You should know that of all the table games, blackjack offers you the best chance to beat the house. This is because of the house edge being as low as 0.5 percent. You have a lot of control over the game. Plus, it is one of the few table games where you can add to your bet after you see that the getting is good.

With all the advantages that this game has, blackjack should be one of your main choices when gambling on or offline—however, there are some great advantages to playing online specifically.

ACE: Take Your Time

When you are at a full table in a casino with the noise, the spilled drinks and the Action Jacksons playing at the table with you, it’s hard to focus and think. You may have a speed demon dealer who doesn’t want to chat or help you with strategy. You may have someone next to you that is mad that you misplayed a hand and took the 10 she needed. You may just be a person who needs some time to play proper strategy. Well, online you can take all the time you need.

Picture this. You are at your monitor. You have gambling books and strategy cards where you need them. You have a freshly poured scotch in a lead-crystal glass. Your favorite music is playing on your Bose system. And, most likely you are in your favorite set of boxers. Nice, right?

It’s much easier to make decisions when you are relaxed and happy. So, why not gamble in your comfort zone?

The key to profiting at blackjack is to play perfect strategy. I mean perfect, too! No hunches or irrational moves allowed. It’s easy to get influenced by your surroundings at a crowded casino. But as they say a man’s home is his castle.

So sit back and relax. Follow basic strategy perfectly. Split your aces not your 10s, never take insurance, and keep a big strategy card at your fingertips for the rest. And, you can put yourself in position for success right in your own armchair.

Jack: Live Dealers!

Did you know that sites like GoldenNuggetCasino.com offer table games with live dealers? That’s right. You can have the best of both worlds and bridge the gap between online and casino play. While still in the comfort of your own home, you can play blackjack, and other games, against a human.

I’ve seen the room in Atlantic City where these dealers work. They are in full uniform at a full-sized table. It is just like being on the casino floor. But without Jim from Pittsburgh making you high-five him after every payout.

Insurance: Beware the Martingale

That notion of doubling the stakes after a loss to instantly get even can have you betting over your head in no time. Just know that if you start with a single chip wager and lose nine hands in a row, your 10th bet will have to be a whopping 512 chips to break even under the principle. Ouch.

I use a strategy that a dealer at Treasure Island taught me years ago. Each time I win, I add a chip to the next bet. Then when I lose, I start back at a single chip. It’s easy. And if the chip wager goes way up on a good run I am having, at least I know it is the house’s money that is at risk for the next hand.