Learn the Rules to Different Blackjack Games

Online casinos offer dozens of blackjack games with only minor differences in the rules or gameplay. These variances are often overlooked but can drain your bankroll.

In American blackjack, for instance, the dealer can peek at their hole card for natural blackjack before players make any further moves. Compared to European blackjack, players would have to make more bets before the dealer revealed if they had blackjack. Learn the blackjack rules of these games and alter your gameplay accordingly if you want to beat the casino.

Have Some Basic Strategies Ready

Basic blackjack strategy is based on decades of research by mathematicians to find the best gameplay for any player’s hand. Rather than making random decisions, basic strategy uses simple rules and charts based on probability and odds to give players a better chance of winning real money from the casino. With basic strategy, the house edge in blackjack drops from 2% to 0.5%. Even applying one rule of basic playing strategy can help players win more.

Step Up Your Game with Free Blackjack Practice

Don’t waste your bankroll on silly mistakes. Free games and blackjack apps are great for trying out new titles or practicing basic strategy. Our Free Blackjack Arcade offers over 60 blackjack games, with no download or sign-up required. Players wanting strategy practice will find charts and betting tips in our free titles to help them take on the dealer. Our blackjack games are identical to those found at online casinos, which is perfect for casual players looking for fun titles.

Add Card Counting to Your Gameplay

Blackjack movies feature card counting as a mind-blowingly complicated calculation, but some systems like Hi-Lo are surprisingly simple. It just takes time and practice to master. Card counting can help you assess what cards remain in the shoe and make smarter bets accordingly. For experienced players, card counting can also tell you when to deploy any deviations in your blackjack strategy. Despite casinos’ efforts to combat card counting recently, it’s still an essential skill for players that want to win more money from the blackjack tables.

Use a Blackjack Strategy Card

Strategy charts help you make the best move on any hand in blackjack. Most casinos ban players from placing strategy cards on the table, but this isn’t an issue with online blackjack or live blackjack games. Players can take their time studying strategy cards in online games and avoid making any costly errors.

Avoid Live Blackjack Tables with Continuous Shufflers

Some blackjack dealers will use continuous shuffling machines (CSMs) every few rounds. These devices continually shuffle 3-5 decks at once, making it impossible to count cards. Look for games that use batch/automatic shuffle machines after 50-75% of the shoe is played. Better yet, find blackjack tables where the dealer shuffles the cards themselves. These live blackjack games will give you greater chances of winning some cash.

Stick to Your Betting Limits

Experienced blackjack players know how to stretch their bankroll. Before joining a blackjack table, decide how long you want to play and how much of your bankroll you want to spend. Consider any buy-in and bet limits of the table, and the number of hands per hour the table is playing. This will help you judge which real money blackjack games you can afford to play and set realistic bet limits for yourself.

Ignore the Insurance Bet

Online casinos know new blackjack players love side bets, and bank on them taking insurance whenever it’s offered. Unless you can count cards, this is the worst side bet to make. The odds of a dealer making blackjack are 9:4 yet the payout for insurance bet is only 2:1. Combined with a 7.4% house edge in six-deck blackjack games, insurance bets only pay out disappointment. Copy blackjack pros and avoid this side bet at (almost) all costs.