What’s Your Strategy? A Basic Guide to Better Play

Online gaming is one of those hobbies where it’s quite easy to get good, really quickly—that’s why it’s one of the most entertaining pastimes you can pick up!

Anyone can do some basic research and walk away with real cash (or at the very least, an afternoon well-spent). However, it’s always easiest to do so when you have an idea about some of the basic tips and tricks that you can use to stretch your dollars.

We all know that the first rule of thumb is to take advantage of any bonuses and rewards that the casino’s offering. It’s also a good idea to check ahead of time what the best bonuses on the market are—they vary week by week and sometimes even day by day.

Deposit bonuses, welcome bonuses, you name it—we’ve already been there and have the tee shirt.

Online casinos are, naturally, invested in getting as many players as possible to enter their site. To bring in the gamers, they often provide comps based on your gameplay activity. Comp points are basically just benefits that are similar to extra chips and free spins. They’re based on player loyalty, and are a great way to make the most of your time.

It’s also important choose games that have the lowest house edge, to ensure better payouts. As the house edge isn’t the same for every casino, varying from quite low to extraordinarily high, the most important thing you can do before playing is research, research, research.

It’s the best way to get ahead of the competition AND the house.

We’ve selected three games that are fun, easy to learn, and with a consistently low house edge. If you want to have the best chances of playing for as long as possible, the games that will make your bankroll last the longest are Blackjack, Baccarat, and Video Poker.

We always say it and we’ll say it again: preparation is the key to success. To that end, we’ve created some easy-to-understand guides to these three games. Each game has its own character, approach, and value so it’s worth it to know a little about all of them before stepping in for an evening’s online casino session. You’re welcome!

Easy Blackjack Strategy in a Flash

It’s easy to make the argument that video blackjack is even better than in-person blackjack—so people often do. With dedicated blackjack studios cropping up right and left, it’s worth it to check out the rules of the game. The advantage to playing online instead of at a table in a land-based casino is that the human error element is eliminated.

The computer never makes a mistake.

To consistently win at blackjack, there are a couple of things that are the most important: persistence, patience, and a good memory. The good memory is most useful if you’re planning to try to count cards, a controversial strategy for winning but one that does deliver results.

It’s important to mention that though casinos hate it, it’s not cheating! One gambler is even suing the Hard Rock Hotel to defend his right to do so and protest their treatment.

By memorizing cards that have already shown on the table, you’ll be able to figure out which are still in the deck. This significantly narrows the odds and brings them to your favor.

Keep in mind that there are a variety of ways to play and different variations, so be sure that you’re checking out the rules ahead of time.

Have You Tried Adding Baccarat to Your Game Nights?

You really should! Baccarat’s an ideal game for beginners because really all you need to worry about is placing a bet—the dealer will take care of everything else. While it’s not a game where rote strategy is possible, there are still a number of tips that will help prepare you to make the most of the game (and your chances to win).

The first is that a player should never bet on a tie. Because the house edge on both banker and player’s bets is pretty small, betting on both significantly increases it. Instead, focus on only betting on the banker or player’s hands. That way, it’s at least like flipping a coin.

There are also some players who believe in a tactic called “following the shoe,” which just means to bet on the banker’s hand until it loses before switching to the player’s hand.

“The Chop” is similar: you simply bet against the last result.

Yet another approach is to “bet the trend, meaning that you take into the last three or four hands of either the banker or the player, then bet accordingly. Betting on the banker is part of this—they have the lowest house edge.

Really, the best advice we can give you in the end is to trust your instincts. Try a couple of versions of the game—new ones come out all the time, including a brand new edition of Chroma Key baccarat for those who want the cutting edge. Figuring out which suits you best is an important part of refining your strategy.

Trusting your instincts also applies to managing your budget—listen to your conscience and always lean on the cautious side. Bacccarat is, after all, a game of luck. Stick to your limits!

Play the Most Classic: Video Poker

Poker’s one of the most popular card games throughout history and a first choice for many seasoned gamblers. It’s a game in the casino with great odds, beating out even Blackjack.

You do need to be aware of several things to make the most of your poker play. The first is to figure out if you’re playing full or low pay video poker. As the name suggests, full pay has a significantly more solid payout percentage.

You also need to carefully assess the paytables, looking for the best payouts. Keep an eye out for Better poker or Jacks—we find that it has the best odds. Ideally, you’re looking for 9/6: this ensures a 9:1 payout if you happen to be lucky enough to have a Full House and a 6:1 payout for a Royal Flush. If you find that, congratulations! They’re the best odds in the house.