Blackjack: The Impact of Rules on the 0.50% Base Edge
Blackjack offers some of the best odds in the casino, but only if you play perfectly. The baseline house edge of roughly 0.50% assumes a standard six-deck game where the dealer stands on soft 17, players can double after splitting, and blackjack pays 3 to 2. If any of these rules change, the math changes immediately.
- 6 to 5 Payouts: This single rule change increases the house edge by about 1.40%, turning a great game into a poor one.
- Dealer Hits Soft 17: This rule adds roughly 0.20% to the house edge compared to when the dealer must stand.
- Number of Decks: A single-deck game has a lower house edge than an eight-deck game by about 0.50%, assuming all other rules are identical.