Online Blackjack Tips
This list of online blackjack tips contains both general tips for getting started and specific strategy tips that will help increase your win rate. Blackjack itself is not a complicated game, but it does include more decision making than the average casino game.
Find a Reputable Online Blackjack Casino
Before you ever even see a card, it’s important that you find a reputable online blackjack casino. The casinos that we recommend here have proven track records and are generally considered to be the safest places to play real money blackjack.
Most online casinos are completely safe to play at but it never hurts to exercise a little caution. It’s sort of like playing blackjack in Las Vegas: do you feel safer playing at a big name casino like the Wynn or would you rather play at Big Bub’s Blackjack Pit? In the online world, it’s just as important to play at well-known casinos.
Find a Nice Blackjack Bonus
Every online casino offers some sort of sign up bonus to all new players. These bonuses are given in the form of cash that can be used at the casino. The catch is that you have to play enough casino games to meet the playthrough requirements before you can withdraw your bonus money.
Most casinos don’t let blackjack count towards their wagering requirements because the house advantage is so low. Those casinos would rather you play at pure luck games like roulette because those games are more profitable for the casino. The following casinos allow blackjack wagering to count towards their rollover requirements:
- Cherry Red Casino – 200% up to $1200
- Rushmore Casino – 200% up to $1000
- Bodog Casino – 10% unlimited
Note – Bodog does not count Pontoon towards wagering requirements but regular blackjack is fine.
Do Not Take the Insurance Bet
The insurance bet is designed to take advantage of timid gamblers. In this bet, you have the option to place an additional bet if the dealer is showing an Ace. If the dealer has a blackjack, you receive 2:1 on your insurance bet and end up breaking even for the hand.
The problem with insurance is that it has a high house advantage. The money you try so hard to save with insurance actually goes faster when you use this bet. In the long run, you save more money by fighting it out against the dealer.
Do Not Surrender Too Often
Surrender has its uses, but the average blackjack player uses it way too often. The cost of forfeiting half your bet is almost always greater than the expected value of trying to beat the dealer. If you have a 25% or greater chance of winning the hand, insurance should be avoided.
The only time surrender is recommended is when you have a 16 and the dealer is showing a 9,10 or A and when you have 15 and the dealer is showing a 10. In all other cases, the surrender option is more costly than playing it out.
Split Aces and 8’s but Not Face Cards
Aces and 8s should always be split but cards with a value of 10 should be kept. Aces are good for splitting because they make it easy to get to 21 without going bust. Eights should be split because 16 is not a strong total.
Face cards should not be split because they combine for a hand worth 20 points. Splitting your tens just breaks up a perfectly good hand. You make more money in the long run by keeping your tens together.
Stand With 13-16 if Dealer’s Face Card is Below 7
Standing with these middle counts is the best strategy when the dealer has a low card. Standing is the correct play here because the odds of the dealer busting are greater than the odds of you improving to a stronger hand. The math says that the best strategy in this situation is to stand.
Learn Basic Blackjack Strategy
Basic blackjack strategy isn’t overly complicated but it can work wonders on your win rate. A smart blackjack strategy minimizes the house advantages and increases your chance of winning. There’s no excuse for not using a little basic blackjack strategy, especially when you can print off blackjack strategy cards and play a perfect game with minimal effort.
Don’t Tilt
The word “tilt” is usually used in poker circles, but the concept applies to blackjack as well. This online blackjack tip means that you should never play blackjack under the influence of negative emotions. A tilt session at blackjack almost always looks something like this:
A player hits a bad run of cards and loses a bunch of money quickly. That player then gets angry and starts placing bigger and bigger bets while disregarding basic blackjack strategy. He just keeps pounding the “hit” button, which helps him lose more money, which only makes him tilt even harder.
Keep Your Bankroll Separate From Your Other Money
Blackjack has the lowest house advantage in the casino but it’s still a gambling game at heart. With that in mind, make sure you always keep your blackjack bankroll separate from your personal finances. No matter how much you know about blackjack, there are no guarantees.
