There are many card games similar to blackjack, all gaining popularity around the world. One of the most popular besides blackjack sure is baccarat, gaining increasing popularity especially in Asia (see here). Roulette also is gaining popularity, mostly because you can play so many different strategies, e.g. the Paroli Roulette System! But back to our main game: Blackjack! Blackjack is one of the few casino games that can be beaten using strategy. However, not all types of blackjack strategy apply to the online environment.

For example, you may recall the exploits of the famous MIT blackjack team that won millions in Vegas by counting cards. They made it seem easy—it’s really not. Plus, card counting only works when you are playing blackjack in person. You have to know how many decks are in play, and you have to remember the cards that have been played and track them through the “shoe” that the dealer holds the cards in to predict when they might appear again.

When you play blackjack online, there is no shoe. Instead, every hand is generated fresh using a random number generator to “shuffle” the cards. This means that each successive hand is completely unrelated to the hands that preceded it. You simply can’t count cards across hands online.

When playing blackjack online, the best strategy is to use blackjack charts, e.g. you can find one here: http://www.eblackjackonline.net/blackjack-strategy/. These charts show you the best move for your hand, based on your cards, the dealer’s cards, and the mathematics of probability. In order to use charts in person, you have to have them memorized. But to play online, you can just print out a chart and glance at it whenever you want. This makes online casinos a truly excellent place to learn to play blackjack, especially if your ultimate goal is to memorize the blackjack charts. You’ll certainly get plenty of chances to become intimately familiar with the charts as you play!