Does Seat Position Matter In Blackjack?

The blackjack anchor seat is home to the last player to act at the table before the dealer. Many players believe this is an important position at the table that can have some major bearing on how things play out for everyone else at the table – whether winning or losing at times. 

But is the anchor seat in blackjack really important? Is this simply a misnomer as to the importance of plays made from this one seat at a blackjack? Keep reading to answer some of those questions.

Does It Matter Where You Sit In Blackjack?

Some argue that sitting in the anchor seat can have a major impact on the result of a hand – especially if this player makes the right plays according to basic blackjack strategy. For example, the dealer may have a 5 and the anchor seat player may have played a 12.

Correct basic strategy says that this player with the 12 should hit against the dealer’s 2 or 3. However, this player then draws a 10 and busts. But the dealer then draws a 9 for 21 – wiping out the other players in the process. Some players may feel this seat is critical based on hands like this.

Blackjack Anchor Seat Explained

In the above example, the other players at the table may engage in some grumbling about this “bad play,” but the player in the blackjack anchor seat (also known as “third base”) made the correct move mathematically. It’s also important to note that the next card counting to 10 falling on his hand was just luck of the draw. One doesn’t know what that next card is going to be.

“The reality is, the cards about to be dealt could just as easily have been reversed, meaning that the incorrect play would have saved the entire table,” the Las Vegas Advisor notes. “This happens all the time, but our selective memories don’t catalog it. It’s not just third base. Mathematical studies indicate that the skill levels of all of the players combined on a table make no difference to your expectation.”

Despite this, many players still mistakenly believe that this position requires an “educated” player to help prevent the dealer from drawing more chances and winning blackjack hands.

Benefits of Being The Anchorman

So what are the benefits of being the anchorman at the blackjack table? That may be in the eye of the beholder. As the Las Vegas Advisor notes, actual positioning at the table has no effect on the long-term play experienced players make at the table.

The cards come out randomly, but players may be critical at times when the anchorman player seems to give the dealer a shot at a winning hand. So what are the benefits of sitting in this position?

It really just seems to be irrelevant in the long run. The seat may offer a little elbow room with only one player seated next to you. Card counters may also benefit from this seat as it allows them to see more cards before acting last. The anchor seat in blackjack may in fact be more of a headache than anything because of the expectations of other players.

As the Advisor notes: “One seat should be avoided. Believe it or not, it’s the very one we’ve been discussing, third base position. The reason is that 99% of blackjack players don’t know or understand what’s just been explained here. And that means they’re almost sure to blame you when they don’t agree with your play and something goes wrong.

“Who needs the added pressure? Take a seat in the middle.”

Where Should You Sit at a Blackjack Table?

Players should generally look for a seat in which they feel comfortable. Here are a few reminders to think about with each specific seat though.

• First Base – This is the first player to act at the dealer’s left. You’ll receive the first card and have a great view of the table (which may also benefit card counters). This seat may also feature a little more elbow room, aligning with good blackjack etiquette, as there isn’t another player located to your right.
• Third Base – the last player to act and also known as the anchor seat in blackjack. There will also be a bit more room in this position as well. Some players knowledgeable in basic strategy may enjoy this seat to ensure that the cards fall “naturally” and “mathematically” in this seat and for the dealer. Some may consider this the best seat at the blackjack table as a card counter can see all the cards that came before in the hand.
• Shortstop – This is the blackjack term for player position between first and third base. These players may face much less pressure than the player in the blackjack anchor seat. This may also be a nice seat to talk with other players.

Conclusion

As noted, the importance of seating position in blackjack may be a bit overrated, including in the anchor seat. This position is often called the third base position and some players believe critical “mistakes” in this seat can be costly for other players. However, all cards fall randomly and in another instance, the correct play by the anchorman may also save the other players at the table.

Players should choose a seating position that aligns with their playing style, strategy preferences, and level of comfort.

For ultimate comfort while playing cryptocurrency blackjack, players should head to Lucky Block Casino to test their skills and to play from anywhere.

Learn more on blackjack:

• What are blackjack tournaments?
• What is a blackjack push?
• What is blackjack insurance?
• Blackjack dealer responsibilities
• Blackjack variants
• Blackjack side bets explained
• What are the blackjack odds?
• Who invented blackjack?
• Deck quantity in blackjack
• What is a hard 17 in blackjack?

Frequently Asked Questions

Do bad blackjack players hurt the table?

No, all cards fall at random and the importance of players in certain situations acting in certain ways has no effect on players in seating positions in the long run – including in the anchor seat.

Is it better to play blackjack at a full table?

Yes, the game play will move slower helping to conserve your blackjack bankroll over the long run.

Which is the best seat for blackjack card counters?

Many argue that third base (the anchor seat) is the best seat at blackjack a table because it’s easy to see all other cards before it’s your turn to act. Others also argue that the first base position is the best seat as it’s also easy to look out on the table and see all the cards when counting.

How do you pick a good blackjack table?

Look for rules that are favorable to the player, such as 3 to 2 payouts on blackjack, surrender, double on any cards, resplitting, and more. Blackjack is a game with a low house edge and some of these blackjack rules can reduce that even more.

Is the last seat best in blackjack?

This all depends on the player. Card counters may prefer this seat to better see all the cards on the table before acting. Some players may feel too much pressure here as other players mistakenly focus on what they deem “bad plays” despite what basic strategy tells a player is the mathematically correct move to make.