You have probably walked into a casino and wondered why a couple of blackjack tables are very crowded and the rest are completely empty. And you have probably observed that the tables that are crowded tend to get more crowded and those that are empty, remain so. While you might have thought it is to do with the dealer’s popularity or the stakes won or lost at a particular table that is not quite the truth. The reason is a simple fear of the house, of not wanting to be in front of a dealer alone.

What people do not realize is that their chances of losing at an empty table are just as high as a crowded table. The only difference is that at a crowded table the game gets longer and each person’s turn comes slower. So instead of losing all the money they walked in with before the end of five minutes, they make it last for about half an hour.

Even at the crowded tables, players believe in theories that propagate the right base to sit on at a blackjack table. Apparently, for the players who use basic strategy, it does not really matter which seat they take. It does not improve their chances to be at first base or third. For those who count cards, and use strategy variations, it is considered best to sit at the third base, so that they can see as many cards as possible before it is their turn to play.

There’s a joke that does the rounds at these tables, when beginners ask the more experienced players about choosing a base. It goes, “When playing against a ’front loading’ dealer, the best seat is the one that gives you the best shot at getting a glimpse of the dealer’s hole card.”