playing strategies. These folks incorrectly believe that their failures are always due to something or someone else. You have to know how to play blackjack. There is a concept known as variance in blackjack – the ups and downs – which affects all players – amateurs and professionals.

It's much easier to blame something other than oneself for losing. Blame the guy on third base – he is a bad luck omen. That guy ruined the whole game for everyone. He keeps on making stupid plays, raising, doubling, splitting, and placing insurance bets when he should know better. If you are a serious contender and want to win at blackjack, it's time to see the wood from the trees. There is fact, and there is fiction. Today, we will expose all the blackjack myths that can ruin your game. You don't have to be that player who blames everything and everyone else for losses.

Trust me, folks, I could write books on this very topic. Unfortunately, I have encountered myriad blackjack myths in the 50+ years of playing the game. Today, I'd like to introduce you to the most commonly proposed blackjack myths, how they came to be, and the facts of the matter. Ready to delve deeper into the game of blackjack? Come with me on this fascinating journey as we debunk classic blackjack myths.

Take note: Several blackjack myths have already been covered in earlier chapters of my book, but there's no harm in discussing them because they are relevant to this chapter too.

MYTH #1: The Raison D'être for Playing Blackjack is to Get as Close as Possible to 21 

Canadian players will appreciate the French attribution in this one! Listen up, folks, so many people believe that blackjack is about getting as close to 21 as possible. Think about that for a second. When you play blackjack, it's player versus dealer. You're golden as long as you beat the dealer's hand total. It doesn't matter what the dealer has. You could be holding a hand total of 18 and beat the dealer in the process.

The Reason:Several blackjack authors and casino aficionados routinely oversimplify the strategic objective of the game.

The Truth: Remember, you need to beat the dealer's hand total without exceeding 21. You must compile a higher hand total than the dealer; don't bust before the dealer busts. It has nothing to do with getting as close as possible to 21.

MYTH #2: It's the darn Third-Base Player's Fault

The Reason: If the dealer's upcard is a weak five and all the other players at the table – yourself included – make the correct play. You stand on hard totals. Enter the third base player. This player is uncertain what to do. Hit or stand on 16? Since the third base player is the last to act before the dealer, decisions may have an impact. So, he hits. The dealer flips over a royal. Next, the dealer flips a ten and draws a 6 to her 15 for a 21.

This dealer hand total beats everyone at the table. Your pulse is pounding. You are livid! How could that third-base player do that to everyone at the table? Had that player decided to stand pat, the dealer would have received the picture card. Everyone would have made bank at the table. In this scenario, you think, how is it possible that bad players don't affect your chances of winning or losing.

The Truth: Blackjack is a game of limited outcomes. You are dealing with a finite number of cards in play. The card combinations have ever-changing probabilities. They are based on the cards dealt (in and out of circulation). Players can make a difference vis-a-vis what happens in a game of blackjack. However, you would have to use mathematical analysis to prove the effect of a bad player on your game outcomes.

It's just as easy for a bad player to cause you to win blackjack games as it is for them to cause you to lose blackjack games. Let's assume that the two cards hit were reversed. The third base player could have received the 6, leaving the royal card for the dealer to bust.

Stupid players routinely irritate smart blackjack players. But that's what it is – an irritation – there is no long-term effect on your expected outcome with stupid players at the table. No doubt, you feel like cursing out the silly player because you lost. But have you ever thought of congratulating that stupid player when you win?

If you're the type of blackjack player who is adversely affected by the actions of other players at your table, perhaps this isn't the game for you. Or, you may wish to relocate to a different blackjack table without any stupid players (not likely).

MYTH #3: A Blackjack Win Is Coming My Way Soon

The Reason: Let's assume that the dealer has won multiple hands. You think that blackjack is a pretty even-Stevens game. Perhaps, your odds of winning the next hand are pretty favourable. So, if you bet up, you could recover your losses!

The Truth:In blackjack, the cards don't care whether you've lost the last five hands or won the last five hands. Each hand has an independent outcome. There is no correlation between winning hands or losing hands. Overall, (in the long-term), you should win approximately 48% of all hands played.

