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Blackjack
Blackjack is the only common casino game where your decisions genuinely move the odds. Played correctly on a good table the house edge is around 0.5%. Played on instinct it is several times that.
Check the table before you sit down
Rule variations change the house edge more than anything you do during a hand. These are the ones worth finding in the game info panel.
| Rule | Effect on house edge | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack pays 3:2 | Baseline | Required |
| Blackjack pays 6:5 | Adds ~1.4% | Avoid entirely |
| Dealer stands on soft 17 | Saves ~0.2% | Prefer |
| Dealer hits soft 17 | Adds ~0.2% | Acceptable |
| Double after split allowed | Saves ~0.14% | Prefer |
| Surrender available | Saves ~0.08% | Nice to have |
| Fewer decks | Saves up to ~0.5% | Prefer |
Basic strategy in six rules
Basic strategy is a solved mathematical chart, not an opinion — it states the highest-expectation play for every hand against every dealer upcard. The full chart is worth learning, but these six rules capture most of its value.
- Always split aces and eights. Never split tens or fives.
- Stand on hard 17 or higher, always.
- Stand on hard 12–16 when the dealer shows 2–6. Hit when they show 7 or higher.
- Double on 11 against any dealer upcard except an ace.
- Hit soft 17 (ace plus six) rather than standing.
- Never take insurance. It carries a house edge of around 7% and is a separate losing bet.
One clarification worth making: card counting does not work online. Digital blackjack reshuffles every hand, and live dealer tables use continuous shuffling machines or frequent reshuffles. Basic strategy reduces the house edge; it does not remove it.
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