The Best Way to Play Blackjack

[MUSIC PLAYING] - Everyone has their own favorite way to play blackjack. Lesson four, the best way to play blackjack. Whichever way you choose, make sure the environment puts you in the best headspace for making smart decisions.

Many of you may prefer to play at night when the Vegas vibe is in full effect and the drinks are flowing. That's up to you. But with all those vibes come many distractions. It could be the friends you're playing with, the partner that wants you to leave to check out the casino's shows, the live entertainment in the blackjack pit, the drunk tourist that is trying to hit 18 on a dealer 6. You don't want some of these distractions when you're trying to concentrate on winning at blackjack.

Some of you may also want to play online at one of the casinos from onlinegambling.com. They're open 24/7. And you can control the environment and distractions within the comfort of your own home.

No distractions mean better decisions. When playing online, the current chip count on the screen is always listed. And that is one less thing you'll have to count while playing.

There are also no outside distractions that you can not control. When I play live, I prefer to play early in the morning with a coffee and to be alone with the dealer so I can play in as many hands as I want and there are no distractions. I also prefer to play the end of the table, called the anchor seat. This can be arranged with the house in a private salon if you play high enough stakes or if you go to the casino that is not busy, which is usually in the morning.

When you're counting cards, you can use a pen and a paper to jot down the current count. This becomes especially handy if there is a long delay between hands so you don't forget.

In the beginning, this was something I used to do just in case. It was also easier afterwards to go back to the recording and make sure my count was accurate. Keep a strategy card close by when playing as well. It's a handy reference if you're allowed to do this.

The best way to play blackjack, in my opinion, is to use all the strategies we have learned in the series. Make sure your mind is right-- lots of sleep, no drinking, no distractions. Utilize basic strategy. Keep track of the high-low count and the aces. Vary your bet sizes based on the probabilities. Try and play alone at the table so you can maximize the amount of hands per hour and capitalize on your time at the tables.

All these tips will set you up to play smarter against the casino. But if you want more tips to win at blackjack, check out our lesson Blackjack Mistakes to Avoid.

Hey players, you can test what you've just learned with onlinegambling.com's free blackjack games. Hit the link to play now.