Blackjack is one of the most popular casino table games in the world. It is also one which offers a good chance at beating the house for those who incorporate the right strategy, and perhaps get a little bit of luck. There are a number of strategies, both playing and betting, that can lead to substantial winning at blackjack. But remember, in all cases, the house still holds an advantage.

The key to winning at blackjack is to understand what the purpose of the game is. Some say the purpose of blackjack is to get as close to 21 without going over as possible. While this may sound reasonable, seeing the person closest to 21 wins or, at the very worst, ties, this is not the goal of blackjack. The key to winning at blackjack is to beat the dealer. In some cases, beating the dealer may require not getting very close to 21 at all.

To have the best shot at winning at blackjack, players should have a good understanding of what is known as the blackjack basic strategy. Though quite complex, basic strategy dictates a player will stand on any hand showing 17 or higher. The player should also stand on lower numbers, depending on what the dealer is showing his or her card. There are a number of books and Web sites that detail basic blackjack strategy. This strategy, if followed based on the situation, reduces to the dealer's advantage to nearly even. However, the dealer does still retain a slight advantage.

If a dealer is showing an ace, the player also has the chance at buying insurance. In general, insurance is not a good idea for winning at blackjack. The house's advantage on an insurance bet can go as high as 15 percent. Buying insurance is, essentially, betting that the dealer has a card valued at 10, and thus a natural blackjack. In blackjack, that can be any of the royal suits or a 10 card. Buying insurance usually requires half of the player's original bet on the hand. If the dealer has a natural blackjack and the player does not, the player, in essence, wins back both the insurance money and his originally bet. If both the player and the dealer have natural blackjacks, the player wins 1:1 on the hand.

Popular betting strategies for winning at blackjack include the progressive systems. They can be positive or negative. A negative progressive strategy involves doubling the bet each time there is a losing hand and, once the player wins, going back to the original bet amount and starting over. The positive progressive system works just the opposite way. The player keeps betting the original amount until he or she starts to win, then begins to increase the amount with each hand won. When the player loses a hand, he or she goes back to the original bet amount and starts over.

While there are a number of other strategies that can be employed for winning at blackjack, these are the most popular. The best strategy, however, may be to walk away after winning a substantial amount, or set a certain amount you are willing to lose before ever sitting down at a table. Casinos depend on human nature to make money, and that includes using greed and pride against a player to keep them at the table. Having a strategy mapped out, and a commitment to it, before gambling is the best advice of all.