The house edge in blackjack is around 0.5% if you use basic strategy. Of course, that 0.5% can go up or down based on your skill level. Most players are bad enough at blackjack basic strategy to give up another 1.5% or so to the house, making the house edge for the casino 2%. Blackjack House Advantage. The house edge of blackjack depends on the rules of the game. This includes the number of decks used or if double down, 2-3 or 6-5 blackjack and if surrender and resplit aces are allowed.The dealer hitting or standing on a soft 17 can also change the house edge. Single Deck Blackjack House Edge.
Even though Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the world, you would be surprised to learn that many people don’t know how to play it. It’s not a very complicated game to understand, however you still need to know the basic rules as well as some strategies that can improve your gameplay. Whether you’re interested in playing at one of the land based casinos or online, you’ll be able to find many variations no matter where you live. This is a game that’s been around for years and has gained international appeal, especially when it became available on the internet.
If it’s your first time playing, we highly recommend you to learn some, if not all, the Blackjack rules. This will not only give you confidence when playing, but it could potentially save you a lot of money. There’s nothing worse than gambling on something that you’re not 100% educated on, so again, make sure you learn the game completely beforehand. There’s a lot of information you can find online, but to help you get started, we’ll be going over some of the rules, card values as well as the house edge for Blackjack.
21 Game Rules
Blackjack, also commonly known as 21, is a casino card game where one or more players compete against a single dealer. That means it could be only you against the dealer, or if you’re playing at a physical casino, it could involve more people at one table. In any case, the whole objective is to beat the dealer. As the 21 game rules state, in order to win you need a card hand that has a higher value than the dealers, but without going over 21 points. Each of the cards have their own points based on their denominations, which we’ll discuss more later. There are many variations, so keep in mind they usually include anywhere from one to eight decks of cards.
The game starts with each player placing their initial bets on the table. Depending on the game type or the casino you’re playing at, the minimum bets are usually around $10 per hand. Once the bets are placed, you will be dealt two cards. Afterwards, the first player to the left of the dealer will have to decide what he/she wants to do based on the following choices below:
- Hit – requesting another card from the dealer after you’ve been dealt the first two cards. If you receive a card that gives you a total over 21 points, that means you bust and the dealer will take away your initial bet. If you don’t go over 21, the dealer will have to finish playing their hand, and if they go over 21, you will win your initial bet amount. If you both don’t go over 21, the winner will be the one who has the highest amount of points. If you both have the same amount of points, then it will end in a tie and you will receive your initial bet back.
- Stand – when you don’t request anymore cards from the initial ones you’ve already been dealt.
- Double Down – is when you double your initial bet and receive one more card from the dealer.
- Split a Pair – splitting the initial two cards you are dealt, but only if they’re the same value as each other. If you decide to split them, you’ll have to add another bet amount that’s the same as the initial one. Once the additional bet has been placed, the dealer will then split the cards with their bets, so you can play two different hands.
- Surrender – like the name itself, is when you forfeit and decide not to continue playing your hand, but can only happen with the first two cards. The conscience to this is that you lose half of your initial bet.
Blackjack Card Values
Now that we’ve covered some of the basic rules, let’s go over the Blackjack card values. To make it simple, card denominations from 2 – 10 are worth the exact value that are shown on the card. For example, if you have a 2 of hearts, it will be worth 2 points, and if you have a 5 of clubs, it will be worth 5 points, and so on. The value for the Jack, Queen and King are worth 10 points. The Ace can be worth 1 or 11 points, depending on your hand. As far as the suits go, they don’t have any value, and are irrelevant.
Blackjack House Edge
Once you’re established the rules and understand the values of the cards, it’s important to know the Blackjack house edge. Even though the house edge has a lot to do with your chances of winning, how well you play, the strategies can also increase your chances. In any case, it’s always a good idea to find a table with the lowest house edge. On most tables, the house edge is somewhere around 0.5% (about 45% chance of winning) and can go up or down depending how well you play. That means if you don’t use any good strategies, the house edge could be even higher. Overall, when comparing to other casino games, Blackjack has one of the edges for the house.
With a basic understanding of the rules, knowing the value of the cards as well as the house edge, we encourage you to practice on some of our online Blackjack tablesfor free. Not only will you have a great time playing, but you’ll also be able practice some of your techniques without having to risk any of your hard earned money. That means you have nothing to lose! In fact, you can start playing now and experience the thrill of Vegas from the convenience of your own home.
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Blackjack side bets come in many shapes and sizes. Many traditional and online blackjack games have their own lineup of side bets. It would be impossible to come up with a complete list of side bets, though all blackjack side bet options generally fall under a few different categories. Here’s a breakdown of both common and obscure blackjack side bets.
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Super Sevens Side Bet
The 7 card is a big player in blackjack side bets. Sometimes called Super Sevens bets, this side bet is a proposition wager on whether or not the first card you are dealt is a 7. This bet traditionally pays off at 3-to-1.
