The Key to Blackjack Strategy
When playing online blackjack, your best method will be to find a basic strategy chart and leave it open in another window as you play. There is nothing illegal about this and it will help you reduce the house edge.
However, if you do not wish to do this for some reason, there are still some basic online blackjack ideas you can remember to get you through.
Hit/Hold Strategy
Obviously, you should hold if you have 17 or higher. If you have a lower value (12-16) you should play as if the dealer's hidden card is a 10. You should hit if the dealer's score beats yours, for example if you have 15 and the dealer's up-card is an 8 (a 10 would give the dealer 18). You should hold if there is a good chance that the dealer will go bust, for example if you have 15 and the dealer's up-card is a 6 (a 10 would give the dealer 16). Keep in mind that this is just a rule of thumb. There are exceptions, and to play perfectly you will need a basic blackjack strategy chart.
Insurance in Online Blackjack
Online blackjack sites will offer you the opportunity to take insurance if the dealer has an ace showing. If you take insurance and the dealer has blackjack, the hand is a push. If not, you lose the insurance bet, equal to half a regular bet, and the hand plays as normal. Assuming a standard blackjack setup, do not take insurance, ever, under any circumstances. The odds of the dealer have a ten underneath are worse than the 2-to-1 odds offered by insurance.
Doubling in Online Blackjack
You should be looking to double hands where the dealer has a "stiff" card like 4, 5, or 6. You should always double eleven unless you are up against an ace. You should always double ten unless you are up against a ten point card or an ace. You should never double a "hard" hand (one where a single card can bust you).
Splitting in Online Blackjack
Never split fives. You should double in most cases instead. Never split tens, a 20 is too powerful a hand to break up. Always split aces and eights. Split nines against everything but 7, 10 or A. Do not split any other hand if the dealer has an 8 or better showing.
