Choosing the Best Place to Sit
While knowing how to handle the various rules and probabilities of Blackjack is essential to being able to hold one’s own in a game, there are some aspects of strategy that may actually surprise you.
One of those aspects of strategy depends on where you sit at the table, and even depends on the number of people around you (this is very similar to poker, particularly Texas Hold ‘Em.)
Now, let’s be clear about something – Blackjack is a game where you need not worry about the other players. So position only really counts when you are counting cards. If you are not counting cards, it does not matter where you sit in terms of strategy. Since casinos do not encourage counting cards, they generally do not acknowledge such – thus, they don’t care where you sit (most venues do not have a rotating “dealer button” for blackjack.) In most games and venues, the person to the left of the dealer will always play first. If nobody is counting cards, this doesn’t matter. If someone IS counting cards, they want to be to the dealer’s right (the last person to play the hand.) But since multiple decks are used, it is a very, very minute advantage.
Please note that despite the above, many blackjack tournaments will use a rotating dealer button, because it’s a given that the best of the best are counting cards.
A standard Blackjack table will have enough room for five to seven people (as seen by the card outlines found on the table). While it is possible to sit in on a game already in progress, some tables will have a policy called “No Midshoe Entry”. That’s nothing to do with footwear, mind you. That just means that you will have to sit out until the next shuffle before playing a hand. And don’t worry: Most tables will have signs that mark the rule at the table.
Ok, back to position… although it does not matter too much in terms of strategy, position WILL matter in terms of fun. The real question for a first time gamer is this: “Do I sit in at an already full table, or do I find more one-to-one play between the player and the dealer?” It depends on what you find yourself most comfortable with. For example, sitting at a full table allows for a player to ask questions of those around them, and allows for time to watch hands and pick up on the game.
An emptier table, however, offers its own advantages such as (perhaps) playing with fewer decks. Fewer decks allow for a better chance at counting cards, which will put what limited chance there is to put the rules slightly more in your corner. It also allows for more professional advice to be shared between you and the dealer. Obviously, a dealer is in the game to represent the house, but may be more willing to help one player along with some advice, as opposed to an entire table.
So in the end, finding a good seat at a Blackjack table is nothing to stress over in terms of strategy – unless your name is “Numbers Nick: Card Counter”, pick a seat that looks like fun over one that you think gives you any edge. Have fun!