Another Super Sevens side bet is whether the first two cards you receive are 7s. Because this is a far less likely event, a winning Double Sevens bet pays off at 50-to-1 or more. Taking it a step further, some casinos that use multi-deck blackjack shoes offer Suited Sevens bets, which state that if you are dealt two suited sevens, you win a payoff as high as 100-to-1.
There’s one more Super Sevens bet that is one of the least likely occurrences in the casino. If the first 3 cards you are dealt are 7s, regardless of suit, you can earn between 500-to-1 (for unsuited triple 7s) or as much as 5,000 to 1 (for suited triple 7s).
Royal Match Side Bet
The Royal Match bet pays a small bonus if the first two cards you receive are suited, called an “easy match”, and a much larger bonus if the first two cards you receive are a suited king and queen, which is called the Royal Match. You’ll find several versions of this side bet, with the payouts expected just under 97% to 93%.
Streak Blackjack Side Bet
One blackjack side bet you might not see as often in the streak bet. In this proposition, you win the bonus if you have a certain number of winning hands in a row. When you have split pairs, you’ll need to determine a net win for the total hand. For instance, if you split 7s and win on one hand while pushing on the other, that’s considered a net win. Take note that most streak bets don’t allow you the surrender option.
Over/Under 13 Side Bet
This proposition calls for you to bet on whether your hand will be over 13, under 13, or exactly 13 after you’re dealt two cards. For the purpose of this bet, aces count as 1. If you make this wager and all things are even (when card counting), the better proposition is to be Under 13, which has a house edge of over 6% instead of over 10%. The exactly 13 bet, which pays at 10 to 1 odds, is over 7% house edge.
Pair Square Side Bet
In this bet, you win money if your first two cards are a pair. If the first two cards are a suited pair, you’re paid even more. This blackjack side bet, which has been spotted in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Tunica, is one of the better side bets in blackjack from the player’s perspective. The expected return ranges from 99.41% for a popular one-deck variation to a 96.15% for one of the six-deck variations.
21 + 3 Side Bet
The 21+3 side bet in blackjack is based on the first two cards you’re showing and the dealer’s face card. If the combination of these cards are a straight, a flush, a straight flush, or a three of a kind, you win your side bet. The house edge on these games ranges from over 2% to somewhat over 3%.
Sweet Sixteen Side Bet
Blackjack Match The Dealer Payout
The Sweet 16 side bet in blackjack pays if you get a 16 or more on your first two cards. This bet pays at 1 to 1. Also, one ace pays at 1 to 1, while two aces pay at 2 to 1. If you get a pair of 2s through 7s, you get a push. This combines for a 97.42% house edge.
Lucky Ladies Side Bet
The Lucky Ladies bet involves making a 20-hand, while the best payoff is for a pair with the Queen of Hearts. If you receive a Queen of Hearts pair making 20, you’re paid at 125 to 1. If you receive a Queen of Hearts pair while the dealer makes a blackjack, you win 1000 to 1 in payoff money. A matched 20 (matched rank and suit) gives you 19 to 1 odds, while a suited 20 pays off at 9 to 1. If you build a hand with an unsuited 20, you’re paid at 4 to 1.
Bonus Blackjack Side Bet
This is a series of side bets in which either you or the dealer, or both, get a blackjack. You can bet on the player getting the blackjack, the dealer getting the blackjack, or both of your hitting on it. If both you and the dealer get blackjacks with an ace and jack of spades, you win a progressive bonus payoff.
More Blackjack Side Bets
Below are some other blackjack side bets you’ll find in casinos. Each blackjack floor is going to offer its own list of side bets, so learn what the side bets are in the local card rooms where you live. Online casinos also sometimes offer their own selection of blackjack side bets.
Bonanza Blackjack – Player has a hard or soft 20 and the dealer has a 10-point card of any type.
Hi/Low Side Bet – You can bet on whether your first card is going to be higher or lower than the dealer’s card.
2 through 6 Side Bet – If the dealer is dealt a 2 through 6 card, you win a side bet.
Jack Magic Side Bet – This involves getting jacks in your hand and the dealer’s face-up card. You’re paid more for one-eyed jacks.
Match the Dealer Side Bet – For each of your first 2 cards which matched the dealer’s up card, you win a side bet.
Lucky Lucky Side Bet – This involves getting certain combinations in your first 2 cards and the dealer’s up card: 777, 678, and other combinations that add up to 21.
Bonus Spin Side Bet – In this game, you’ll receive a spin at a wheel if you win the bonus spin side bet. The prize wheel range from 5x to 100x.
Dare Any Pairs Side Bet – This bet pays at 11 to 1 and is simple as can be. If your first two cards are a pair, you win the 11 to 1 bet.