When players are choosing where to sit in a live Blackjack game, many players take the last seat at the table before the dealer in getting the dealt cards. This should be one of the seats taken even if the player is playing more than one hand This last seat at the table is known as “third base” among veteran Blackjack players. The reasons for taking this position in preference to others at the table is simple. This position can take a card or decline it depending on what the dealer is showing in an up card. When the dealer is showing a break card, the player with a bad drawing hand can elect to let the dealer take a potential break card and not take a card that may break their hand. Many players will leave a table that has a player playing the “third base” position like an idiot. Others will not play at a table if they can not have the last position.

Another advantage of this position is the player gets to see the dealt cards that other players take when hitting their hands. If the payer is counting cards, this is a preferred seat as the count could change from favorable or to unfavorable before it is the third baseman’s turn to take a hit. To keep it simple, this seat has more going for it than any other seat at the table.

A bad third base play can ruin the chances of winning for the entire table and a solid player in this position can make the table a winner by not hitting a hand when the dealer is showing a break card. One of the winning theories in Blackjack is let the dealer break when possible. This is known as playing for the dealer to break. A run of small cards just before it is the third base player’s turn to take a hit will help this player decide what to do when the dealer is showing a break card. When the last player sees the odds of a large card coming next, it makes sense to let the dealer have the card when the dealer is drawing to a potentially bad hand. Play from the third base seat, you will like it better than others at the table.