- How the Blackjack Rules Affect the House Edge. The second condition you must consider is the set of rules used on the game. Some rules, notably those that offer the player more options, are favorable to the player, assuming the player applies the correct strategy.
- Blackjack Rules House Advantage The loophole in this strategy, which gives the house its advantage, is that the player and dealer have an equal chance (33.15%) of busting—but when the player busts, he always loses, even if the dealer’s hand also busts. The odds of winning are shown in the table below.
- What Is House Edge? The house edge is also known as the casino advantage. And it's something that exists on every table game, lotto, or slot in a casino online or on land.
- Appendices
- Miscellaneous
- External Links
The house has an advantage in blackjack simply because the player has to draw first and if he busts, the player automatically losses regardless if the dealer subsequently busts in the same round. This is the casino's solitary advantage in blackjack and if everything were equal, the house edge in blackjack would be about 8 percent. This page about advantage play in blackjack offers an overview of which techniques blackjack players commonly use to get an edge over the house. Before we get to that, though, we start by talking about how a mathematical advantage works in the first place. Mathematical Advantage Explained. This is a fundamental part of understanding advantage play.
Introduction
Rule variations will have an effect on the player's expected return. The numbers below show the effect on the player's return under various rules and after taking into consideration proper basic strategy adjustments. These changes are relative to the following rules: eight decks, dealer stands on soft 17, player may double on anyfirst two cards, player can double after splitting, playermay split to 4 hands.
Blackjack Rule Variations
| Rule | Effect |
|---|---|
| Blackjacks pay 2 to 1 | +2.27% |
| Triple down on any two cards | +1.64% |
| Five cardCharlie1 | +1.46% |
| Optional half win for 5-card Charlie9 | +0.77% |
| Suited blackjacks pay 2 to 1 | +0.57% |
| Player 21-points is automatic winner | +0.54% |
| Single deck | +0.48% |
| Early surrender against ace | +0.39% |
| Player 21 vs. dealer blackjack is a push | +0.35% |
| 5-card win pays 3-2 | +0.33% |
| Blackjack tie pays 3 to 2 | +0.32% |
| Six-card Charlie pays 3 to 2 | +0.31% |
| Early surrender against ten | +0.24% |
| 5-card (or more) 21 automatically pays 2 to 1 | +0.24% |
| Player may double on any number of cards | +0.23% |
| Ace and 10 after splitting aces is a blackjack (paying 3-2) | +0.21% |
| Player may draw to split aces | +0.19% |
| Double deck | +0.19% |
| Six card Charlie1 | +0.16% |
| Player may double, double for less, or stand after splitting aces | +0.15% |
| Tied blackjack pays 1-2 | +0.11% |
| Ace and 10 after splitting aces is a blackjack (paying 6-5) | +0.11% |
| Double Down Rescue | +0.10% |
| 6-card win pays 2-1 | +0.09% |
| Player may resplit aces | +0.08% |
| Player may double or stand after splitting aces | +0.08% |
| Late surrender against ten | +0.07% |
| Four decks | +0.06% |
| 7-card win pays 5-1 | +0.05% |
| 777 pays 3 to 1 automatically | +0.05% |
| Five decks | +0.03% |
| 777 pays 2 to 1 automatically | +0.03% |
| Six decks | +0.02% |
| Seven card Charlie1 | +0.01% |
| Late surrender against ace | +0.00% |
| Dealer must stop with six cards | +0.00% |
| Late surrender after splitting | +0.00% |
| Split to only 3 hands | -0.01% |
| No-peek: ace showing2 | -0.01% |
| BB+13 | -0.01% |
| Dealer secretly goes first5 | -0.02% |
| OBBO4 | -0.03% |
| European no hole card (splitting)7 | -0.03% |
| European no hole card (doubling)7 | -0.08% |
| Player may double on 9-11 only | -0.09% |
| No-peek: ten showing6 | -0.10% |
| Player may not resplit | -0.10% |
| European no hole card7 | -0.11% |
| Player may not double after splitting | -0.14% |
| Player may double on 10,11 only | -0.18% |
| Player may not split aces | -0.18% |
| Dealer hits on soft 17 | -0.22% |
| Blackkjack pays 7-5 | -0.45% |
| Player may not split | -0.57% |
| Red blackjack pays 2-1, Black blackjack pays 3-2, Mixed blackjack pays 1-1 | -0.57% |
| Blackjack pays 6-5 | -1.39% |
| Player may not double | -1.48% |
| Player loses 17 ties | -1.87% |
| Player may not double nor split | -1.91% |
| Blackjacks pay 1 to 1 | -2.27% |
| Player loses 17,18 ties | -3.58% |
| Player loses 17-19 ties | -5.30% |
| Dealer bust on 22 is a push8 | -6.91% |
| Player loses 17-20 ties | -8.38% |
| Player loses 17-21 ties | -8.86% |
Notes
- A 'Charlie' is an automatic winner. For example the five-card Charlie rule means the player automatically wins with 5 cards, as long as he didn't bust.
