Blackjack Strategy and Tips

Consistency is a big part of playing a winning game, and that means using proper basic strategy when playing your hand. Playing a correct hand means that each decision you make on hitting, standing, doubling or splitting pairs is the correct mathematical play for that hand. Here are some Blackjack tips to help develop a winning strategy.

1. The casino's "secret" advantage in blackjack is the order of play. The dealer completes their hand last, so a player can bust and lose even when the dealer also busts. If the order of play were reversed, casinos would cease to exist because players would bankrupt the industry.

2. Don't let intuition, gut feelings or guessing interfere with playing basic strategy. Be aware that sometimes intuition or gut feeling will lead you away from using basic strategy.

3. Learn about your online banking options. Many casinos will no longer accept credit cards. Some of your options for online payment include Neteller, Firepay, and ePassporte. There are many other options available as well.

4. If you are interested in bonus play only, wager small to increase the odds that you will be able to fulfill the wagering requirements, which you need to meet before the casino will allow a cashout. Read the casinos terms and conditions to make sure that the game you are playing will count towards the wager requirements.

5. Also for bonus play only, consider playing slightly over the wagering requirements so that the casino won't label you an advantage player. Don't try to cashout with the bonus until you have doubled your initial deposit, and then only cashout around two thirds of your winnings. After that, continue to double your initial deposit before attempting a cashout again.

6. Many casinos will reload your account with another bonus every month so check for this when signing up at a casino. Make sure to use an email address that you check often.

7. Be aware of the different rules of a Blackjack game and choose a table where the minimum bet is around 5% of your bankroll. Also, choose tables where it is allowed to double down on any two cards and that the dealer has to stand on a soft 17. These table rules are an advantage to the player.

8. The minimum bet at the table you choose should not be more than 5% of your bankroll.

9. Stand on any hand with a total value above 11 and the dealer is showing a Four, Five, or Six. The dealer's hand will likely bust somewhere around 35 to 40% of the time.

10. Never split Face cards, Ten's or Five's.

11. Always split Eight's or Seven's against the dealer's hand of equal or less value.

12. Always split Two's and Three's when the dealer is showing a Four, Five, or Six.

13. Always split Aces.

14. When you lose two or three times by hitting on a hard 16 against the dealer's 10, stick with the strategy. Strategy wins in the long run. Don't get discouraged with short term losses.

15. Know when a dealer is just too hot and leave the table. Many people think their luck will change, and likely it won't. If you continue to lose at the next table you play, give it up for the day.

16. Statistically, it takes about twenty-one hands to see a natural.

17. Every seventeen hands will produce a pair in a single deck game of blackjack;

18. Every two hundred and twenty one hands you can expect to see double aces.