I’m sure those of you who have been playing Blackjack for quite a while know exactly how sitting on the Third Base — the last seat on a Blackjack table — can be beneficial. You get the chance to watch other players make their moves before having to make your own. I love sitting on the Third Base, especially because I have more time thinking about my next move and I get to generally be more profitable this way.

However, sitting on the Third Base can also cause troubles. I was playing a nice game of Blackjack last week and I saw a game filled with nice people; a man was sitting on the Third Base, possibly new to Blackjack. As the game progresses, this man sitting on the Third Base got scolded for making the ‘wrong move’ several times. Yes, you will receive the most scrutiny when you are sitting at the Third Base. When you get a big card that throws you out of the game — especially when the basic strategy told you otherwise — before the dealer hit a nice 3 for a total of 20, other players at the table tend to blame their losses on you.

Other players may get upset, but you need to remember that the dealer winning the round is entirely not your fault. The only person that can influence the outcome of your play is yourself. It would be best to study the basic strategy if you plan on sitting at the Third Base, though; at least you know how to justify you move and avoid upset players that will make it harder for you to focus on the game.