- Dealer does not peek for blackjack with an ace up. If dealer has a ace-up blackjack, player loses all bets made, including from doubling and splitting. A 10-up blackjack will be revealed immediately after peeking, and the player will lose only his original wager, except a blackjack tie will push.
- BB+1 refers to an Australian rule, in which the player will lose all busted bets, plus one unit, if the dealer gets a blackjack. For example, if the player splits 8's to three hands of a 20, (doubled) 19, and a busted hand, and the dealer get a blackjack, then the player will lose 2 units, one for the busted hand, and one from the remaining 3 units on the table. There is a great deal of confusion for the term for his rule, some sources calling it 'OBBO,' for Original and Busted Bets Only.
- OBBO stands for Original Bets and Busted Only. 'Original Bets' means each original bet per hand. So, if the player bet $5 and split to three hands, he would have three original bets of $5 each. As far as I know, the OBBO rule is confined to some parts of Australia and Malaysia. In the example above, the player would lose 3 units under this rule, one for the busted hand and two for the number of unbusted hands. The term is discussed in depth in the bookThe Pro's Guide to Spanish 21 and Australian Pontoon by Katarina Walker.
- This strange rule is actually followed in Pennsylvania, on Shufflemaster TMS-300 video multi-player blackjack games. State law prohibits one player taking the cards of another player. The way they implement this rule is to give every player, and the dealer, a separate shoe. The dealer plays out his hand first, secretly, and the results stored in memory. Then the cards used by the dealer are removed for each player shoe. When all players have finished acting, the game shows what cards the dealer drew already. According to Shufflemaster, the effect of this rule is 0.02% in favor of the dealer. Shufflemaster wishes to add this rule is part of a patent-pending technology.
- Dealer does not peek for blackjack with a 10 up. If dealer has a 10-up blackjack, player loses all bets made, including from doubling and splitting. An ace-up blackjack will be revealed immediately after peeking, and the player will lose only his original wager, except a blackjack tie will push.
- Dealer does not take a hole card, or never peeks at it if he does. If the dealer has a blackjack, then player loses all bets made, including from doubling and splitting, except a blackjack tie will push. The cost of this rule to the player is 0.08% when doubling, and 0.03% when splitting. This breakdown is important in the case of Galaxy casinos in Macau, where the player only loses the original bet when doubling, but everything when splitting, if the dealer gets a blackjack.
- The push on a dealer 22 rule is a legally protected rule. The rights belong to the owner of Blackjack Switch.
- This rule can be found at the Pharaoh's Palace in Macau. The player may invoke the rule before the dealer checks for blackjack. The effect shown is based on the dealer not taking a hole card.
Written by: Michael Shackleford
Technically, blackjack is a straightforward game. That said, as soon as you dig deeper than the basics, you’ll be dealing with terms like odds and different numerical probabilities. Without letting your intuition run the game, you should be prepared for all situations and make decisions based on your best blackjack odds.
After reading this guide, you will know the basics of the house edge and whether you can do something about it. We’ll go over five effective methods, give you practical tips on how you can apply them, and explain how they can affect the results. These efforts will help you develop a general understanding of what odds are and what makes them important.
What is the House Edge in Blackjack?
A lot of players are asking themselves: “What are the odds of winning blackjack?” and “How can I increase my odds of winning a blackjack hand?” These topics are essential to understand, especially for players who are just starting out.
