If you want to learn to play a game where you can consistently expect high returns of over 99 percent, then you will want to learn to play blackjack. The foundation of playing blackjack well is what's known as basic strategy, and while there is a lot that goes into basic strategy, there are some basic rules that you can learn. Blackjack hands are broken up into three types: hard hands, soft hands and paired hands. You can be against strong dealer cards (seven and up) or weak dealer cards (two through six). Your hand type, your total and the dealer's card are what you use to make your decisions in this game.

Hard hands make up the majority of your play. Against weak dealer cards, you'll want to stand when you have a total of 12 or higher unless you specifically have 12 and are facing a dealer two or three card. You're playing passively in these scenarios because the dealer has a good chance of busting and you don't want to bust out as well. If you bust and the dealer busts, then you still lose your whole bet.

With hard hands against strong dealer cards, you're going to always be at least hitting until you have a total of 17 or higher. Always double with a total of ten or eleven when your hand is hard unless you're against a ten or ace. If you have 11, you can double against ten cards.

If you have a soft hand, then you have a lot more options since you can never bust with just one more hit. You're frequently going to be doubling against weak cards when you have a total of 18 or less and always hitting against strong dealer cards when you have a total of 17 or less. Soft hands are all about aggressive play.

With paired hands, you have to be a little careful since there are so many things that can happen. You will always split with aces because they are so strong and always split with eights since you want to avoid having a weak 16 total. However, you'll always stand with tens and you'll never split a pair of fives since having a hard ten is a very strong hand that you always double unless you're facing a ten or ace. Overall, these rules will give you an idea of what most of basic strategy is all about.