Ok, so we were always told that playing Blackjack with a basic strategy will keep the house edge at approximately 0.5%. We also know by now that playing basic strategy as a RULE, will increase your chances of winning; which simply means - don't get carried away; keep playing that strategy and you are carded to win more easily. This is an established fact.
However, many of us are not aware that the basic strategy applies to certain rules which are more likely to occur with a six deck pack of cards (six-deck Blackjack).
These are the basic rules that would apply:
- The Dealer stands on all 17s
- You may double down on any first two cards
- You may double down after splitting pairs
- A natural would pay the classic 3 for 2 odds
The fact is that many Blackjack variations shy away from these basic rules and this means that regardless of keeping a basic strategy, your chances of winning are further affected, mostly negatively, by variations of the rules listed above.
In order to get the most out of your play and to know where you stand with your chances of winning at Blackjack, you must be aware of the variations in these rules that would turn the house edge for or against you (we list the 'for' first and the most negative last):
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If the house allows you to double down on any number of cards, this will decrease the dealer's chance of winning by -0.21%, therefore resulting in a total house edge of 0.29% (0.5% minus 0.21%) with this rule alone. This is great for you.
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If the house allows re-splitting of Aces, this will decrease the dealer's chance of winning by -0.6%, therefore resulting in a total house edge of 0.44% (0.5% minus 0.06%) with this rule alone. This is good for you.
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Eight deck Blackjack will increase the house edge by approximately +0.2%, thereby making it 0.7%, for this rule alone. This starts getting bad for you.
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If you are allowed to double down on 9-11 only, , this increases the house edge by +0.09%, thereby making it 0.59%, for this rule alone. This is worse for you.
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If you are not allowed to double after splitting pairs, this increases the house edge by +0.13%, thereby making it 0.63%, for this rule alone. This is even more worse for you.
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If the Dealer is allowed to hit on a soft 17, this increases the house edge by +0.2%, thereby making it 0.7%, for this rule alone. This is even even more worse for you.
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If you are allowed to double down on 10 or 11 only, this increases the house edge by +0.22%, thereby making it 0.72%, for this rule alone. Well..... its getting really bad here..
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The worst of these rules is the 'Pays 6 to 5' rule; this rule alone increases the house edge by +1.45%, thereby making the total house edge 1.95%, for this rule alone. This is the worst rule ever for you and the best rule ever conceptualised by casinos to increase their house edge.
If per chance the house uses more than one of the rules that increase their edge (rule numbers 3-8 listed above), then the calculations are summarised in total additions and/or substractions (this means if the house allows you to double down on any number of cards which will decrease the house edge to 0.29%, then if the house also pays 6 to 5 on winnings, then you must then add 1.95% to that; resulting in a total house edge of 2.24%. Voila.
The advice that we are giving you from the above calculations is to try playing at casinos that would give you the first two advantages whilst paying out at 3 to 2. With this approach, you retain the best chances of winning at Blackjack. Good Luck.
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