Question 1

What is blackjack?

Accepted Answer

Blackjack is a popular casino card game where players compete against the dealer rather than each other. The objective is to obtain a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer without exceeding it. Each player receives two cards initially, with the option to 'hit' (take additional cards) or 'stand' (keep current hand). Face cards count as 10, Aces can be 1 or 11, and numbered cards retain their value. A 'blackjack' or 'natural' occurs when your first two cards are an Ace and a 10-value card, which typically pays 3:2 on your wager unless house rules specify otherwise. What makes blackjack particularly appealing is its relatively low house edge compared to other casino games, especially when employing proper strategy.

Question 2

What is the difference between 3:2 and 6:5 blackjack?

Accepted Answer

The difference between 3:2 and 6:5 blackjack lies in how much you're paid when you hit a natural blackjack. In traditional 3:2 blackjack, a $10 bet wins $15 when you get a natural blackjack (an ace with a 10-value card). However, in 6:5 blackjack, that same $10 bet only wins $12. This seemingly small difference significantly increases the house edge—by approximately 1.39%—making 6:5 games much less favorable for players. To put this in perspective, over 100 blackjack hands, the average player might lose about $12 more at a 6:5 table compared to a 3:2 table with otherwise identical rules. Many casinos, particularly on the Las Vegas Strip and in tourist areas, have increasingly adopted the 6:5 payout, especially at lower-minimum tables. Experienced players typically avoid 6:5 games entirely, seeking out the traditional 3:2 payouts that have been the standard for decades.

Question 3

What is basic strategy in blackjack?

Accepted Answer

Basic strategy in blackjack is a mathematically optimal approach to playing your hands that minimizes the house edge to less than 1% in most games. Developed through computer simulations analyzing millions of hands, basic strategy tells you precisely when to hit, stand, double down, split, or surrender based on your hand total and the dealer's exposed card. Unlike intuition-based play or superstition, basic strategy isn't about hunches—it's grounded in statistical probability. The strategy is typically presented as a color-coded chart showing player hand totals on one axis and dealer upcards on the other. Different charts exist for slight rule variations like dealer standing or hitting on soft 17, number of decks, or whether doubling after splitting is allowed. Learning basic strategy may seem daunting at first with dozens of combinations to memorize, but most decisions follow logical patterns. For instance, you'll generally stand on hard 17 or higher, hit on 8 or lower, and make more nuanced decisions with hands between 9 and 16 depending on the dealer's upcard. Mastering basic strategy is the foundation of advantage play and essential before attempting more advanced techniques like card counting.

Question 4

Is card counting illegal?

Accepted Answer

Card counting itself is not illegal under federal, state, or local laws in the United States, contrary to popular belief. The practice involves mentally tracking the ratio of high to low cards remaining in the deck—a skill that requires focus rather than any external devices. Courts have consistently ruled that using your intellect to gain an advantage does not constitute cheating. However, casinos operate as private businesses and retain the right to refuse service to anyone, including skilled card counters. If caught counting, you might be asked to leave, have your play restricted to table minimums, or even be banned from the property. In some jurisdictions, casinos maintain shared databases of known counters. The confusion about legality stems from casinos' aggressive countermeasures and the dramatic portrayal in films like '21' and 'Rain Man.' Most professional counters employ camouflage techniques to avoid detection, such as varying bet sizes less dramatically, maintaining conversation while playing, or occasionally making deliberately sub-optimal plays that a counter normally wouldn't make. It's worth noting that in some countries outside the U.S., laws regarding card counting may differ, so international players should research local regulations before attempting to count cards abroad.

Question 5

What does it mean to 'bust' in blackjack?

Accepted Answer

Busting in blackjack occurs when the total value of your hand exceeds 21, resulting in an automatic loss regardless of the dealer's hand. For example, if you have a hand totaling 16 and draw a 10-value card, your new total becomes 26, which is a bust. This is one of the key disadvantages players face—you can lose by busting before the dealer even plays their hand. Statistically, players bust approximately 28% of the time when following basic strategy. Hands with totals between 12 and 16 are particularly vulnerable to busting and often called 'stiff hands' for this reason. The dealer advantage comes from the fixed rule that players must act first, so even if the dealer eventually busts too, you've already lost your bet. This mechanic creates the fundamental house edge in blackjack. To minimize busting, basic strategy often recommends standing on stiff hands when the dealer shows a 2 through 6, as these dealer upcards have a higher probability of leading to dealer busts. Against dealer upcards of 7 through Ace, basic strategy typically suggests hitting stiff hands despite the bust risk, as the dealer is less likely to bust with these starting cards.

