10 Online Blackjack Tips to Win

Online blackjack has exploded in popularity in recent years. The fast-paced casino card game offers players an exciting experience and the chance to win big payouts. However, in order to consistently come out ahead, you need to learn proper blackjack strategy and play smart. Use these 10 online blackjack tips to improve your skills and start winning more hands. With the right approach, you can master the game and beat the house edge. Knowing the proper tips and strategies for online blackjack is crucial to becoming a winning player. The advice outlined in this guide will help you make the right moves at the right time.

Recognize The Variations Between Live And Online Blackjack

Live blackjack played from home has some key differences compared to in-person blackjack at a physical casino. With live dealer blackjack, you play against a real human dealer streamed to your screen. This provides an authentic casino experience without leaving home. The pace can be a bit slower than automated online blackjack. Learning the nuances of both live and automated online blackjack is key. Some features of live dealer blackjack:

• Played in real-time with a human dealer
• Slower pace of play
• Chat feature for social interaction
• Wide variety of table limits
• Casino atmosphere from home

Whereas automated online blackjack offers:

• Faster gameplay against computer dealer
• Lower minimum bets
• Ability to multi-table from your home
• Lower overhead costs passed as better odds
• No pressure from casino environment

The great thing is both live and automated online blackjack allow you to play comfortably from home. Our tips can help improve your strategy and chances of winning, no matter which format you prefer.

Learn The Order Of The Cards

Gavin Smith, well-known Canadian professional poker player, who has lifetime live tournament winnings exceeded $6,321,000 once said: 

“In the game of blackjack, luck smiles on those who are prepared.”

So we will be those who are prepared. Even if blackjack outcomes ultimately come down to chance, learning the order and ratios in which cards appear in the deck can help to improve betting strategy. Each card in the deck has a specific value that contributes to your hand total:

• Numbered cards 2 through 10 are worth their face value
• Face cards – Jack, Queen, King – are each worth 10 points
• Aces can be valued at either 1 or 11, whichever is more advantageous

Knowing the frequencies of certain card values appearing can guide strategy. For example, there are 16 ten-value cards (the 10, Jack, Queen and King of each suit). This means you have about a 1 in 3 chance of being dealt a 10-point card.

The cards are dealt from a shuffled deck in random order. But over time, patterns emerge – like getting dealt a ten-value card roughly once every three hands. Tracking the order and ratios of the cards appearing in the deck helps with decisions like when to hit, stand, split or double down.

For example, if you have a 12 and the dealer is showing a 5, the odds favor hitting to try to get closer to 21, knowing there’s a good chance you’ll get a 10. Mastering the card values and understanding the deck composition is key to making optimal moves.

When Considering Whether To Hit Or Stand, Use Prudence

One of the main strategic choices in blackjack is deciding whether to “hit” and take another card or “stand” with your current hand. The decision relies on knowing the ideal hand values to target based on what the dealer is showing. For example:

• If you have 16 and the dealer has a 7, the odds favor hitting to try to get closer to 21. 
• But with 19 and the dealer showing 6, standing is the wise move. 

Learning basic strategy guides for when to hit or stand based on your hand value and the dealer’s upper card is key. Having a strategy chart handy can guide you on the statistically best moves to make in each situation. Also, there are options like “double” or “split” the hand. These options are not available everywhere, but can be useful in specific situations at specific time. Doubling the hand instantly doubles your bet size and you have only 1 card to receive. Splitting means to split your hand with dealt cards. These cards always equal the same number — whether your hand has 4 (2 and 2), or 20 (face card + 10). Splitting aces is the most effective way to increase your bankroll.

Don’t leave the decision up to chance – use the data to know when to prudently hit or stand. Mastering this core strategic choice will greatly boost your odds at the tables. For increasing odds and better understanding situations, when it’s better to hit/stand/double/split, here is a blackjack table chart. Take your time and understand the logic of all moves by yourself.

Keep Playing The Online Blackjack Game Type That You Want

There are many popular variations of online blackjack, including:

• Classic Blackjack
• European Blackjack
• Speed Blackjack
• Infinite Blackjack
• Free Bet Blackjack
• Vegas Strip Blackjack
• Atlantic City Blackjack
• Spanish 21
• Blackjack without 9s’

And even more varieties! The rules, payouts, and house edge can vary between the different game types. Find the variety that you enjoy most and stick with it to maintain consistency. This allows you to refine your strategy without having to re-learn new rules and odds. Some popular choices are Classic for simplicity, European for its favorable rules, and Vegas Strip for authentic casino action. Avoid bouncing between different variants as it can get confusing. Pick one blackjack style, learn its intricacies, and keep playing it to master the specific strategy.

Avoid Placing Insurance Bets

When the dealer shows an Ace (11) as their upcard, you may be offered the chance to make an “insurance” side bet. This allows you to wager up to half your original bet as “insurance” in case the dealer gets blackjack. While it may seem like a good hedge, avoid this bet as a novice player!

Insurance becomes available when the dealer’s up card is an Ace because this gives them a high chance of having blackjack. If they do get blackjack, your insurance bet will pay out 2:1 to help offset your main bet loss.

“For example, if you bet $10 on your initial hand and the dealer has an Ace, you might place a $5 insurance bet. If the dealer gets blackjack you win $10 from insurance but still lose your original $10 bet, breaking even. But if they don't get blackjack, you lose the $5 insurance cost.”

However, the house edge on insurance bets is a massive 16%! You would lose money over time. The dealer only has about a 30% chance of actually having blackjack when showing an Ace. The odds are in your favor to decline insurance and just play out the hand normally.