Remember, the long-term is calculated over at least 1 million hands – plenty of blackjack games to play. Over a couple of hours (short-term), it's foolhardy to believe that you are due a win based on what recently happened.

MYTH #4:Choose Tables with a Cold Blackjack Dealer

The Reason: The fact of the matter is that sometimes you will lose one hand after another to a dealer who consistently outperforms you by a single point. Or, you may have a player-friendly dealer who tends to bust on every hand. This would result in many more wins for you. So, naturally, most players prefer tables with a cold blackjack dealer instead of one who is red-hot and on a roll!

The Truth: Blackjack dealers have an uncanny ability to hit a lucky streak. They can do no wrong, regardless of the cards you're holding. It's pretty easy to determine whether a dealer is red-hot or ice-cold, but who knows how they will be performing in the future. The reason is simple: the blackjack cards don't know how the dealer will perform, and they don't care what happened previously.

You're sizzling hot right now, but that doesn't mean you're likely to win the next hand. Remember, every blackjack hand is independent of the previous hand. If you lost five hands in a row, you're not due a win. You've got to play every hand on its merits. You're chasing your tail if you decide to select tables based on cold blackjack dealers.

MYTH #5: You Will Lose if a New Player Jumps into a Game in the Middle of a Shoe because it Changes the Order of the Cards.

The Reason:We don't like to upset the apple cart. When we are enjoying a winning streak, and then Joe Schmo enters the game mid-shoe, everything goes belly up! Now, suddenly, the dealer is killing all of us. Thanks, Joe Schmo!

The Truth: If your fortunes turn around in a blackjack game, it's easy to look for a scapegoat. Sure, we can blame Joe Schmo, but we know better. There was nothing special about the number of hands dealt with players at the table before Joe entered the scene. There is never any guarantee that players will continue in their winning ways even if Joe never enters the game. Changing the dealing order with several players doesn't influence the game's outcome in the long term.

MYTH #6: You have to Assume That the Dealer's Got 10 in the hole

The Reason:Players understand that more cards are ranked at a value of 10 than other cards. Think of Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings. So, with this line of thinking, it makes sense to assume that the dealer's got 10 in the hole?

The Truth: Every deck has 52 cards. Sixteen of those cards have a value of 10. 16÷52 = 31%. That means approximately 3/10 cards have a 10-value. Approximately 70% of the cards are not 10-value cards. Think of that. Would you rather bet on a 70% probability of a correct outcome or a 30% probability of a correct outcome? Playing under the guise of a dealer holding a 10-value hole card is not the wisest way to play. It's going to cost you in the long term. Rather use a basic blackjack strategy to determine when to hit, stand, double, split, et cetera. Probabilities matter in blackjack.

MYTH #7: Royals Follow Royals?

The Reason: Many blackjack players who see a royal (10-value cards like Jack, Queen, or King) believe that another royal will follow close in tow.

The Truth:You should know that this line of thinking is patently false. When cards are shuffled, a royal may follow a royal, or any other card may be dealt next. It's a gamble. Once a face card is dealt, the number of face cards remaining in the shoe decreases. That means the likelihood of drawing a face card should technically decrease too! If you've got a hard hand, follow basic strategy and ignore the gobbledygook.

MYTH #8: You Can Beat the House by Using a Progressive Betting System

The Reason: A progressive betting system (positive progression) increases your bet size on wins and decreases your bet size on losses. Players universally enjoy the Martingale Progressive Betting System and the Paroli Progressive Betting System. These systems allow you to capitalize on winning streaks and ultimately come out ahead.

The Truth: Refer back to chapter 7.2. We went into great detail abouts betting progression. You will not gain an edge over the dealer using this system from a mathematical perspective.

MYTH #9: You Can't Beat Blackjack Because It's Based Purely on Chance

The Reason:Many players believe that all casinos have the edge over them. Therefore, if you win, it must be based on luck alone.

