Gambling Odds Blackjack
If you’re playing at an online casino, a blackjack odds chart can be a handy tool to have. It’ll help you understand the chances of your bet landing. For example, as we mentioned earlier, if you have a pair of aces the advice is to always split your bet. Check out the chart below so that you have a better understanding of how it works. This is the casino's solitary advantage in blackjack and if everything were equal, the house edge in blackjack would be about 8 percent. The dealer and player each have a 28 percent probability of busting (therefore 28 multiplied by 28) or about 8 percent of the time.
How to play blackjack
Understanding the odds offered in any game of blackjack starts with understanding the basics of blackjack gameplay.
Standard 52-card decks are used. Non-face cards have the value of the number printed on them, while jacks, kings and queens are all worth 10, and aces are worth one or 11.
The game has a relatively simple goal: You take cards aiming to get as closeto 21 as you can without going over. Then, you can win in one of two ways: Either the dealer busts by going over 21, or you beat the dealer’s hand. You can also push and will get your bet back if you tie the dealer.
At the start of a game, you and the other players at the table place a bet.
Then, you, the other players at the table and the dealer each receive two cards to start. You and the other players act on your hands before the dealer and can take one of several actions depending on the cards you are dealt. If you hit and go over 21, you lose, regardless of what happens later with the dealer’s hand.
You make these decisions with only one of the dealer’s cards visible. There is no decision if you get dealt an aceand a card worth 10. It means you’ve hit blackjack and get paid 3:2 or 6:5 on your bet, depending on the specific rules of the game and whether the dealer also has blackjack. If the dealer also has blackjack, you’ll likely push depending on the specific rules of the game.
The actions available to you include:
- Standing: Anytime you’re happy with your hand, you can stand. You’ll get no more cards and will get paid 1:1 if either the dealer goes bust or you beat the dealer’s hand.
- Hitting: As long as you’re under 21, you can hit and draw cards to get closer to 21. You can continue hitting until you decide to stand or bust by going over 21.
- Doubling down: You can double down after the first two cards are dealt, depending on the value of your hand and the rules of the game. You double your bet and you’ll get just one more card to go up against the dealer with.
- Splitting: If you’re dealt a pair you can split the two cards into two separatehands. You double your bet and the dealer will give each hand a second card, allowing you to play each one separately. Depending on the cards and the rules of the game, you may even be able to double down after splitting or split again.
- Surrendering: Depending on the rules of the game, you may be able to surrender, or give up your hand. You’ll get half your betback. It’s statistically proven to be a good play when you’ve got 16 against a dealer’s nine, 10 or ace, or 15 against a 10 or ace.
- Buying insurance: If the dealer is showing an ace, you have the option of buying insurance. It costs half of your original bet size and pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack, making the hand a push for you. If the dealer doesn’t have blackjack, you lose what you paid for insurance and the hand continues. The house edge on insurance is a whopping 6.7%.
Along with the thrill of the game, what people love about Blackjack is that skill and strategy help boost the odds. It’s a great game for players because there’s a chance to beat the casino’s advantage.
How Blackjack odds work
Odds work differently in Blackjack than in other casino games. That’s because in Blackjack, the outcome for every round is dependent on previous rounds – unlike games such as Roulette, where the odds are the same for each spin.
Blackjack cards are removed after play, so the composition of the deck changes – and so do the odds.
House edge and Blackjack
What is the house edge?
The house edge is the small percentage of all wagers that the casino expects to win. It’s the way the house guarantees its long-term profit on all games, and the edge on each game is different.
The casino builds in certain rules to give itself an advantage.
How the house edge works
The casino gains the edge in blackjack. The way it works is that players are dealt cards before the dealer, and will be the first to lose, regardless if the dealer also busts in the same round.
How to improve your odds
Blackjack is a game of chance, but a player’s skill and decisions can affect the outcome. A player can stand or hit as they wish, unlike the dealer, who must always stand on 17-21 and hit on 16 or less.
Simply by following the rules of basic strategy – making correct choices to hit, stand, double and split – players could improve their odds and reduce the house edge to about .5% per cent.
Blackjack Odds Chart
Blackjack vs. Other Games
House edge across various games is a useful way to compare the advantages of players vs. the house.
In Blackjack, the house edge can be as low as .5% – one of the lowest of all games at the casino, compared to 5.26% for Roulette. That results in a much more even playing field between players and the house for Blackjack.
Tip
In order to minimize the house edge for Blackjack, players must correctly use the basic strategies of the game.
Tip
It’s good to remember that no matter how well you play, you can’t eliminate the house advantage. Even the best players can lose over time.
