Myth #2: That third base player is killing me.
The Reason: The dealer shows a weak 5 upcard and all the players including yourself make the right play and stand on all stiff totals. The third baseman, who is the last player to act before the dealer, ponders whether to hit or stand on 16. He hits, the dealer gives him a picture card, and then the dealer draws a 6 to her 15 for a 21, beating everyone. Oh, how you would like to strangle the third base player. If the dummy would have stood like he was supposed to, the dealer would have gotten the picture card instead and broke and everyone would have won. Don't tell me bad players don't effect whether or not I win or lose.
The Truth: It's absolutely true that dumb plays made by dumb players can effect the outcome of a hand for everyone else. But it has been proven mathematically that it is just as likely that a dumb play could result in the entire table winning. The player in the above example could have just as easily gotten the 6, leaving the picture card for the dealer to bust. While dumb plays can upset smart players, it has no mathematical long term effect on a player's expected outcome. You always curse the stupid player that caused you to lose, but do you ever congratulate him when his stupid play causes you to win? If the terrible play of others effects you emotionally so that you start to make playing mistakes, then my advise is to leave the table and play elsewhere.
http://tamburin.casinocitytimes.com/article/blackjack-myths-debunked-1324
The Reason: The dealer shows a weak 5 upcard and all the players including yourself make the right play and stand on all stiff totals. The third baseman, who is the last player to act before the dealer, ponders whether to hit or stand on 16. He hits, the dealer gives him a picture card, and then the dealer draws a 6 to her 15 for a 21, beating everyone. Oh, how you would like to strangle the third base player. If the dummy would have stood like he was supposed to, the dealer would have gotten the picture card instead and broke and everyone would have won. Don't tell me bad players don't effect whether or not I win or lose.
The Truth: It's absolutely true that dumb plays made by dumb players can effect the outcome of a hand for everyone else. But it has been proven mathematically that it is just as likely that a dumb play could result in the entire table winning. The player in the above example could have just as easily gotten the 6, leaving the picture card for the dealer to bust. While dumb plays can upset smart players, it has no mathematical long term effect on a player's expected outcome. You always curse the stupid player that caused you to lose, but do you ever congratulate him when his stupid play causes you to win? If the terrible play of others effects you emotionally so that you start to make playing mistakes, then my advise is to leave the table and play elsewhere.
http://tamburin.casinocitytimes.com/article/blackjack-myths-debunked-1324
