Casino Blackjack Strategy

Most people who play online blackjack don't really have a clue about who to play their hands properly. They may think they do when they play blackjack online, but invariably these people will sit in front of their computer and ponder their decisions for absurd lengths of time, with a high degree of uncertainty until the entire hand has been played out. I've actually seen players who timed out at an online blackjack table because they couldn't figure out what to do with their hands when they endeavored to play blackjack online. For many people what they see as the result of the immediate hand is the sole determinant of whether or not it was the correct play. That philosophy represents a short-run way of thinking, which is perilous. Blackjack games are long-run propositions, and when it comes your playing strategy, consistency is the key to winning, or at least having a chance to win.

And meanwhile, as far as online blackjack is concerned, "long run" is the key word - computer programs have run trials of millions of hands, calculating the odds on every conceivable result. Out of this research a "Basic Strategy" is derived, which is perfectly appropriate when you play blackjack online. The Basic Strategy, for online blackjack and in fact any form of blackjack, is "basically" a set of rules outlining the best possible decisions you can make regarding each and every possible card combination between player and dealer when you play blackjack online, that is, if you are not involved in the process of counting cards, which is not really possible in online blackjack games, which use a random shuffle. Whatever level of skill you have reached, the Basic Strategy provides a solid foundation on which to make any decision at the blackjack table. It's advisable that it be used 100% of the time, without variation, and please keep in mind that in discussing strategies in blackjack it is something that takes hold over the long-run. Also have a look at our blackjack tips section.

Generally for online blackjack, if you memorize the rules, you're going to be playing a better game of blackjack. The "nutshell" version makes you easily aware of it when you play blackjack online. Understand that online blackjack is very similar to "table" blackjack, so when you play blackjack online, the Basic Strategy will be just as relevant. Of course, you're going to hit when you are dealt a two-card 5, 6, 7 or 8. When you have a 9, you'll double against a dealer's 3-6 up card. With 10, you double against a dealer's 2 through 9. With 11, double against dealer's 2-10. Otherwise you hit in all these cases. With 12, you stand on 4, 5 or 6; with 13 through 16, you stand against a 3-6, otherwise you hit. Soft hands are handled as follows: A2 and A3 - double against dealer's 5 or 6; A4 and A5 - double against 4, 5 or 6; A6 - double against 3 through 6. Otherwise hit in all cases. For an A7 it's a bit different. Here, you double against the dealer's 3 through 6, stand against a 7, otherwise hit. Always stand on A9 and A10 (of course). Splitting pairs is easier. Split a pair of twos, threes or sevens against 2 through 7, a pair of fours against the dealer's five or six, and a pair of sixes against 2 through 6. Anytime else, you hit. Split nines against the dealer's 2-9, stand against seven, otherwise hit. Always split aces and eights. Always stand with a pair of tens. That's it, very plain and very "basic."