As is the case in any casino gambling game, the house has an edge when playing blackjack. The edge a house possesses depends on several factors. Firstly, the edge a house possesses against a player changes depending on the number of decks in the blackjack shoe. Additionally, the rules governing the blackjack table impacts the edge a casino has.
While there are many rules that can give the house the edge in casino blackjack, here are some common and not so common rules variations that increase the house edge. Some casinos allow dealers drawing to twenty-two to push, as opposed to lose, which gives the house a 9.5% edge.
How casinos pay blackjack severely influences a player’s expectation. Paying blackjack at even money musters up a 2.27% edge in favor of the house. If blackjack pays six to five, the house gains an advantage of 1.39%, while paying seven to five gives them merely a .45% edge. If casinos pay blackjack at two to one when a player obtains a suited blackjack, the player receives an edge on expectation by .57%. Should the casino pay all blackjacks two to one, the player edge amounts to 2.27%.
Varying the gambling online rules, even slightly causes the advantage to swing. If the dealer does not peak when a ten card is showing, the house receives a slight edge of .1%. If a blackjack player may not double down after splitting his hand, the house takes a .14% advantage. If the dealer hits soft seventeen, the house benefits by .22%. Should a player be denied the right to resplit, the house gains and advantage of .1%. If a casino pays out a five card under 21 hand to players, the player receives a 1.46% advantage against the house. When casinos pay out 21’s automatically to players obtaining a hand valued at twenty-one, the player gains an edge of .54%. If the house pays out blackjack on split hands, the player benefits to the amount of .19%.
As you can see, there are plenty of rules that affect the advantage the house has against the player in casino blackjack. While neither casinos nor players can simply invoke rules changes as they see fit, it is important to understand the rules of the potential blackjack table – specifically how each rule might impact your expected return. Blackjack players are wise to avoid rule sets with grossly negative expectations and flock to those games best suited to boosting your blackjack bankroll.