The Blackjack Odds and the House Advantage To fully get into the game of blackjack, you have to understand and if possible, master the blackjack odds and house advantages. It is very crucial to know how the casino gets their edge and how it helps them win.

Many casinos have reintroduced the single-deck blackjack game, but don’t be fooled into thinking that playing a single-deck game will give you better odds. In fact, you will notice that when playing a single-deck game of blackjack many casinos only offer a 6:5 payout for blackjack, while multi-deck games offer 3:2. Odds of drawing a blackjack in a one-deck shoe = 4.83%. Odds of drawing a blackjack in a two-deck shoe = 4.78%. By adding a deck (and not changing any rules of the game), the casino has decreased your likelihood of drawing a blackjack by 0.05%. When it comes to blackjack’s house edge, one thing to keep in mind is that the number of decks used will alter the house advantage. Single deck blackjack has the lowest casino edge of 0.16%, which gives the player better odds. Double deck games have a considerably low edge at 0.46%. The proper Basic Strategy for a double-deck game closely resembles that of a four- or six-deck game, much more so than a single-deck game. The few differences between a two-deck and six-deck game with the same rules (dealer hits or stands on soft 17, double after split is allowed, etc.) lie mainly in splitting pairs and, since pairs are the.

New: Las Vegas is currently reopening after the Covid-19 shutdown. Read more about the current state of blackjack in Las Vegas post reopening.

The quality of blackjack games in Las Vegas has declined over the past 15-20 years. The availability of strategy information over the internet has forced casinos to drop some of the more liberal rules. Casinos first started hitting on soft 17. Some stopped offering surrender or re-splitting aces in shoe games.

The biggest rule change that goes against players was rolled out first at single deck games. This terrible rule started paying players 6:5 on a blackjack, as opposed to 3:2. This means that a $10 blackjack would pay $12 instead of $15. Once the casinos got away with this at single deck games, the 6:5 rule started infecting double deck and shoe games.

While some Las Vegas casinos offer terrible rules on blackjack these days, there are still several places where a good game may be found. Some are even on the Las Vegas Strip, although some of the better ones are located downtown or in the locals market. All of the games mentioned below pay 3:2 on a blackjack.

Best Las Vegas Strip Blackjack

Treasure Island is the best Las Vegas Strip casino for blackjack. Players will find $10 games with great rules. The shoe games offer surrender, re-split aces, and double down after splitting. The double deck games allow double down after splitting. These low limit games hit a soft 17.

Players willing to move up to $50 can move to the high limit salon. They will get a shoe game with double down after splitting, re-split aces, and surrender. The dealer stand on all 17’s in this game. The high limit double deck starts at $50 and allows double down after splitting. The dealer stands on all 17’s.

Sahara spreads good $15 blackjack dealt from a shoe. Players can double down on any two cards and after splitting. Surrender and re-split aces are also permitted. The dealer hits soft 17. This game is offered in the high limit salon for $100 where the dealer stands on all 17’s.

Caesars properties spread 3:2 blackjack under $25. Bally’s, Caesars Palace, The Cromwell, Flamingo, Harrah’s, Paris and Planet Hollywood each have a number of 3:2 blackjack games under $25. Each casino offers multiple tables with a house edge under one half of one percent (0.05%). Caesars offers more 3:2 blackjack games under $25 on the Vegas Strip.

Two Deck Blackjack Odds Calculator

Best Downtown Las Vegas Blackjack

El Cortez offers the best blackjack game in downtown Las Vegas. It is a single deck that pays 3:2 on a blackjack. Players can double down on any two cards and the dealer hits soft 17. The minimum bet is usually $5 or $10. Be careful in this game as the pit bosses will sweat large action or bet spreads.

Downtown Grand offers the best shoe games downtown. For a $5 minimum, players can double down after splitting, re-split aces and surrender.

The D and Golden Gate only offer 3:2 blackjack. Every table at these casinos pays 3:2 for a natural blackjack. When Circa Resort and Casino opens it will also offer 3:2 blackjack since it has the same owner as the other casinos.

Best Las Vegas Locals Blackjack

The competition in the off-strip blackjack market is fierce. Players will be able to find shoe games that start at $5 or $10 where double down after splitting and surrender at are allowed at Rampart, Aliante Casino, Arizona Charlie’s and all Boyd and Station casinos.

Two Deck Blackjack Odds Explained

M Resort offers a $50 double deck game where players can double down before and after splitting, as well as re-split aces. This game stands on all 17’s This is the best blackjack game in Las Vegas. There is also a six-deck shoe game that adds surrender.

Station Casinos properties offer double deck blackjack where players can double down after splitting. M Resort offers the same game. The dealer hits soft 17. Suncoast, The Orleans, Gold Coast, South Point and Silverton also spread this game.

At first glance, it would seem only logical that a smart player will do better at a game that uses fewer decks, but that’s not always the case when you compare double-deck games with six-deck games. A lot of variables come into play, not the least of which are the rules of the games, the minimum bet size required and the amount of scrutiny the games get from casino supervisory personnel. If you do not count cards, it’s very likely that you’ll be better off avoiding the double-deck games out there. I know some of you may be surprised by that comment, but I make it based upon the fact that many casinos have less liberal rules on their double-deck games, yet they require higher minimum bets. As a result, the casino’s overall edge may be similar to that of their six-deck game, but you’ll have to bet more on every hand for the privilege of playing. Because a non-counter cannot get a long-term edge over the casino, you’ll just be betting more on a consistent basis and the casino will eventually get your $$$.

Now don’t get me wrong here; if the rules are the same, a game using two decks will have a lower casino edge than one that uses six-decks, yet the strategies are almost identical. If the minimum bets are the same (or are at least within your comfort level), then go with the 2-decker. That’s a key point, by the way. The proper Basic Strategy for a double-deck game closely resembles that of a four- or six-deck game, much more so than a single-deck game. The few differences between a two-deck and six-deck game with the same rules (dealer hits or stands on soft 17, double after split is allowed, etc.) lie mainly in splitting pairs and, since pairs are the rarest hands you’ll get, the impact is negligible. I might be wrong about this, so check, but I do believe that the only change is to split a pair of 7s against a dealer’s 8 in a double-deck game. In a six-decker, you don’t do that. Not a hand you’re going to see everyday, either way.

Two Deck Blackjack Odds Blackjack

My point is that you can move back and forth between DD and 6D games and not worry that you’re playing improperly, but the big question is whether or not you should. We’ve already covered the non-counter situation, so let’s turn our attention to those of you who do count. Even in this situation, the double-deck game isn’t necessarily the hands-down choice and I’ll show you why as we go along.

Two Deck Blackjack Odds Poker

For whatever reason, many casinos treat their double-deck games as “premium” games, so they have higher minimum bets, may have less liberal rules, less favorable penetration and are usually watched more closely by the “pit critters”, as we lovingly call them here. Some casinos seem to think that counters are showing up in droves at their DD games and carting off chips by the box load, but that’s not necessarily the case. I know of some games that are very easy to beat, but they are few and far in-between. The reality is that beating the double-decker takes extra effort and some sharp play by the counter. But you came here for answers and I have them.

The primary advantage to playing a double-deck game is the volatility of the count. Unlike a 4- or 6-deck game, the running count, which is converted to the True Count (count per remaining deck) in a DD game can rise or fall quickly, but it’s gone almost as fast, due to the shuffle. That’s obviously good when the count is negative, but no fun at all when the count is “up”. Things happen quickly in a DD game and the wise counter takes advantage, but it requires good skills at converting to the True Count and almost needs some ability to anticipate what’s going to happen, while remembering that we never make guesses when counting.