Save your bankroll and don’t fall for the insurance trap. Unless you’re an advanced player using card counting, avoid it. You’ll win more hands over time by declining insurance and playing strategically

Learn The Fundamentals Of Blackjack And Use Them

We know the basics of when to hit, stand, split and double down. But some additional fundamentals can further boost your blackjack skills. Learning the popular side bet options is an advanced tactic to expand your betting opportunities and payout potential.

• 21+3 – Combine your first two cards with the dealer’s up card to make a poker hand. Pays up to 100:1.
• Perfect Pairs – Your first two cards are a mixed, colored, or identical pair. Pays up to 25:1.
• Bust It – Wager on the dealer busting with 3 cards or more. Pays up to 50:1.
• Bet the Set – Form a 3-card poker hand with your 2 cards and the dealer’s up card. Pays up to 100:1.

Mastering these additional betting options beyond basic strategy opens up more possibilities to win big. Side bets add excitement, reward skilled play, and give you more ways to beat the house. Make sure to learn the fundamentals of when to use these extra wagers

On A Soft 17 Hit

If you’re dealt an Ace and a 6, you have “soft” 17. This is because the Ace can be counted as either 1 or 11, giving you flexibility in your hand value. With a soft 17, your hand total ranges between 7 and 17 points since the Ace has two values. This is different from a “hard” 17 hand like a 10 and a 7, where the cards can only add up to 17.

Having a soft total means you cannot bust by taking another card. If the Ace was counted as 11 already, it simply shifts down to a 1 value if your next card puts you over 21. So basic strategy says to hit on soft 17 hands when playing online blackjack. The risk of busting is lower with a soft 17 versus a hard hand. Hitting gives you the chance to improve towards a stronger total of 18, 19, 20 or even 21. This helps you beat the dealer who must stand on 17. The only downside is possibly getting a weak card that keeps you at 17. But the odds favor taking a hit and trying to better your soft total.

Just be sure you don’t hit on hard 17 hands where the Ace can only be counted as 1. In those cases, the risk of busting is much higher, so you would stand according to basic strategy. But with soft 17, take advantage of the Ace’s flexibility and hit for a potential winning hand.

Limit Your Wagering

Limiting your wager size is an important blackjack strategy for managing your bankroll and minimizing risk. There are a couple key reasons you’ll want to bet consistently:

• First, sticking to the same bet amount each hand helps you stay focused mentally. Bouncing around between different bet sizes can be distracting and throw you off your game. Defining a set wager within your budget and using it every hand allows you to concentrate fully on optimal play.
• Second, consistent betting protects your bankroll from taking big losses on a few bad hands. When you vary your stakes and bet big on some hands, a couple unlucky outcomes can rapidly lose your funds. But keeping your wager steady and reasonable prevents you from losing a huge sum on a few poor results.

The consequences of inconsistent, fluctuating bet sizes include mental fatigue, bankroll mismanagement, and much higher risk of ruin. Save yourself the headache and define a standard bet within your means. Stick to that same amount on every hand to maximize your focus and protect your money.

When Dividing Your Hands Be Selective

Splitting pairs or doubling down should be done in the proper scenarios based on basic strategy. But you also want to consider the payouts on those hands versus the total amount you’re betting. Be selective based on:

• The dealer’s upcard – A dealer 9/10/11 makes any player’s cards splitting RISKY.
• Your total funds – Doubling down is more profitable when the player has 9/10/11 and the dealer’s up card is 4/5/6.
• Potential winnings – Splitting 10s or 2 face cards (amount is the same — 20) is usually not a good decision.
• Chances of success – Doubling soft 17/18/19 has good odds to win. But still, you should understand the risks.

While charts say when to split or double, also factor in the dealer’s card, your bankroll size, and potential winnings. Maximizing your return on those extra bets is key.

Do Not Be Distracted

Stay completely focused on the current hand right in front of you. Don’t get sidetracked looking at other tables or activities. Full concentration is required to play each hand optimally. Even a momentary lapse can lead to mistakes like:

1. Misclicks and incorrectly hitting or standing when you should do the opposite. This can turn a winning hand into a losing one.
2. Forgetting to double down or split in advantageous situations that you would have capitalized on if paying closer attention. Missing these opportunities costs you money.
3. Placing the wrong bet amount by misclicking chips or forgetting your set wager. Wrong bets reduce your profits.
4. Misreading or not properly calculating the value of your hand. This can lead to hitting when you should stand and so on.

5. 

Treat every single hand with full care and strategic focus. While the natural speed of online blackjack keeps gameplay exciting and engaging, you must concentrate intently on making the mathematically optimal moves. Don’t try to multi-table more hands than you can play accurately. It’s better to play one or two tables very precisely than four tables poorly. Staying focused, avoiding all distractions, and giving each hand your undivided attention will maximize your payout potential in the long run.

Conclusion

You now have a comprehensive guide to winning at online blackjack. This article covered key tips like learning basic strategy charts, understanding soft vs hard totals, when to take insurance, and how to manage your bankroll. Mastering these core blackjack skills and strategies will enable you to dramatically improve your odds and payout potential.

The next step is to put your new knowledge and skills into action! Sign up for a reputable online blackjack casino and start implementing what you’ve learned. By the way, Gambillion provides verified and trusted casinos with online blackjack. You will find the best options. Use the welcome bonus pack in a chosen casino, start playing online blackjack with a bigger bankroll and cash out more! But don’t forget to stay focused at the tables, play hands with strategy, and watch your bank account. With preparation and practice, you can beat the house edge!