The Truth: There is always an element of luck involved in every casino game, even blackjack. Your ability to overcome the chance-based component depends on your level of skill. As a player, your job is to make decisions based on the cards you're dealt and the dealers upcard. Card counting techniques (detailed in Chapter 10) can help. These can provide you with a mathematical edge over the casino. Skillful, strategic play can give you a long-term advantage over the casino. The house edge is one area where blackjack differs from other casino games where luck is the sole determinant of outcomes.

MYTH #10:Always Play Blackjack Insurance with a Dealer's Ace Upcard

The Reason:When the dealer's upcard is an Ace, the dealer may have a blackjack. To avoid losing your bet, you place the insurance bet.

The Truth: Many casinos routinely advise players to insure good hands against a dealer blackjack. It's never a good idea to play the insurance bet. Let's say you are holding a hand value of 20. Perhaps it is a pair of tens, face cards, or a mixed combination. The dealer would need one of those 10-value cards for you to win your insurance bet. Remember, the insurance bet costs 50% of your original wager. You've reduced the likelihood of the dealer pulling a 10-value card when you've got a great opening hand. The probability of winning your hand is high because you're holding the nuts (to use a poker term!).

MYTH #11: Avoid Hitting On a 12 Versus the Dealer's 2 Upcard Because You Will Typically Draw A 10 And Lose the Hand

The Reason: The thought behind this myth is as follows: If You hit on a 12 versus a dealer’s upcard of 2 or 3, you will invariably draw a 10-value card. Players reckon that they should stand pat. However, if the dealer's down card is a 10-value card (10, Jack, Queen, King), the dealer has a 12-value hand and is forced to hit. It is likely – according to players – that the dealer will catch a 10-value card and bust. Therefore, players reason they should not draw cards on a 12-value hand.

The Truth:  If you hit on 12, you will win approximately 37% of your hands. That means you are likely to lose 63% of your hands. If you stand on a firm 12, your winning chances drop to 35%, and your losing chances increase to 65%. Regardless of what you do, this is a shoddy hand to play against the dealer's 2-value upcard. It's just the way it is. Over the long-term, the casino's got you beat. We can agree on one thing: it's better to hit and win 37% of your hands than stand and win 35% of your hands. If you find yourself in a losing situation, choosing the more favourable probability (RTP) is always better by hitting on 12 with a dealer upcard of 2.

MYTH #12: Stand Pat on Soft 18

The Reason: When you have a soft hand value of 18, stand pat. It's a good hand!

The Truth: When the dealer shows a two or a seven upcard, a soft 18 is a pretty good hand. If the dealer has a weak upcard of 3, 4, 5, 6, a better option for you is to double down on a soft 18. Since the dealer is more likely to bust, you will double and add more to your bet total. When the dealer's upcard is 9, 10, Ace, your soft 18 frequently loses. But here's the kicker: You'll lose less by hitting over the long-term.

MYTH #13: It's Illegal to Count Cards at the Blackjack Tables

The Reason: You've seen the movies and heard the rumours – card counters get their fingers broken at the back of the casino in private rooms. Right?

The Truth:

It's not illegal to use mind power when playing blackjack at the casino. It is unlawful to use electronic devices, card counting machines, and other paraphernalia to count cards. Casinos prefer players who don't know what they're doing because they can win more money. I'll tackle this topic in greater detail in Chapter 10 of my book. Suffice it to say; card counting is not illegal.

MYTH #14: You Need A Photographic Memory to Count Cards in Blackjack

The Reason: Back in the 80s, Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman starred in Rain Man. This epic Hollywood blockbuster shattered records and imprinted the notion that you needed a photographic memory to count cards.

The Truth: You don't need a photographic memory to count cards. In Chapter 10 of my book, I'll teach you how card counting works.

QUICK SUMMARY:

* Blackjack, like all gambling, is laden with myths.
* Too many blackjack players get stuck on these fallacies and fail to implement basic blackjack strategy that can help them beat the game.
* To win at blackjack, you must ignore all of these myths. Instead, focus your attention on statistics, probabilities, and proven winning strategies. You'll find all of them in this guide.