Top online casinos tend to offer a blend of what is typically called “table games”. If you’re an experienced casino user, you will likely know this already. However, you may not know that blackjack often tops the charts as the most popular of all table games. That’s because it is easy to learn and engaging, and it offers some of the best payout rates of all casino games.

This is why many bonuses link to leading blackjack games—click here to learn more on that subject. With that said, did you know that there are certain rules you can follow to give yourself a great chance of beating the dealer in the long run?

That’s right, there really is, and we’ve covered three critical rules for you to follow to pursue such success below.

Always Split Aces and 8s

Assuming you are familiar with the rules of Twenty-One, which is what some gamers call blackjack, you’ll know that the goal is to get to 21 and beat the dealer. However, there are many pitfalls along the way. You can go over 21, known as going “bust”, or the dealer might beat your total and get closer to 21. This is what makes blackjack so much fun for thousands if not millions around the globe.

Adding to that, in standard blackjack games, you’ll be given two cards initially, which brings us to the first golden rule: If you are given a pair of Aces or 8s, you should always split the cards. That’s because when you do, there is a very good chance that one of the next cards dealt will hold a value of 10. In both instances, you will have a very strong hand no matter what the dealer holds.

Never Take Insurance

The second of the three golden rules doesn’t specifically relate to how you play your hand, but it is just as important as the other two mentioned here. On that note, there are many blackjack variations where you’ll be offered “insurance” if the dealer shows an ace. But once again, this is something that favors the house massively in the long run.

As for why this is the case, there is around a 1 in 3 chance that a dealer will reveal a blackjack if they have an Ace.

Double 11 if Dealer Has 2-10

If the total value of your first two cards is 11, you should then take the option to “double” if the value of the dealer’s face-up card is between 2 and 10. There are complex mathematical calculations behind why you should do this, but you needn’t concern yourself with these. Instead, you must simply know that when you double in this instance, you stand a very good chance of gaining a 3:1 return on your initial bet.

When you double, you will only receive one extra card, but if you are given a card with a value of 10, you’ve just landed a 21!