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If you really want to be good at blackjack, you'll need to implement a basic blackjack strategy. Find out how.

All too often, you hear that the key to winning blackjack is to create a hand valued at 21 or as close to 21 as possible, but this is not the case. The key to winning blackjack is to beat the dealer, and there are a few different ways in which you can use the odds in your favor.

Counting Cards

One of the most famous blackjack strategies of all time is card counting, and there are blockbuster movies based on true stories of MIT students winning big bucks with this method. However, card counting is somewhat difficult, and while it isn't illegal, it is frowned upon. There are several methods of card counting, and some are simpler than others. All in all, the goal is to determine whether the next hand, based on the cards that have already been played, would provide a probable advantage for the player or dealer.

Understand the Rules

In fact, one of the biggest mistakes people make when they sit down to play blackjack doesn't involve blackjack strategy at all. Rather, it is an inherent failure to fully understand the rules. You'll need to know when to split, double, take insurance, and even surrender, and you'll need to know whether the casino (or even the table) offers many of these options. Casinos have different rules in different situations, so be sure to do your research beforehand.

Betting Strategies

If you can learn to count cards and do so without catching the attention of casino staff, then making money with blackjack is a true possibility. However, if card counting proves difficult for you, remember that there are other things you can do to improve your odds and manage your money - as long as you understand the rules of the game. Some of the betting blackjack strategies include the Oscar's System, the D'Alembert System, and even the Fibonacci sequence. Be sure to take some time to play around with them at home before trying them out in the casino, though.

Blackjack strategy ranges from simple to complex, and believe it or not, you don't have to know how to count cards to improve your odds of winning. Understanding the rules and learning a few basic betting strategies can help you manage your money and possibly even win.