How Do You Calculate Blackjack Odds?
Everything about casino gambling is here at OddsShark. We offer a comprehensive guide to online casino and in-person gambling so you can master the tables and slot machines, and do your best to gain an edge that beats the house.
Blackjack is perhaps the only casino game that offers a skilled player a competitive advantage against the house. Provided players use basic blackjack strategy, card counting skills, and carefully select the right game, it’s entirely possible to whittle away the house edge. Caesars Games – a leading provider of online slot games – conducted extensive research into the best blackjack game available to players. One game comes up trumps every time, Single Deck Classic Blackjack!
Classic Blackjack Odds
One of the world’s most renowned authorities on casino game probabilities is the Wizard of Odds. This comprehensive gambling portal provides in-depth information on the house edge of blackjack games, given specific rules of play. Let’s assume that 1 deck of cards is used in a game of Classic Blackjack. Several other assumptions need to be made to calculate the house edge, including the following:
• Dealer stands on soft 17
• Players can re-split Aces
• Players can hit split Aces
• Players can re-split to 4 hands
• Players can Double after a Split
• No Surrender and Blackjack pays 3: 2
• Players can Double on any first 2 cards
• Player does not lose original bet against the Dealer Blackjack

- Online Casinos. Online casino gambling is still fairly new. The first online casino opened in 1994 and the industry has been growing steadily ever since. In this day and age, a casino information site would not be complete without a discussion of land-based casinos, along with the online and mobile gaming industries.
- You probably also noticed that blackjack made the top spot on my list of the best games in the casino. That’s because it’s a lot of fun and offers some of the best odds in the casino. But not all blackjack games are created equal. Most blackjack games pay off at 3 to 2 if you get a blackjack (a “natural”).
Given these rules, the player has a 0.23967% edge over the house. When using a basic strategy with a cut card, the player still has an edge over the house of 0.08797%. If a continuous shuffler is used, the player edge is 0.20097%. The house edge increases when the number of decks of cards increases. For example, if all the rules stay the same and 8 decks of cards are used, the house edge with optimal gameplay is 0.30518%!

