Blackjack conditions have never been worse in many markets. Most casinos have good games mixed in with bad ones. It is important to determine the best rules available to receive the highest return on your blackjack wagers.
Blackjack Payouts
The single most important blackjack rule is the payout when the player is dealt a 21. The best payout is 3:2. That means the player wins $1.50 for every $1 wagered when dealt a blackjack, unless the dealer also has blackjack, which is a push. A winning $10 bet gets paid $15 at a 3:2 table on a dealt 21. A $50 wager wins $75.
A 6:5 payout is common on the Las Vegas Strip and at low-limit games. The player wins $1.20 for every $1 on a winning blackjack. That $0.30 per $1 adds up quickly. It increases the house edge by about 1.4%. The player loses around one additional bet per hour at a 6:5 game compared to a 3:2 one. The loss rate is faster at short-handed tables because more hands are dealt per hour.
The other payout is even money. This is found at the lowest limits, like the $1 game at Oyo in Las Vegas, and on Game King machines. This is around 2.3% worse than a 3:2 blackjack game. While that does not matter at a live $1 blackjack game, it adds up quickly on video versions due to the game’s speed.
Number of Decks
The number of decks used is also an important game feature. The fewer the decks, the better it is for the player, assuming all other rules match. That is the real catch.
Single-deck blackjack games are about 0.5% better for players. However, nearly all the remaining ones have bad rules. Most pay 6:5. If they pay 3:2, double down is usually only permitted on 10 or 11 or sometimes 9 to 11. Double down after splitting is typically not permitted.
Counting cards cannot bail you out of some of these bad rules, and single-deck games usually only deal two or three hands before shuffling anyway. There are usually better games with more decks on the same casino floor.
Double-deck blackjack tables are typically the best deal. The double down rules are often the same as six-deck ones. If a double-deck and six-deck game have the same rules, the double-deck game adds about 0.2% to the game’s return. The double-deck game is also slower due to more shuffling.
Six- and eight-deck games have almost identical paybacks when both have the same rules. The eight-deck game is about 0.02% worse. However, it has fewer shuffling pauses, which about evens out the expected hourly rate.
Double Down Rules
Double down rules are another important blackjack factor. The ability to double down on any two cards gives the players about a 1.5% higher payback than when it is not allowed. Some Game King machines do not allow any double downs.
Allowing doubles on any two cards improves the player’s return by about 0.10% compared to games that only allow doubles on 9, 10, and 11, and by about 0.20% compared to games that only allow doubles on 10 and 11.
Double down after splitting is another advantageous player rule. It adds about 0.15% to the player’s return compared to when doubling down after splitting is not permitted.
Surrender
Surrender allows players to give up half their bet and fold. This should only be used in a handful of situations. When available, it reduces the house edge by a little less than 0.1%.
You may read online that there is early and late surrender. Early surrender means the player can do it before the dealer checks for blackjack. That does not exist in the real world. The dealer will always check for blackjack before the player can surrender.
Splitting Rules, Including Aces
Properly splitting pairs is another great way to increase blackjack returns. Many Game Kings do not allow splitting at all. This adds around 0.6% to the house edge. Some live, online, and video versions only allow one split. That is about a 0.2% player disadvantage compared to a game that allows any pair to be split. Allowing aces to be re-split is about half that difference.
Most casinos that allow splitting permit it up to four hands. There is virtually no difference in house advantage between a game with three splits and an unlimited number of splits, due to the infrequency of the event.
Dealer Hitting or Standing on Soft 17
Most blackjack games these days hit soft 17. That favors the house by around 0.2%. This means the dealer hits any 17 hand that includes an ace and cannot bust. Many high-limit games stand on soft 17. That benefits the player.
Continuous Shuffling Machines
Continuous shuffling machines are controversial devices. They allow casinos to avoid stopping action to shuffle, and it prevents card counting. While players usually dislike the devices, shuffling after every hand is slightly in the player’s favor. However, the speed of play makes up for this.
Live tables are not the only places blackjack decks are shuffled after every hand. Most video blackjack games and those at online casinos also do it.
European Rules
European blackjack games, also found online, do not deal the house’s hole card until after players act. This means the player does not know if the dealer will make blackjack when showing a 10 or ace until after they play. This changes some split and double down plays because the player loses all bets if the dealer makes blackjack.
For example, in European blackjack, if the player splits 8s against a 10, and doubles down each split hand, they have four bets on the table. When the dealer pulls an ace off the top of the deck for their second card, the player would lose all four bets, instead of one at a typical blackjack table.
Learn Basic Strategy or None of This Matters
Finding the best blackjack game at your local casino means nothing if you do not know how to play it. It is imperative to learn basic strategy. Casinos allow players to keep a card at the table with the best move in every situation.
The right play may differ between games. For example, when a game does not allow doubling down after splitting, 4s should never be split. Determine each proper play that changes between the number of decks and rule sets.
Having Fun Is Also Important
You may not find the best game in the world at your favorite casino. That is fine. Do the best you can and have fun while doing it. That is the main reason to play. Winning is a nice surprise. Find tables or machines with minimum bets you can afford and make the most of it.
