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Step 1
Select a reputable casino. There's certainly no shortage of choices these days, as the Internet gaming business has expanded exponentially. But with the increase in available casinos also comes an increase in the reports of players being ripped off. The crooked operations are, let's emphasize, a distinct minority. But it pays to do a little investigation before you turn over your hard-earned dough. There are websites such as Casino Advisor (link below) that rate Internet casinos, report on fraud, and otherwise keep you abreast of developments.
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Step 2
Select a favorable casino. In addition to an operation that is honest, you want one that will give you a good deal for your buck. Casinos offer bonuses for initial deposits, and often for subsequent deposits as well. The more competitive ones will also refund a certain portion of your losses back into your account. All of which stretches your bankroll and improves your bottom line. Additionally, you want to look for blackjack rule variations that give the player the best possible shot at winning. Specifically, look for single-deck games in which the dealer stands on soft 17, doubling is allowed on any two cards, multiple splits are allowed, doubling after splitting is allowed, and surrender is allowed. (And if you find a casino that allows doubling or hitting after splitting Aces, you've really hit the mother lode.) These variations slash the house edge to a fraction of a percent. Do the legwork to find your own best choice(s), but two casinos I've been particularly pleased with are Bodog and William Hill.
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Step 3
Fund your account. This can be a challenge for U.S. players, because in recent years the government has been pressuring banks not to accept credit card transactions for online casinos. Indeed, many casinos no longer accept U.S. players at all. But there are other deposit methods, such as Western Union, e-check and third-party processors like eWalletXpress. Don't worry, your casino will explain the acceptable options to you. The thing to remember is that the larger the deposits, the less you'll pay in fees and the larger your bonuses.
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Step 4
Acquaint yourself with the basic strategy, as calculated by computers. No, that does not mean you'll have to memorize the charts, although you'll find that learning them comes more naturally than you might think. Here's where you have one advantage over the live player: Playing on a computer in a private setting, you can take as long as you want to make a decision, and you can keep the basic strategy handy to consult at your leisure. There are many different versions of this strategy; the variations are slight, but some are indeed better than others. My favorite is the one in the book "Mensa Guide to Blackjack," written by a member of the notorious MIT card-counting team of the 1980s, which inspired the film "21". But if you don't want to buy the book, I also recommend the comprehensive and easy-to-use charts online at Blackjack Info (link below). Notice that you can enter the specific rule variations you are playing under, and the site will generate the chart tailor-made for your circumstances. Whatever version you use, follow it diligently. There are no small mistakes in this game --- any hand is the potential difference between profit and loss.
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Step 5
Practice strict money management. After you've won a certain amount (you decide how much), increase your bets to take advantage of your streak. But when you start losing, cut back to the minimum again.
