First Base

First base is the seat at a blackjack table immediately to the dealer's left, and from the players' perspective the far right chair, which is dealt cards first and must act on its hand before anyone else each round. Because the dealer works clockwise, whoever sits at first base sets the tempo for the whole table and faces every decision with the least information available. The position carries a small amount of folklore. Card counters sometimes avoid first base because it is dealt immediately after the shuffle or cut, giving the least time to observe cards and adjust a running count before committing chips. Superstitious players may also blame the first-base seat for "taking the dealer's bust card" when a late hit changes the outcome, though this belief has no mathematical basis: over the long run, seat position does not alter a player's expected return. Worked example: at a full six-seat table dealing roughly 60 rounds per hour, the first-base player makes the opening decision on all 60 hands. Assuming flat £10 bets and a house edge of about 0.5% under basic strategy, the expected hourly loss is 60 x £10 x 0.005 = £3, identical to what any other seat would face. The seat changes when you act, not how much you can expect to win or lose. For players, first base suits those who prefer to act quickly and dislike watching others agonise; the opposite seat, third base, acts last. Choosing a seat is purely a matter of comfort, since the mathematics of blackjack are unaffected by where you sit.