Blackjack Tips: Advice for Playing Online Blackjack

Blackjack is possibly the most strategic of all table games. This means that before you start playing online blackjack, you're going to want to know what you're doing so that you can get the most out of every hand you play. The following tips will undoubtedly get you started off on the right foot so that you can start playing one of the best online gambling games for players!

Use a Strategy Chart

Plenty of people have different opinions about blackjack strategy. However, the truth is that this game is firmly rooted in math, which means that there is a correct play in every situation that will show the best returns for you in the long run. Memorizing every single possible situation and the correct play is difficult, though – especially when you consider the slight differences between rules at various blackjack sites and in different blackjack games.

Luckily, there's no need to memorize anything. Basic strategy charts are freely available online, and most of the blackjack games at major internet gambling sites are covered by the commonly available charts. Even if you somehow run into a game that isn't covered by a chart you can find, many sites offer strategy calculators that can generate charts based on the rules you enter. This means there's never an excuse to play without a chart, and you should never make a strategic error during play.

Become Familiar with Blackjack Variants

If you're a traditional blackjack player, it may be tempting to dismiss other blackjack variants like Pontoon and Blackjack Switch as gimmicks that aren't worth your time. And it is true that these variants are quite different than the original blackjack, so it does take some time to understand how the strategies for variants differ from the ones you already know.

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't take the time to become familiar with blackjack variants. While some of these games carry a high house edge, others offer surprisingly good odds for players. In fact, at some internet gambling sites, the best "blackjack" game could very well be a variant with only a microscopic advantage for the house. The more variants you learn, the more opportunities you'll have to play games with the best possible odds for you.

Don't Try Card Counting Online

Properly done, card counting can give players an edge over the house in blackjack. And despite what movies have been telling you for decades, the actual techniques for card counting aren't hard, and don't require a particularly good memory. The hardest part for most players is finding the best balance between increasing their advantage and disguising their play so that they aren't detected by casino personnel.

Unfortunately, these techniques do not work in the slightest when it comes to online poker. At online gambling sites, the cards are "reshuffled" after every hand. This means that even the cards that were just dealt to you are as likely to be dealt again as any other. Since the fact that some cards are out of the shoe – and the fact that this changes the odds because the cards remaining in the shoe are different than the normal random distribution of cards – is the only thing that allows card counting to work in the first place, it is impossible to card count an online blackjack game.

Understand Randomness

Remember that every card dealt in an online blackjack site is random and independent. This means that you can't predict what will happen on your next hand based on what has occurred on random hand. This is related to our last tip, but goes further than that, as it also covers superstitions about being "due" for a win.

Gambling systems based on increasing bets after losses don't work; even if you've lost ten hands in a row, the odds on your next hand are still the same. Accepting this will help you focus on playing the right strategy and avoiding making bad decisions based on emotions.

Don't Mix Drinking and Gambling

There are a couple of good reasons not to drink while you play blackjack. First of all, blackjack is a game of strategy, and it's safe to say that players are less likely to follow the correct strategies when they're under the influence of alcohol. But just as importantly, you're likely to lose track of how much you're spending at the tables. Many gamblers have woken up only to find that they've played for hours that they can't even remember, losing most or all of their bankroll in the process. Don't let that happen to you – stay sharp, and only gamble for real money when you're sober!

Learn the Rules at Your Casino

The exact rules being used at your online casino site are important when it comes to evaluating and playing blackjack. Even such a seemingly small difference as whether your casino uses a four-deck, six-deck, or "infinite" shoe can change some of the proper strategies that you should use, while whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17 can change the strategy – and the odds – entirely. Be sure to understand exactly what you're getting into each time you play an online blackjack game to ensure you're getting the best odds possible.

Practice in Free Play Mode

One of the biggest advantages of playing blackjack at an online gambling site rather than at a live casino is that you'll have the option of playing games without risking any of your money. You should take advantage of this fact by trying out games in free play mode before you play for real money. This will help you find out what games and software you enjoy most. You can also practice basic strategy this way in order to ensure you know the proper play in every situation before attempting to play for real money without a strategy chart handy.

Manage Your Money

As in any form of gambling, money management is a critical part of responsible play. While the odds in blackjack are rather good for players, that doesn't mean you can expect to win every time you play. It's important that each bet you make represents only a very small portion of your bankroll, or else a short string of bad luck could bankrupt you in just a few hands. Keeping your bets low and setting stop loss limits that you plan to stick to is a great way to ensure that you'll be able to play blackjack for a long time without having to reload your bank account!

Know the Odds

It's important to make sure you're getting the best odds possible at all times. That means looking at all of the blackjack games available on your favorite online gambling site – or at least all of the blackjack games you enjoy playing – and finding out what the odds are on each one. That will allow you to play only the games that have the lowest house edges, while avoiding games that seem tempting but are actually sucker bets. If you stick to only the best games, your money will last longer and you'll increase your chance of coming out ahead each time you play.

Utilize Bonuses

Wouldn't it be great if your local casino would give you extra chips to play with every time you bought into a game? Another of the great things about online gambling is that internet casinos actually will do this, in the form of signup bonuses. Since you'll be playing blackjack, you'll have to make sure you're taking bonuses for which blackjack play is eligible; many online casinos offer special blackjack bonuses just for this purpose. They may not be as generous as the bonuses offered to slots players, but they're still free money that no player should be foolish enough to turn down.