Jean Gabriel | January 13, 2023 | Updated on: January 15th, 2024
Top 10 Blackjack Myths – True or False?
There are plenty of Blackjack myths present in the world. With Blackjack being such a popular casino game, it is only natural that a wide range of myths would spread. But, is there any truth to these myths, or are you best off ignoring all of them?
If some of these Blackjack myths are completely untrue, you could be making your Blackjack experience far worse by listening to them. We decided to pull together all the popular Blackjack myths we have come across to tell our readers if there is any truth to them. So, let’s see if you should listen to any of these Blackjack myths, or if you should just completely ignore them.
Best Australian Blackjack Casinos 2024
It is Illegal to Count Cards in Blackjack
Many players think that it is illegal to count cards in Blackjack, but is this true? In fact, no it is not. Counting cards is not illegal, but it is frowned upon. Land-based casinos do not like players who can count cards properly, as it leads to them having an advantage over the house.
While not illegal, a casino is within its right to remove you from the casino and potentially ban you. Casinos are private property so they have the right to decide who can gamble or not. If you do decide to try count cards, make sure you are not being obvious while doing it.
The Dealer always Holds a 10
For some reason, some players that the dealer will always hold a 10-value card. This is not the case at all. The dealer’s two cards are randomly dealt, the same as your cards. Only around 30% of dealer hands include a 10-value card, meaning 70% do not. Player hands will have a similar percentage of hands containing a 10 card.
The Goal of Blackjack is to get 21
This is a common misconception. The goal of Blackjack is not to get 21, or even to get as close to 21 as possible. The goal is simply to get closer to 21 than the dealer. If you play with the goal of getting 21, or getting as close to 21 as possible, you are likely to take too many risks and hit when you shouldn’t, leading to you going bust.
Blackjack has a Low House Edge
Generally speaking, this is true. Blackjack does have a relatively low house edge. However, the house edge is dependent on several different factors. These include the way you play the game, the variation if there are any tweaks to the rules, and when the dealer must hit and stand. However, in most cases, the house edge is between 1-2%.
You will Be Due a Win after a few Losses
This is a myth, not only in Blackjack but in any casino game. A string of losses does not mean you are due a win. The game does not remember the results of the previous rounds, and the results of each round are completely independent of previous rounds. Your odds of winning do not improve just because you have been losing.
You need to be good at Maths to be Good at Blackjack
No, you do not need to be good at Maths to be a good Blackjack player. This myth probably got started because maths is involved when counting cards. However, being good at Blackjack and even counting cards is more about memorizing the strategy, rather than being good at maths. So, if you’re not good at maths, you don’t need to worry about it.
Progressive Betting Strategies are a Good way to win
This is another common belief, that using a Progressive Betting Strategy can lead to you walking away a winner. This is untrue, as a Progressive Betting strategy will not change your odds of winning. Your odds always remain the same. Progressive Betting strategies, where you increase your bet following a win or loss (depending on which strategy you’re following) can actually lead to a loss in the long run. Using a betting strategy isn’t a bad idea, as long as you understand that it is not a magic winning button.
Bad Blackjack Players Ruin the Game
This is perhaps one of the most ridiculous Blackjack myths around. When you are playing Blackjack, you are competing against the dealer, not other players. In addition to this, their hands and results do not affect your gameplay. Whether there are good players alongside you, or weaker players, it makes no difference to your game.
Card Counting will mean you always Win
Counting Cards correctly does not mean you will be winning every single hand you play. Card counting simply allows you to get an idea of how many high-value cards are left in the shoe, which allows you to better calculate the chances of going bust if you receive another card.
This knowledge can help improve your odds, but does not guarantee a win. The dealer could still get closer to 21 than you, or you could still get unlucky and get one of the few remaining high cards and go bust.
Online Blackjack is Rigged and Unfair
Unfortunately, this is a myth that can have some truth to it. Not every single Online Casino offers fair games. However, if you play Online Blackjack at a safe and trusted casino site, like the ones we recommend, you are guaranteed a fair experience at a casino site that will honour requests to pay out winnings.
You Can Count Cards in Online Blackjack
No, you cannot count cards when playing Blackjack Online. Counting Cards requires multiple hands to be played before the shoe is reshuffled. This allows time for enough cards to be discarded, so you can figure out what is left in the show. In Online Blackjack, the entire shoe is reshuffled after each hand, so at most 8 cards are dealt out of the shoe. The shoe is likely to contain six to eight decks of cards, so it is not enough to be able to learn anything of value.