Casinos have a mathematical advantage, otherwise referred to as the house edge. The reason is that players make a bet depending on the dealer’s first card. For example, players hit a card and bust about 28% of the time. And, even though the dealer goes bust as well, we will lose in this scenario. This number varies on the game-by-game basis, but it’s an inevitable situation that we have to play along with.
Despite not being able to eliminate the edge, there are effective ways to create more favorable blackjack odds. Right from the start, the house has a serious edge, but with the right plan, you’ll get that number down.
The Importance of Blackjack Odds
The effects of particular moves on the odds of winning blackjack have long been a topic of discussion. Namely, a mathematics professor and blackjack researcher, Edward O. Thorp, published a paper on favorable situations in certain games. These discoveries, such as specifically calculating the blackjack odds chart, have contributed greatly to the game we know today.
For example, it shows that the player’s probability to bust on an extra card starts from 0% (for the hard value of 11 or lower) and gradually increases – 31% (for 12), 39% (for 13) all the way to 92% (for 20). The importance of these values gets bigger when you consider how likely it is for the dealer to bust after the first card is revealed.
Many players make the mistake of predominantly fixating on their own hand, whereas the dealer’s odds are just as crucial. For example, it may seem that hitting on a hand value of 12 is what you should do. However, if the dealer also has a weak hand (i.e., a six), the advantage will be on their side, so it’s necessary to evaluate the probability of busting on both sides.
The odds of winning blackjack counting cards have a bad reputation, so it’s not always optimal to use a blackjack odds table. Instead, we have other methods to help you in the game.
House Edge of Different Variations of the Game
When the rules are slightly altered from the baseline, it affects the house edge and, by extension, your potential profits. Some of them can affect the outcome positively, whereas other variants will put the house at a further advantage.
The biggest variable in the game is how many decks are included. Generally, as you add another pack of cards, the casino benefits more. Casino blackjack odds are simple mathematics – the more cards are in the game, the lesser the chance of having a natural blackjack.
Also, the fact of whether you can double down or split makes a big difference for both the establishment and the person. The rule of thumb is that more options to choose from signify that your position will be looking up.
Here is a quick rundown of alternatives that play a significant role in the outcomes:
Always consider these factors before entering the game. It goes without saying that you want to avoid the unfavorable variants – those that add to the casino’s edge. There are many other variations affecting the blackjack house odds, but these ones are the most common.
Composition-Dependent Strategy
Blackjack basic strategy odds are decent, but this approach has some drawbacks. It only considers the total size of your hand regardless of what it is made up of. For example, 12 can be made up of 7+5, 8+4, or 10+2, and your actions depend on which composition you have at the time.
The composition-dependent strategy is a slight deviation, which works best in blackjack single deck odds since it makes the biggest impact on each hand.
16 Against a Dealer 10
You might be holding 16 made up of two cards (10+6 or 9+7), three cards (4+5+7), or even more, and it will make a difference on your blackjack casino odds and subsequent actions. Generally, 16 vs. 10 = Stand regardless of how many cards you have.
Exceptions for three cards:
- 16 (6+6+4) vs 10 = Hit
- 16 (7+6+3) vs 10 = Hit
- 16 (8+6+2) vs 10 = Hit
- 16 (9+6+A) vs 10 = Hit
Exceptions for four cards:
- 16 (6+6+2+2) vs 10 = Hit
- 16 (6+6+3+A) vs 10 = Hit
- 16 (7+6+2+A) vs 10 = Hit
- 16 (8+6+A+A) vs 10 = Hit
- 16 (10+2+2+2) vs 10 = Hit
Since your hand contains smaller cards, there will be fewer of them in the pack. This slightly shifts the odds – rather than hit, you are advised to stand (but bear in mind those exceptions). Also, if you have 8+8, you should split (but remember about blackjack free bet odds).
12 Against a Dealer 4
Once again, you will receive different recommendations depending on what your 12 is made up of. If you have a ten-value card, you’re less likely to break with a hit. If you draw another card, you’re putting yourself at a slight advantage.
Basic Blackjack Rules
Two cards:
- 12 (10+2) vs 4 = Hit
- 9+3, 8+4, or 7+5 vs 4 = Stand
- 12 (6+6) = Split
15 Against a Dealer 10
When you have an 8+7 combination, go for the hitting option rather than surrendering. However, it’s not the case for 10+5 or 9+6, where surrendering will be a slightly better move. While it doesn’t give you any guarantees, there is a higher probability of saving more money down the line.