Question 6

When should I split pairs in blackjack?

Accepted Answer

Splitting pairs in blackjack follows specific strategic guidelines that maximize your expected value. Always split Aces and 8s regardless of the dealer's upcard—Aces because they create strong starting hands with potential for blackjacks, and 8s because a 16 total is one of the worst hands in blackjack, while two hands starting with 8 have greater potential. Never split 10s or 5s—10s already form a strong 20, while 5s work better as a single 10 with doubling potential. For other pairs, decisions vary based on the dealer's upcard: split 2s and 3s when the dealer shows 4-7 (weak cards that increase dealer bust potential); split 4s only against dealer 5-6 (the weakest upcards); split 6s against dealer 2-6; split 7s against dealer 2-7; and split 9s against dealer 2-6 or 8-9, but not against 7, 10 or Ace. These splitting rules have been calculated to maximize long-term profit potential under various rule configurations. Many casual players split incorrectly based on hunches or to 'get more money on the table' when they feel lucky, but disciplined adherence to these mathematically-derived splitting rules is an essential component of proper basic strategy. Remember that casino rule variations like 'no double after split' or restrictions on splitting Aces can slightly alter optimal splitting strategy.

Question 7

What is the 'surrender' option in blackjack?

Accepted Answer

Surrender in blackjack is an often overlooked but strategically valuable option that allows players to forfeit their hand and reclaim half their original bet instead of playing it out. This option makes mathematical sense when your probability of winning is less than 25%. Surrender comes in two variations: 'early surrender,' offered before the dealer checks for blackjack, and the more common 'late surrender,' available only after the dealer confirms they don't have a natural blackjack. Optimal basic strategy recommends late surrender primarily with hard 16 (except pair of 8s) against dealer 9, 10, or Ace, and with hard 15 against a dealer 10. Early surrender, though rare, allows surrendering hard 16 versus a dealer Ace and hard 15 versus a dealer 10 or Ace. Many players either don't know surrender exists or view it as 'giving up,' but strategic surrender actually reduces the house edge by about 0.08% in a six-deck game. To use surrender, players typically draw a horizontal line behind their bet or verbally declare 'surrender' to the dealer. Not all casinos offer this option, and it's often not advertised on table layouts, so players may need to ask dealers if surrender is available. Despite its mathematical advantage, some advantage players avoid using surrender too frequently as it can signal to casino surveillance that the player is using optimal strategy and potentially counting cards.

Question 8

How many decks are used in blackjack?

Accepted Answer

Blackjack can be played with anywhere from one to eight decks, though the most common configurations in modern casinos are six or eight decks dealt from a dealing shoe. Single-deck games, once the standard, have become increasingly rare and often come with less favorable rules to offset the player advantage. The number of decks significantly impacts the house edge—all else being equal, each additional deck increases the house advantage by approximately 0.02%. This occurs primarily because blackjacks happen slightly less frequently with multiple decks, and doubling and splitting opportunities become marginally less favorable. Eight-deck games typically have a house edge about 0.14% higher than single-deck games with identical rules. Many casinos now use continuous shuffling machines (CSMs) that reinsert used cards back into the shoe after each round, effectively making the game infinite-deck. While CSMs don't inherently change the odds beyond an eight-deck game, they eliminate deck penetration—the percentage of cards played before reshuffling—which prevents card counters from gaining an advantage. When seeking favorable games, experienced players consider deck quantity alongside other rules like 3:2 payouts, dealer standing on soft 17, and late surrender availability to identify tables with the lowest overall house edge.

Question 9

What is the house edge in blackjack?

Accepted Answer

The house edge in blackjack typically ranges from 0.5% to 1% for players using correct basic strategy, making it one of the most player-friendly games in the casino. However, this percentage can vary significantly based on specific rule variations. Favorable rules that decrease the house edge include: dealers standing on soft 17 (0.2% benefit), late surrender availability (0.08% benefit), players allowed to double on any two cards (0.2% benefit), and players permitted to double after splitting (0.14% benefit). Conversely, unfavorable rules increase the house advantage: blackjack paying only 6:5 instead of 3:2 adds a substantial 1.39% to the house edge, dealers hitting on soft 17 adds 0.2%, restrictions on doubling down options add 0.09-0.2%, and limitations on re-splitting pairs add 0.05-0.1%. The most favorable blackjack games today typically offer a house edge around 0.4%, while the worst games—particularly those paying 6:5 on blackjacks with multiple unfavorable rules—can have a house edge exceeding 2%. For comparison, the average casino-advantaged game has a house edge of 5-15%. It's worth noting that the theoretical house edge assumes perfect basic strategy play; the practical edge against average players who make strategic mistakes is estimated to be 2-4%. This highlights the importance of learning proper strategy to maximize your chances at the blackjack table.

