3 online blackjack strategies for every occasion

Perhaps the most popular strategy used by players when playing blackjack is card counting.

Card counting systems have been around for a long time and are used by almost all experienced players who play blackjack online.

These methods are an effective way to give yourself a natural advantage over both the casino and other players.

It is important to note that blackjack card counting systems must be used with caution, as gambling sites may ask you to leave the site if they suspect you of card counting or if you make it blatantly obvious.

Here are the three most popular card counting strategies you can use in online blackjack.

Hi-Lo

The Hi-Lo card counting system is probably the most popular blackjack card counting system used in land-based and online casinos today.

Here are five simple steps for using the Hi-Lo card counting system:

1. Assign point values. To start counting cards, you must have a value assigned to each card.
2. Start with zero. At the beginning of the deck, start with zero. When the cards are revealed, start adding and subtracting according to the values assigned to the cards. For example, if the first five exposed cards were 3, 7, king, ace and 6, then your count would look like this: 1+0-1-1+1 = 0.
3. Divide the running count. When all the cards have been dealt in the first round, divide the number of current cards by the number of decks remaining in the shoe. This will give you the most accurate count possible when you move on to the next round.
4. Choose your bet. Now that you know your true number, you can start developing your betting strategy.
5. Make a final decision. Depending on whether your hand works in your favour, your true number will ultimately help you decide how to bet. However, this final decision is entirely up to you.

Knockout

The Knockout card counting system, also known as the KO system, is very similar to the Hi-Lo system and is easy to understand even for beginners.

The biggest difference between the KO system and the Hi-Lo system is that the KO system is unbalanced, meaning that it has more low cards that add rather than subtract.

One of the biggest advantages of this system is that it makes it easy to see how many 10 cards are left in the shoe.

Wong Halves

Despite its effectiveness, the Wong Halves card counting system is more advanced than other methods. It is not recommended for complete novices.

The reason the Wong Halves online blackjack card counting system is so complex is because there are three levels of values to keep track of.

Many cards also use a fractional value, meaning that some cards are only worth 0.5, while others require a deduction of 1.

The easiest way to determine the size of your bets is to use the true number as a multiplier, which is calculated in the same way as in the Hi-Lo system.

Why it is important to use a blackjack strategy

There are hundreds of hand combinations when playing blackjack. The dealer can have any of the 13 card ranks in the deck, with values from 1 to 11.

You can have combinations of cards that have hard or soft values from 2 to 21 plus 13 pairs.

With all these possible combinations, there are so many hands that it is easy to make a mistake.

The thing you need to understand is that every hand combination in blackjack has a proper way to play it. If you don't play the hand the right way, you increase the casino's advantage.

Only when you combine a perfect knowledge of the rules with an online blackjack strategy can you ensure the best chance of profit.