Online Blackjack Strategy No. 1: Basic Strategy

First, online blackjack players should always have a basic strategy chart handy. This chart will tell a player the correct play to make in every situation.

There may be some variations from site to site, with respect to areas like number of virtual decks used, splitting options and what the dealer must do on soft 17. Make sure your chart calibrates to the rules of your particular online blackjack game before starting.

Online Blackjack Strategy No. 2: Avoid Insurance

The basic strategy chart does not necessarily cover the insurance bet and with good reason. You should always avoid insurance.

Insurance means you put up an additional half a bet when the dealer is showing an ace. If the dealer has blackjack, you win 2-to-1 on your insurance bet. You also lose your main bet, unless you have blackjack, in which case you get a 1-to-1 payout no matter what happens.

If the dealer does not have blackjack, you lose the insurance bet and play the hand normally. The odds of the dealer having blackjack are longer than 2-to-1 in every situation. You should never take this bet no matter how tempting it may look.

Online Blackjack Strategy No. 3: What About Counting?

The odds of successfully counting into a random number generator such as the ones online blackjack sites use are very slim, especially if you are playing a single-player game. You are better off simply applying proper strategy.

If you wish to try to keep track of how many ten point cards have been played, you are certainly welcome to do so. However, strategy adjustments based on this count are not guaranteed to give you any kind of advantage during your game.

Use Basic Strategy

While each blackjack situation has its own correct action, you don’t have to figure out what that action is at the table. Fortunately, all the strategy is already there. The correct move for every blackjack situation has already been mapped out. All you need to do is memorize the correct moves.

In fact, you don’t even need to do that. Basic strategy charts with all the right moves are available online. Keep the chart open in a separate window and refer to it whenever you have a tough decision.

Find Favorable Rules

Not all blackjack games are equal. Some games force the dealer to hit a soft 17, while others force the dealer to stand. Some offer surrender and others do not. Compare different blackjack games and look for the most favorable rules before choosing a place to play.

Remember that basic strategy may be slightly different for different sets of rules. Be sure that you have the right strategy chart for the game you are playing.

Use Bonuses

Even if you play perfectly, the House will still have a slight edge. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t be worth it for them to offer the game.

However, the House edge does not take into account any bonus money you may have earned. Large sign-up bonuses or loyalty bonuses can pad your bankroll enough that you’ll have plenty of money left over by the time your bonus clears.

If you play correctly and can successfully garner enough bonus cash, you can temporarily turn online blackjack into a positive expectation game. Even if you don’t come out ahead in the long run, you can extend your playing time considerably.