The basic aim of the game some suggest is to achieve a result of 21 or as close as, but when you get more familiarised with the game, I play tactically and try and get the dealer to bust instead by not taking cards.

Until you are confident, just keep to hitting hard on cards up to 17 (depending on what the dealer has, I’ll explain more in the next tips post) and hit on soft 18 if the dealer is showing 10, otherwise, stick.

If you are playing online, then it is impossible to card count, so it’s worth taking the risk and not take insurance on your hand.

If you want to get into blackjack but are a complete newbie then here are a few good tips and ideas to help you in the right direction.

You can play blackjack either at a casino or online. As a complete starter, I would suggest you start online; there you can play for free and experiment before you take on the real thing.

Before you start, decide on your bankroll, or an amount that you are willing to spend, so you don’t lose track or get giddy.

As a general rule, always split double aces and 8’s but NEVER 10s – this is regardless of what the dealer has.

There are many ways to play the game, but to start try and get at least 17 – just make sure you don’t try and ‘beat’ the dealer otherwise you will end up busting more than you win. I will more touch on the strategy of the game at a later date.