Why Would a Casino Offer Classic Blackjack to Players?
Believe it or not, there are a handful of games provided by casinos that offer players a competitive advantage. Classic Blackjack is one of them. True, you are unlikely to find this game at many Atlantic City casinos or Las Vegas casinos for this reason. Classic Blackjack is played with just 52 cards comprising 4 suits (diamonds, hearts, clubs, and spades) with 2-10 worth their face value, Aces worth 1 or 11, and Jacks, Queens, and Kings worth 10.
There is an important blackjack rule that you probably don’t want to miss. Look carefully at the table and see whether blackjack pays 3:2, or 6:5. The best variant of this casino card game is the 3:2 version. Consider the payouts if you place a $100 bet and you hit blackjack. On the one hand you can win $150, and on the other you can win $120 – it’s a no-brainer. Equally important is what the dealer does on 16 and 17. Most of the time, the dealer is required to draw to 16 and stand on all 17s. Sometimes, the dealer is only required to stand on soft 17 (Includes an Ace).
Easy Blackjack Tips to Remember
• Always split a pair of Aces
• Stand if your hand total is a hard 17 – 21 (no Aces)
• Stand if you have a soft hand total of 19 – 21 (includes Aces)
• Always hit if your hand total is less than/equal to 11 – you can never bust!
• A natural blackjack (10-value card + Ace) beats any hand total that sums to 21
• Always use blackjack strategy charts and odds calculators to stand the best chance of winning
How Hard Is It to Beat the Dealer in Blackjack?
The trick to playing blackjack well is knowing which games to play, which rules to select, and how to manage your bankroll well. Blackjack is primarily a skill-based casino card game. An element of luck is involved since players don’t know what the next card is going to be with any certainty. You cannot alter the cards you have been dealt – you can only manage the way you play them. A fixed set of rules requires blackjack dealers to play a certain way. Like all casino games, the house has an inherent advantage, which is typically limited to around 1% in blackjack.
You may be wondering why the house has an advantage over the player? The reason for this is simple: The dealer acts after the player. If the player busts, the dealer is not required to continue playing, and wins by default. Fortunately, there are multiple blackjack guides, articles, rules, charts, and calculators that can teach players the art of the deal. It’s important to understand key terms in blackjack such as:
• Hit – take another card.
• Double Down – opt for one final card, double your bet, and stand.
• Stand – take no further action and stick with what you have.
• Split – Split identical cards such as a pair of Kings, a pair of Two’s, into 2 separate hands with additional wagers on each hand.
• Surrender – this option (if available) allows players to surrender a bad hand for 50% of their bet.
• Choose 3:2 over 6:5 on Blackjack – this simply gives you a higher payout
The importance of basic blackjack strategy cannot be stressed enough. This is typically represented in a grid/chart which indicates the following:
• The dealer’s upcard versus the player’s hand
• Multiple combinations are possible from 2 – Ace (for the dealer) and all the available 2-card combinations for the player.
• Players must either hit, double, stand, or split depending on the cards the dealer is showing and the player’s hole cards.
Casino Games With Best Odds
Players are advised to select blackjack games that require a dealer to stand on all 17. This makes it easier for the player to win in the long-term. Another important point to bear in mind is that of card shuffling machines. If you are an experienced card counter, it is best to avoid these machines since it makes it difficult to keep an accurate count.
Perhaps the most important rule for the game of blackjack, or any casino game is effective bankroll management. If you’re playing Classic Blackjack, you must manage your bankroll well. Set loss limits and profit limits and always know when to walk away
Related posts:
Best Casino Slot Machine Odds
Which Online Casino has the best payouts? – The majority of NetEnt and Microgaming casinos offer some of the arguably best theoretical payouts.
Top 10 Casinos
Rank | Casino | Bonus | Rating | Visit |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Play With £88 FREE No Deposit Needed! T & C Apply | Review | ||
2 | 200% Deposit BonusT & C Apply | Review | ||
3 | 100% Deposit Bonus upto £100 + 200 Bonus SpinsT & C Apply | Review | ||
4 | 100% Deposit Bonus Upto £500 + 100 Bonus SpinsT & C Apply | Review | ||
5 | 100% Deposit Bonus upto £300 + 50 Bonus SpinsT & C Apply | Review | ||
6 | 100% Deposit Bonus upto £100 + 50 Bonus SpinsT & C Apply | Review | ||
7 | 100% Refund Bonus upto £111 + 77 Bonus SpinsT & C Apply | Review | ||
8 | £1500 Matched Bonus +100 Bonus SpinsTerms Apply | Review | ||
9 | 300% Deposit Bonus upto £600 + 50 Bonus SpinsT & C Apply | Review | ||
10 | 100% Deposit Bonus Upto £300 + 50 Bonus SpinsT & C Apply | Review |
The average payout at such casino exceeds 96% and hews closer to 97%, which gives players a good chance to recoup any deposit they make and win more money on top.
You can further enhance these returns by participating in special offers, cashback promotions, and loyalty programs designed to boost your overall win rate. However, you must keep in mind that payouts are theoretical.

In other words, there will always be a chance for a game to play worse than advertised in the short term. Conversely, you may benefit from a juicy win. To scout out the games and specifically casinos that pay so well, you need to familiarise yourself with the available slot titles at each casino you are considering to open an account with.
Which Online Casino has the best payouts? – Best Payout Casino Games
Some slots will definitely pay better, such as Jack and the Beanstalk, Book of Ra, The Dog House and quite a few others. A casino that hosts some of the best-paying slots is definitely worth a closer examination as there is the potential for a huge payout.
It’s always good keeping an eye for some extra gaming versions as well. Table games will also offer you some fantastic payouts if you pick and stick with games that can bring you a profit. For instance, French and European Roulette can be gamed if you start with a small stake and bet on the same colour over and over again.
Surely, not all casinos are happy with such betting systems and there’s always the chance you will lose 12 things in a row, which could happen. Yet for players looking for the best payouts, it’s not an online casino you need to keep your eyes peeled for – it’s the particular games available at the casino!