A large number of players who prefer online casinos to brick-and-mortar gambling houses often lose their money because of believing in various myths and rumors that spread around the web. If you don’t want to make part of that number you have to be cautious about the most common myths blackjack players tell about when playing online.

Myth #1: Card counting is not required

Those of you who have spent a bit of time at the table know that card counting is the most basic winning strategy, and the myth tells that you don’t need it to win at the game.

Fact #1:

It’s almost impossible to beat the dealer if you don’t know what cards are remaining in the deck. That’s why players use card counting in order to raise the odds of winning against the house. If you have read about a strategy that doesn’t tell you to count cards then it’s definitely not a strategy that will help you win in the long run. Card counting isn’t as complicated as some players think it is, there are ways you can easily count cards and raise your chances of winning, and that’s definitely what you want in the end, right?

Myth #2: In order to win you need only the basic strategy

You don’t need any complicated strategies in order to win, you just need to learn the basic strategy that is available even at online casino sites and you will win for sure.

Fact #2:

Most players who use only the basic strategy lose nearly all of the time. That’s because in most cases the basic strategy is given directly at the online casino’s site and there’s no sense for the casino to post such things other than increasing their in-house odds and fooling players. There are numerous books on blackjack winning strategies that are based around the very same basic strategy and not that many players can say that these tips have helped them. In order to win you will need something more effective in raising your odds at online blackjack than the basic strategy.

Myth #3: Get as close to 21 as you can in order to win

This is probably the most common myth among those who have only started to play blackjack and are new to the game. This is a popular misconception because blackjack is also sometimes called as the game of 21. And assuming that’s the main goal of the game, new players believe that it’s crucial to get close to 21.

Fact #3:

The main goal of the game is not getting close to 21. In order to win at blackjack you have to beat the dealer’s hand, have a larger count with the cards you have than the house has. No matter if it will be 13 against 9, you will still win if it’s your count that’s larger. Many rookies make the common mistake and try to get as close to 21, taking more cards and busting their chances by going beyond 21. Leave the number behind and focus on the dealer’s hands – that will give you much greater chances of winning.

The popularity of blackjack tournaments is constantly increasing and it’s no big surprise that many online casinos offer more tournaments with larger prizes on a regular basis. And by “regular basis” we mean the possibility to take part in an online tournament virtually at any time of the day. However, you have to understand that there are substantial differences between online and land based tournaments, and knowing these differences is very important for any blackjack player

A large part of players get involved into tournaments because of the adrenaline rash and the intensity of playing with other participants head to head. Those who regularly take part in such tournaments say that it’s a real pleasure to sit with other players at the same table, watching them make their bets, following their expressions and feeling the real excitement of a challenge that is just not the same when you play one on one with a dealer. Tournaments represent a real challenge and test of skills for any player, especially when it comes to the elimination rounds. The way the people interact and get involved in the drama is something that can be as valuable as the prize itself. No wonder that there are so many blackjack tournament games even on the TV these days.

Of course, these feelings are a bit hard to experience when it comes to playing blackjack online. Web-based tournaments just can’t bring the excitement of a real life tournament because it’s just you and your computer, no one else. Of course, you can play a tournament with players all over the world instantly by joining any big online casino tournament but that can be hardly compared to seeing a real living person next to you. Still, it’s a matter of personal choice and preference, because some players are in for the excitement and emotions, while others are in just for the playing experience and the prize.

What makes online blackjack a really interesting feature is that it lets players all over the world put their skills to the test and win real money in a tournament against other players. There’s no need to enroll in special events or even leave your home – everything you need to play a game is within your reach and it’s only you and your skills that really matter. For those, who don’t excited by the thrill of a real tournament or those who aren’t just confident in their abilities this is probably the best way to enjoy real professional poker.

One can say that it all depends on how introvert or extrovert a person is. If you’re seeking attention and love seeing another person near you get nervous when you hit blackjack, then you will definitely find online tournaments boring and lacking the real excitement of the game. But if you jut want to win and don’t care about who’s sitting next to you and don’t want to be distracted from your strategy then playing online seems like a perfect choice for you. Of course, the best way is to try both things and define what works best for you.

Looking round the US right now is a bit like Alice in Wonderland (but not the big-earning version by Tim Burton which looks to beat the one billion mark in takings worldwide). There’s a lot of unreality around and it all goes back to one of these pesky idioms, “Trying to get blood from a stone”. Let’s take it step by step. In the world of boxing, you introduce the fighters according to their corners. So, in the blue corner, you have the lefty socialist liberals and they all want to keep the entitlement spending without increasing taxes. While in the red corner, you have all those Tea Party members who want to do away with government and all its spending on little things like defense and the infrastructure that delivers electricity, drinking water and so on. Oh, and they don’t want to raise taxes either. In fact, abolishing big government means no IRS. So, whoever you ask, they all agree it’s impossible to raise taxes (”starve the beast” as the GOP puts it) but, without more money coming from somewhere, it will be impossible to balance the budget. Does balancing the budget matter? Well, ask Greece whether they should balance their budget. Once the riots die down, you may have an answer. In the meantime, the world’s lenders think Greece will default on its debts. In ten years time, without action from the US government (big or small), the same fear may affect the US power to borrow.

So, right now, states cannot raise taxes and face paying out on entitlements. The majority are licensing more gambling. The levy is not counted as a tax and is politically acceptable. Except, there’s too much gambling already. No matter how many casinos or other sites you licence, there’s still the same number of gamblers. Hence, the reference to “blood from stone”. It’s going to be very difficult for states to get any real increase in revenue, particularly when you add in the effect of online gambling. With rising gas prices and family budgets still under pressure because of the recession, it’s cheaper and more convenient to stay home to gamble.

So, let’s pick a few states and see what plans are in the pipeline. Go to Boston and you find yourself in a war zone with New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island all pushing their own gambling agendas. Wherever you look, there are plans for new resort-casinos and thousands of slot machines at race tracks and dedicated slots parlors. With all these states in competition to attract the same hard-core gamblers, they all risk ending up with little improvement to their revenue streams. More interestingly, you have to doubt the commercial judgement of the corporations still prepared to consider building new casinos. Just as the states have looming deficits to fill, many of the existing casinos have fallen on hard times as online slots have grown more popular. Indeed, if the GOP and its Tea Party element are against big government, they should oppose the use of gambling to prop up state finances. Surely, the libertarian stays home to play slots, keeps all the winnings and pays no taxes, direct or indirect.