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!

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.

Blackjack is popularly played in casinos all over the world and has been adapted for play on the internet incredibly well. The fact that this game lends itself so well to an online presence has also resulted in many variations of the game being designed by casino software companies. Websites are not static entities, they need to constantly change and grow in order to remain successful, and as online casinos are primarily for entertainment purposes, this factor is even more vital.

For this reason new games are constantly developed and old favorites evolve. Blackjack as you may know is a game based on the number 21. Originally from France and according to the dictionary “vingt-et-un (vt-) n. Games, see blackjack.[French, twenty-one : vingt, twenty + et, and + un, one.]” are a group of games based on winning on the number twenty one.

This game and all its variations may be played as a casino card game, against the dealer in a virtual or live environment, or even as a video game, in much the same way as video poker is played. It can be played with one hand or many more hands per set, depending on the variation of the game being played.

It is a very simple game to grasp and the beauty of playing online is that the newbie (new online player) is able to get a few rounds free of charge until they get the hang of playing. The simplicity of this game is one of the reasons for its popularity, but the fact that it can be played for relatively low wagers also makes it a wise choice, particularly in terms of new gamblers.

Interestingly enough blackjack also happens to have one of the lowest house edges. More than likely due to the fact that it is a very fast game, so its turnover is also fast. The faster a game plays the less house edge is required to make a profit for the casino and this is to the gamblers advantage!

Mathematically the house always has the edge however it is possible to card count when playing blackjack, but I always say this saps the fun out of the game. Remember that any online gambler should leave the professional gambling up to the professional. We play this game and most other casino games for fun and the skill lies very much in having the luck to win against the dealer. It this is winning aspect that makes it so much fun to play! Getting too serious about it all can suck some of the life out of the game.

Bearing this in mind, it is also important to remember to never gamble more than you can afford. This applies not only to playing blackjack, but also any other casino game you may be attracted to, no matter how innocuous they may seem to be.

If you want a game that is good clean fun, can be easily learned and is even able to make you relatively good profits, choose Black Jack. This has become one of the most popularly played casino table games and this is not surprising; it enjoys huge popularity in casino Mecca’s the world over.

Simple, yet with a certain aura of mystique, everyone wants to know how to play a good hand of Black Jack so they can have a good time. Having a good time in a casino, whether off or online, generally means winning.

Although chance figures largely in this game, there is also an element of skill required. Unlike hi-lo and other games which are guessing games, certain decisions must be made in Black Jack in order to win a hand against the dealer. In other words the player has more control of the decision he makes in order to win. It is this element which gives the player a certain influence over the outcome of the game.

Play your cards right and have a chance of winning some real money; this is governed by the fact that the game is played against the dealer (house) and not other players. If other players in the game lose, this does not necessarily mean that you lose, what matters is the house hand.

The aim of this game couldn’t be any simpler, and the objective is to get a hand which totals the closest to 21. Face cards are 10 points while number cards are taken at face value. The ace is either 11 or 1 and this depends on the player – it is his choice. An actual Black Jack is a 21 points score and if this is made up of a 10 scoring card and an ace it cannot be beaten by the same score in a multiple card hand.

The wager is placed before any cards are dealt and all players beating the dealer are paid 1 to 1 or on the case of a Black ack 3 to 2. It is a fast game and can be played for relatively low wagers; iis also interesting and exciting and certainly doesn’t tax the brain too much.

Practicing your game at online casinos makes good sense, very low wager tables can be found and many of these casinos will allow players to try the game free first to get the hang of it. What is important however is to ensure that the online casino you choose is above board, this is easily achieved by using a reputable casino portal. They provide reviews, news and articles to help the new online player, and many will also provide a Black List of sites with bad reputations, so check this first and steer clear of any listed sites.

You have skillfully mastered the game of blackjack. You know all the tips, tricks and have your strategy in place. Is that really enough though? If you look around you, you will find that most professional blackjack players who are good have adequate knowledge on the tools that help you play as well. Let us take the main component of the game, the table for example. How many players are actually aware of what or how a black jack table ought to be? This knowledge is vital especially of you plan on getting your personal table at home and using it to play instead of making trips to the casino. For those who love black jack, buying a table is a good idea especially since it gives you the chance to enjoy the game with your friends and family in an environment that you are comfortable in. So what is it that you need to look for in these tables?

The components
We will come to the blackjack table in a moment. First however let us take a look at the components that come along with it. For you to actually get the feel of the game, it is equally important that these components too are made from the finest materials. Your poker chips should ideally be made of clay with embossing that is extremely clear and easy to read and your deck of cards should be made of material with a fine texture. In addition to this it is important that the surface of the table is smooth.

Types of tables
As with every other product in the market, blackjack tables too come with choices. The choice of table will primarily depend on whether it is being used in a home or at a casino. Most black jack tables are generally hand crafted for their place of use. Some may have legs made of wood, other might have legs made of metal and there are also some others that might have legs that are made of wood or metal but they are collapsible.

Review your needs
We have already mentioned that blackjack tables come with choices. The fact that these choices are available means that you need to carefully consider your requirements before you make your purchase. The most important thing that you will need to consider is where you plan to put the table. The placement of the table will decide on whether you will buy a folding or a fixed table. If you have the space to keep a black jack table permanently then a fixed table will be your best choice. You will also need to consider some amount of protection for your table. Bumper pads are always a good idea as they protect your table from damage as well as mildew.

