Online Blackjack Tips
31 Mar 2009
Online Blackjack Tips
If you’ve been playing online blackjack but not getting the results you wanted, you may be taking the wrong approach. Blackjack is a game designed to be in the House’s favor. However, with correct play the edge should be small enough that you should be able to win almost half the time. If you are experiencing consistent losses whenever you play, there may be a few things you can do differently.
Are You Using Basic Strategy?
You cannot expect to win when you play blackjack online unless you use basic strategy. Basic strategy is a list of guidelines for when to hit and stand in blackjack that has been proven mathematically to be the best way to reduce the House edge.
This does not mean you will win every hand, but it means you will always make the decision that is most likely to be successful. Using basic strategy is easy, especially online. You can find easy-to-read color coded charts on many a website, and you can keep the chart open in its own window to refer to as you play.
Are You Taking Insurance?
If you routinely take the insurance bet against the dealer having blackjack, stop. The dealer will not have blackjack most of the time, so taking insurance is giving away some edge to the House.
This is true even if you have blackjack and take “even money.” It may seem that “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” but the reality is you are not playing a single hand, but a full session and it is important to make the highest percentage play every time.
Are You Playing Over Your Head?
Blackjack, especially single player online casino blackjack, can move pretty quickly. Be sure you have a large enough bankroll for the stakes you are playing and that you are playing at a steady, unhurried pace.
If the stakes are too high, you may too often lose your whole bankroll before the odds have a chance to even out. Consider moving down to lower stakes if you think this is happening to you.