Exceptions for three cards:
- 15 (5+5+5) vs 10 = Stand
- 15 (6+5+4) vs 10 = Stand
- 15 (6+6+3) vs 10 = Stand
Exceptions for fours cards:
- 5 (A+4+5+5) vs 10 = Stand
- 15 (A+3+5+6) vs 10 = Stand
- 15 (A+2+6+6) vs 10 = Stand
Here’s a more comprehensive table of the actions you should take during the game:
Blackjack Rules House Advantages
Casino Coupons
Another option for increasing odds in blackjack over house edge match is playing coupons. For example, you can bet $10 along with a coupon of the same amount. You can get paid double or lose only $10 of your own money, which is a good deal in either case.
We’ve already touched on the point that your odds of winning under normal circumstances are less than 50/50 considering the house edge. However, when you are paid double, you tip the scale and make the edge work in your favor.
There are also promo chips, which casinos hand out to encourage players to go back. One of the coupon types that is unique to blackjack are special bonuses that pay 2-1 on your first blackjack. Each casino has its own conditions to collect coupons and provide different instructions for using them.
Casino Complimentary Items
Comps are offered by the establishments as a reward. It can be a dinner, a hotel room, or even airfare with the goal of inviting more gambling activity from players. Your comps vary depending on how the casino perceives your contribution. Some advice to score better:
- Play games with good odds because sometimes it can reach up to 1.5% for certain games.
- Make your first bet slightly bigger – the supervisor will take notice of it.
- Play at a crowded blackjack table to slow down the pace.
- Adjust your bet size at the right time.
What are the odds for the blackjack game after you apply complimentary benefits? Let’s get into the details of how it works. Suppose the house edge is at 0.5%, and your award for playing is estimated at 0.3%. Some casinos offer double points at specific times on certain days of the week, which increases your comp percentage up to 0.6. Thus, you’ll be playing with a 0.1% edge over the casino.
By combining this method with other ones, you might be able to create the blackjack best odds, at least to the extent they can be.
Loss Rebate
What are the odds in blackjack when you successfully negotiate your gambling losses with the casino? The term “loss rebate” was introduced after Don Johnson was in the news with his successful act of social engineering. This case was unusual even for high-rolling gamblers, so it may not apply to everyone. Still, it’s worth taking a look at.
Don Johnson negotiated the following terms:
- Substantial loss rebate – 20% on losses over $500,000 per day
- Liberal house edge of 0.263%
- Large wager size of $100,000
- $50,000 per day of show up money
- Entourage at the table
These conditions gave him better blackjack odds than card counting, so he didn’t even bother with cheating. He simply rebated at the exact time when his advantage over the casino was wearing out.
More often, casinos offer loss-based rebates, like 5% for $100,000 or 15% for $500,000. If the player loses big, then they cash out their rebate and move on to another place with a similar deal. If the player wins big, they take their winnings while they still have an advantage, which is what Don Johnson did.
Hand Interaction
Are blackjack odds better with more players? It might be with this method. If you’re shy, this method might not be for you as it’s based on tight interaction with other players at the table. What would you do if the other player had a pair of 7s against a 3, but had no money? Should you take one of their 7s? Or should you fill in for the other player that doubled down?
Let’s take an example when a player should double down but, for some reason, hesitates to put down more money. In this case, a more well-informed player could front the wager on the hesitating player’s behalf, possibly taking advantage of a good hand.
In another scenario, your odds when playing blackjack could be better if you give part of a bad hand to another player. Granted, it should be a beginner if you expect another player to accept the proposal, like having them front some cash on a losing hand. However, you could get some backlash because of that move. The unofficial code of conduct states that you play against the house, and you shouldn’t set others up for failure.
Conclusion
With so many tricks for gambling odds in blackjack, you can put this knowledge into practice. However, not every platform will be accommodating, and you may not be able to unleash your full potential.
If you want to play blackjack on the best terms, sign up for Bob Casino and choose from a variety of live dealer and flash table games. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional with blackjack machine odds, you will have a great experience playing on our platform. Make sure you behave rationally and level-headedly so that you will have the best chance of getting proper gains.