Do not be impulsive
The worse mistake that a gambler can make while buying a blackjack table is being impulsive. These tables are never bought on a whim. There is a lot of thought that is required and must be given to avoid making a purchase that you would later regret.

Small imperfections
Before you shrug off the idea of buying a black jack table that is imperfect you need to examine the reason behind it being termed so. The truth is that every professional blackjack table that hits a casino is subjected to the highest degree of scrutiny buy a team of experts. This kind of scrutiny ensures that the tables that do finally reach the casinos are perfect in every sense of the word. This also means that if a table has so much as a dent or a scratch on it, it is discarded as a table that is imperfect. Now really, is a dent or a scratch on your table really going to affect your personal game? The answer is no.

Throw away prices
There is even better news for all of you black jack lovers. You have just learnt that the concept of ‘imperfect’ tables is one that you can probably live it but it gets better. These tables are available are real throw away prices. You could get your hands on a blackjack table for as low as $16.99. At prices like this, the discount you are looking at is close to about 81%! Now wouldn’t you term that as a great buy?

Features
Even if you buy a black jack table at a throw away price you will still expect it to look professional and why shouldn’t you? Most of these tables come with felt of a very high quality and very professional looking graphics. A table with high quality felt is absolutely necessary for the game to have a professional feel. The quality of the graphics too plays an important role in giving the game a feel of being played at a casino. Both these features make these tables excellent choices for those using them as practice aids. In addition to these, protective bumper pads are also available for the protection of your table. These will protect your table from unnecessary scratches and dents etc.

The size
What any black jack player will want to most out of his or her personal table is the feeling of playing in a casino. That is exactly what these table aim at achieving. The standard size that these casino tables are available in is 18 inches by 36 inches, thus making it an ideal size to place on a table that has legs of 6 inches.

The basics
Whether you choose to play casino blackjack online or offline, the basic rules of the game are the same. You need to make sure that you are familiar with these rules before you go any further. If you are an experienced player then you will be more than familiar with these rules, if you are not let us refresh your memory. The first rule to winning is the score the highest that you possible can without going under. This would mean that you need a score of above 21. The second rule of winning at blackjack is fairly simple and straightforward. All you have to do is make sure that you score higher than the dealer.

Dealing styles
The first difference that you will probably notice as a player of casino blackjack who is playing at multiple venues is in the style of dealing. There are really only two ways of dealing, face up and face down and for an avid card player these terms should be quite self explanatory. Some casinos allow their dealers  to deal the cards with the face up, in other words you can see the value of the cards as they are being dealt, while other deal the cards face down. The casinos that allow the dealing to be done face up might give you a slight advantage in terms of knowing exactly what is coming instead of waiting for the suspense.

The deck and the minimum wager
While there is a difference in the dealing style of casino blackjack from place to place, there is also a difference in the ‘shoe’ and the minimum wager that is put out. The ‘shoe’ is basically a collection of decks. The number of decks that is allowed in a shoe is what can differ from place to place. The minimum bet is also an area that can differ. This might also be the deciding factor for some players while choosing their casino, online or offline. Minimum wager is the minimum about that a player is allowed to bet.

The soft 17
If you have been playing casino blackjack for a while you are aware of the fact that the dealer is supposed to draw new cards till he arrives at 17. Some casinos will allow what is called a soft 17. This basically means that the dealer can use an ace as part of the hand.

Blackjack gambling is a very popular casino sport. If you are not a regular gambler or you are not familiar with the various kinds of casino gambling games that there are, you will probably best recognize this game from the fact that it is a single player against the dealer. If it were a movie that you are watching then this single player would typically have a crowd cheering him on at blackjack gambling. Blackjack can be quite enjoyable if you are playing it for fun and of course if you do not get addicted. Here are a few rules to help you understand the game better:

The two kinds of hands

Blackjack gambling has two kinds of hands, a soft one and a hard one. The difference between the two is really quite simple. A soft hand is one where you have a number card such as a five or a seven etc. along with an Ace. This will give you a total score of either sixteen or eighteen. On the other hand you could have the opposite or what is called a hard hand. A hard hand is where you do not have an Ace or even number cards that can total up to a value of 11. Some gamblers insist that it works better for a player to have a hard hand instead of a soft.

Choice of tables

An important key to success with blackjack gambling lies in your choice of tables as well. Choosing a table is equally important to your winning as it will decide on how much you put down as your bet in the first place. The wisest thing to do would be to choose a table where the minimum amount that you are required to be is low and adds up to about 5% of your total gambling budget.

Insurance

Insurance is one of the biggest mistakes that you can probably take when you are blackjack gambling. It is advisable to try and avoid it at all costs and if you find yourself in a situation where you have to take it then it should be only because you have absolutely no other choice. As a player you must keep in mind that the dealer is the one on the other side and therefore he definitely is not a friend. If you are not careful you could be caught in a situation where you are actually betting against your own self.

Betting on your hands

Blackjack gambling allows you to double your bet if you feel that you have good cards in hand. In a scenario like this, where you are actually doubling your bet, the game allows you to draw a single card more to increase the value of your hand. However there are times when you could get two cards of the same kind, for e.g. you could get a six and a six. In a scenario like this the player can choose to play two different hands as long as he bets equally on both.