You can gain a distinct advantage that will give you an edge over the house when you are playing for long-term consistent profits by making the required effort to learn the basic strategy, applying card counting and playing to a predetermined plan.

These are 10 tips to help you win in blackjack:

1. Learn the Basic Strategy

For each of the hands he is dealt, a player statistically has one perfect action he can make against each up-card the dealer holds. This is known as the Basic Strategy and all other winning blackjack strategies are based on it.

2. Correct Money Management

Every blackjack player will have losing streaks and bad runs, meaning that they have to manage their bankrolls. A basic money management rule that is effective is to bet with 1% of your bankroll. For example, if you have a bankroll of $2,000, your betting size is 1%, or $20. If you are playing with a 1.5% advantage over the house and using a card counting strategy, the chances of losing your entire bankroll are only 5%. It is a mathematical certainty that you will inevitably hit a losing run, so you must be able to ride out those periods.

3. Use a Specific System to Learn to Count Cards

Most casual blackjack players do not go beyond basic strategy. But for the serious player, it has been mathematically proven that by counting the cards, you can actually achieve a positive advantage over the casino. You can then keep a running count and work out the probability of the undealt cards still to come out of the deck. There are many different card counting systems and you need to pick one that is right for you. Even a simple card counting system will give you an edge over the casino.

4. Estimate the True Count

Once you know the running count, you can then calculate the true count. The true count is the running count divided by the number of decks of undealt cards. The true count gives a better indication of how favorable the remaining cards are than does the running count, and only needs to be calculated when you want to perform an action such as betting.

5. Learn to Adjust Your Bet Size Based on the True Count

As the true count increases, so should the bet size. As the true count decreases, the bet size should be decreased. You will lose more hands than you will win, so in order to make money over a longer period of play, you need to up your bet size when the odds are favorable. This tip is the key to winning big in blackjack.

6. Play with Favorable House Rules

You need to look for favorable house rules to give you an extra edge. The house rules dictate how much money you can expect to win in the long run.

You need to be sharp and focused. Make sure that you are mentally alert and are concentrating fully if you are seriously playing for money. Don't play if you have had a row with the wife or have been drinking!

8. The Key to Success - Discipline