Quote:
Originally Posted by inHindsight
Started playing ~ 3 wks ago, sorry.
Ok then, no problem. In that case just know that the rules offered by the house will always give the house an edge against anyone but a skilled card counter. Good rules would have an edge of 1-2% for the house if you play perfect basic strategy, meaning for every $100 wagered, you expect to lose $1-2 on average. That adds up fast when you churn the money over and over. Some games will have a larger edge if they have unfavorable rules.
To gain an edge in blackjack you must be able to count cards. The means you have a fixed number of decks that is shuffled once and dealt, and that the penetration is high (how much of the shoe is dealt out before a shuffle). Online will not give you all those conditions. Either they use continuous shuffle, or infinite decks, or low penetration, etc. The must do this online because bots/computers can count cards perfectly and would put them out of business shortly.
Counting cards allows you to bet more when the deck stub is in your favor, and bet less when it is in the house's favor. That is how you shift the edge to the player.