Question 10

When should I take insurance in blackjack?

Accepted Answer

Insurance in blackjack is almost always a mathematically poor bet for players not counting cards. When the dealer shows an Ace, players are offered insurance—a side bet that pays 2:1 if the dealer has a ten-value card in the hole (giving them a blackjack). The insurance bet costs half your original wager. Despite seeming sensible, insurance carries a significant 5.9% house edge in a standard six-deck game. This is because insurance is profitable only when more than one-third of the remaining cards are valued at 10 (ten, jack, queen, king). In a fresh shoe, only 30.8% of cards are ten-values, making insurance a losing proposition in the long run. Even when you have a blackjack yourself and are offered 'even money' (which is mathematically equivalent to taking insurance), the correct play is to decline insurance and risk the push if the dealer also has blackjack. The only situation where insurance becomes profitable is when you're counting cards and know the deck is rich in ten-value cards (specifically, when the true count exceeds +3 in most counting systems). Card counters may use insurance as one of their most profitable plays when conditions are right. For everyone else—including skilled basic strategy players—the mathematically correct play is to decline insurance every time, regardless of your hand or hunches about the dealer's hole card.

Question 11

What's the difference between hard and soft hands in blackjack?

Accepted Answer

In blackjack, the distinction between hard and soft hands is crucial for proper strategy decisions. A soft hand contains an Ace that's being counted as 11 without causing the hand to bust. For example, Ace-6 is a soft 17 because the Ace contributes 11 points plus 6 from the other card. What makes soft hands advantageous is their flexibility—if you hit a soft hand and the new card would cause a bust, the Ace automatically converts to count as 1 instead of 11. This means you cannot bust a soft hand with a single hit. For instance, if you hit soft 17 (A-6) and receive a 9, your hand becomes A-6-9 counting as 16 (with the Ace now worth 1) rather than busting with 26. A hard hand either contains no Ace, or contains an Ace that must count as 1 to avoid busting (like A-6-10, which must count the Ace as 1 for a hard 17). Basic strategy differs significantly between hard and soft hands with the same total. While you'd stand on a hard 17, basic strategy often recommends hitting or doubling on a soft 17, depending on the dealer's upcard. This difference exists because soft hands have the unique safety net of not busting with a single hit, allowing for more aggressive play to improve your hand. Understanding whether your hand is hard or soft is fundamental to making correct strategic decisions at the blackjack table.

Question 12

How effective is card counting for winning at blackjack?

Accepted Answer

Card counting can give skilled practitioners a long-term advantage of approximately 1-1.5% over the casino in favorable conditions, effectively flipping the house edge in the player's favor. However, several factors affect its practical effectiveness. First, it requires sufficient deck penetration—ideally 75% or more of the cards should be dealt before reshuffling. Games with continuous shuffling machines eliminate this advantage entirely. Second, favorable rules are essential; even the best counting system cannot overcome the disadvantage of 6:5 blackjack payouts or heavily restricted doubling options. Third, bet spread limitations impact profitability; counters need to vary their bets significantly (often 1-10 units or more) based on the count, which may draw unwanted attention. Fourth, team play can increase effectiveness but requires coordination and trust among team members. The mathematical edge from counting doesn't guarantee short-term profits—substantial bankroll fluctuations are normal, and counters need sufficient capital (often 100-200 times their maximum bet) to weather downswings. Most professional counters earn the equivalent of a modest hourly wage ($25-75/hour) rather than the dramatic winnings portrayed in movies, and success requires intense concentration, perfect basic strategy execution, and thousands of hours of practice. Additionally, casinos employ countermeasures including frequent shuffling, bet spread restrictions, and potential removal of suspected counters. While card counting remains viable for dedicated players, increasing surveillance technology and less favorable game conditions have made it more challenging than in decades past.

Blackjack Dictionary