By Samantha Williams

There are not a great many mistakes we can make when playing blackjack, the same applies to playing online blackjack, however, the ‘no mistake’ rule only applies when playing by Basic Strategy, or Basic Strategy Plus. Stick to the strategy plan, and everything turns out OK, but just in case you have decided to break all the rules, there are a few mistakes to avoid and we take a brief look at some of these.

Don’t play because it “Feels Right” – There is no such thing as feels right when playing online blackjack, this is a very straightforward game, and unless you are John Edwards, we don’t even contemplate feel. Losses due to bad luck don’t cut the mustard, there is only bad play. If you have got a feeling ignore it and stick precisely to basic strategy.

Forget about insurance – Insurance is not the only sure bet in blackjack, no matter what the dealer says. The dealer has always been wrong on this wager and he does not want you to win anyway. It is a complete waste of a bet, and you never make more money in the long run by taking out insurance – unless of course you are a card counter, then it’s a different story.

Double down more regularly – sometimes the timing is right to double your bet, sometimes its not. Not enough players double down and there are specific situations when doubling down should take place. Statistically speaking when the edge is yours to win the hand, you should always take the plunge. Don’t see this as a leap of faith, see it as good strategy. If you are too afraid to take the risk, you shouldn’t be playing online blackjack – go back to the penny slots. Tip: memorize as many double down combinations as you can.

Never think you are due – you are not! No online blackjack or any card player ever is. If you are on a losing streak, you can and will lose again; the same applies to winning. Hand histories carry no influence on the outcome of what the next hand will be, and odds remain unchanged. Tip: card counters use advanced statistical techniques to calculate winning odds, it is not only about counting cards.

There is no bad table position – in poker this applies, in blackjack there is absolutely no bad position at the table – get over it.

Cut your losses and surrender – there is a reason why some games of blackjack allow the player to surrender, take advantage of this when need be. Again, revert back to blackjack strategy.

Speaking of strategy – always have your strategy card up to date and at your right hand, even in a live casino; it’s allowed! Play by strategy, strategy, strategy and blackjack is one of the few casino games, where you can almost beat the house edge, but only when using strategy!

By Samantha Williams

There are a number of systems people use for gambling, these are used online and off and one such a system is the negative progression system, positive progression is anther as is hedge betting. These can be used when playing Blackjack or most other casino games. The only system that casinos do not welcome when you are playing blackjack is card counting and this is completely illegal. However the casino has to be able to prove that you are card counting first.

There is no system that is able to beat the house edge in blackjack or any other gambling game for that matter. If you believe someone who tells you that such a system exists, you have better be pretty sure they are more intelligent than Albert Einstein, because he even pondered the problem and said that systems for beating the house edge are impossible. He also said the only way to actually do this is by stealing when the casino is not looking. Think about this before a con artist with a sure fire negative progression system sells you this for $20. Rather put the $20 on the blackjack table and buy a few chips, you will get more value.

Negative progression systems are dangerous to the extreme and anyone who tells you otherwise, probably wants to part you from your hard earned money. The principle of a negative progression system is to increase bets after a loss, if you think about this, then it is understandable that casinos love players who make use of systems.

Ultimately when you play blackjack or any other game, you should increase bets after win and decrease them after a loss, this is just simple good money management however. The Martingale system is even more dangerous than the negative progression system as it encourages you to “double” bets after each loss. So as you can imagine, the casinos love the Martingale system even more than negative progression!

Money management when playing blackjack or any other casino game is wise whereas systems are dangerous.

Hedge betting is another matter entirely and in many games this is a feature of play. In blackjack you are able to make an insurance bet and this is essentially what hedge betting is, you make one bet to offset the potential loss on another bet. This is the same in craps when you make a Don’t Pass Line bet and an odds bet or place the 6 and 8.

Casinos always win in the long term; gamblers win in the short term as the casino is effectively taking advantage of probability fluctuations. The player has the option to stop playing at any time and fortunately the winning gambler is the gambler who knows when this time comes.