Calculate the house edge based on specific table rules
House Edge = Base Edge + Rule AdjustmentsConfigure the blackjack rules
Expected cost based on these rules
Compare different casino rules
Key concepts at a glance
Blackjack house edge ranges from 0.28% to over 2% depending on rules. Best rules: Single deck, 3:2 blackjack, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split, late surrender = ~0.28%. Worst common rules: 8 decks, 6:5 blackjack, H17 = ~2%. At $25/hand for 100 hands/hour, a 0.5% edge costs $12.50/hour vs $50/hour at 2% edge.
Important factors that affect your odds
Common questions about blackjack house edge
The house edge is the mathematical advantage the casino has over the player, expressed as a percentage. A 0.5% house edge means for every $100 wagered, you expect to lose $0.50 on average. Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges of any casino game when played with basic strategy.
Traditional 3:2 blackjack pays $15 on a $10 bet for a natural blackjack. 6:5 pays only $12. This difference adds 1.39% to the house edge - massive in blackjack terms. A 6:5 game with otherwise good rules has worse odds than a mediocre 3:2 game.
Ideal rules: 3:2 blackjack payout, dealer stands on soft 17 (S17), double on any two cards, double after split (DAS), late surrender, fewer decks (single or double deck ideal), resplit aces. Avoid: 6:5 payout, continuous shuffling machines, no surrender, no DAS.
More decks slightly increase house edge: Single deck has the lowest edge (about 0.17% less than 8 decks). However, single deck games often have worse rules (6:5 payouts, no DAS) that more than offset this advantage. A 6-deck 3:2 game with good rules beats a single deck 6:5 game.
Card counting can give skilled players a small advantage (0.5-1.5% typically), but it requires significant skill, discipline, and a large bankroll to withstand variance. Casinos also use countermeasures. For most players, the goal should be finding the lowest house edge games and playing perfect basic strategy.