In 1956, Roger Baldwin published the first formal attempt at a mathematically based strategy to reduce the house edge in blackjack. His paper, which was entitled The Optimum Strategy in Blackjack, and was published in the Journal of the American Statistical Association, was a ten-page, mathematically dense discussion that still required a computer to improve the system. Since this time, many have published more user-friendly, practical, and effective guides to winning at blackjack. Despite the fact that the game favors the dealer, there are still some proven ways to improve your results.

1. Lets start with some basic statistics. Just because you have won a few hands does not meant that your chances of winning overall have improved. Despite the fact that you may feel invincible at the time, youre just as likely to lose the next hand regardless of if youre behind or ahead. Dont bet more just because youre winning!

2. Many people like to play more than one hand simultaneously. Although this may seem exciting, and you may feel like more of a high roller, playing two hands against the dealer will result in the same combined results as two separate players betting one hand each but using identical strategies. Playing two hands at once is entertaining but will not give you any edge over the house.

3. In winning blackjack, picking a good table is always important. Dont pick one whose minimum is more than five percent of your total purse, and keep your eyes open for individual rule variations that may help the gambler, such as requiring the dealer to stand on soft 17 or allowing doubling down on any two cards. These types of rule variations may improve your ability to win more money.

4. Now lets get a bit more technical. Always remember to double down when appropriate. Doubling down consists of doubling your bet and getting one extra card when you believe that the extra card will still allow you to beat the dealer. This option offers the player his or her main advantage, so always keep this in your hip pocket. Most people double down with ten against a nine or lower and with any hand of 11.

5. Remember that if you are dealt two cards of the same value, you may "split" them. This allows you to double your bet and play two hands simultaneously. You shouldnt split tens or fives, and most players recommend splitting eights or sevens if the dealer's card is equal or lower value. Other commonly recommended splits are twos or threes against a four, five or six, and you should always split aces. Most experienced players recommend never splitting face cards, tens or fives.