The game of blackjack is over 150 years old and yet you still find the same old, outdated, inaccurate and, frankly, stupid tips on how to win at blackjack.

The game of blackjack is over 150 years old and yet you still find the same old, outdated, inaccurate and, frankly, stupid tips on how to win at blackjack.

You've doubtless heard people in the casino saying that they have a 'system'. You might even have come across people on the internet trying to sell you the 'no-lose-sure-fire-method-to-win-at-blackjack'. Don't be fooled. These systems don't work. All you have is your commonsense and a few straightforward blackjack strategies.

This guide to blackjack is intended to make you, the blackjack player, think about what you are doing before you take on the house at an online casino.

Here we have the five blackjack tips that I think everyone needs to be aware. These will ensure your time at the table is as enjoyable as it can be.

Tip #1 - When to stand

The standard version of casino blackjack means that the dealer can only stand on 17 or above. So, unless the dealer busts, you are unlikely to win a hand where your cards are lower than 17.

So if the dealer is showing an 8 or above for his card, you need to take the hit because his chances of busting out are not good, but if the dealer is showing a 6 or lower, and you have 11 or higher, you can stand with the dealer having a 40% or higher chance of busting out.

Tip #2 " Double Down

If your two cards total 10 or 11 you should double down (double your bet) if your total is more than the dealers up card. If they arent, then just take a hit.

When you double down, youre doubling your bet and get an additional card. Always do this when you suspect that you will beat the dealer when doing so. A player has a great advantage when they are at a table that allows doubling down, so do not overlook this option.

Tip #3 - When To Hit

If the dealer's card is a seven or higher, and you have from 12 to 16, you will have to take a hit. However, if the dealer has lower than a seven, you must stand. The odds are that the dealer will bust out. The most he can get is 16 and he will have to take a hit, meaning he is likely to bust.

Tip #4 - When and What To Split

You should never split pairs of fives, fours or tens. But, if you find yourself in possession of a pair of aces or eights, then you should always split them. These simple strategies will definitely improve your chances of winning. Lastly, if the dealer's card is lower than a six, you should split all other pairs.

Tip #5 " Do Not Take The Insurance Bet

If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. The same is true of the insurance bet in blackjack. If you take this, you will lose more than you win. Around four times out of five, the dealer won't have blackjack and you will lose both your insurance bet and the hand bet as well.

If you have never taken the insurance bet while playing blackjack, I will give a little explanation of how and why. The dealers up card is an ace, does he have a face card in the hole? Does he have Blackjack? You bet $10 to play the hand, but now you have a chance to win back at least half your bet if you take the insurance bet, because then the dealer has to pay you half the pot so you break even. But by putting that extra $5 in the insurance pool, you have now just bet $15 total, and like I said, 80% of the time there will be NO Blackjack and you will lose $15 instead of $10.