How Many Decks Are Used in Blackjack?
If you are completely new to the world of online blackjack, then you are still probably crafting your strategy. To do so, you need to take note of many considerations, one of which is the number of decks used in the game of blackjack.
So, if you are wondering how many decks in blackjack there are, this is where you need to be. Let’s walk you through the crucial aspects.
Understanding the Rules of Blackjack
Before we dive into the technicalities of the number of decks used in blackjack games, let’s briefly walk you through the rules. Playing blackjack requires you to beat the house dealer by forming a hand with a card value as close as possible to 21 without going over. The dealer will first shuffle the deck (note that in blackjack games with multiple decks, cards are shuffled in a machine called a “shoe”). All players now place the bets, and the dealer will give them two face-up cards while getting one face-up and one face-down for themselves. If you have an Ace and a ten-valued card, congratulations—you have a natural blackjack and you win! The same applies to the dealer. Note that the round can also end as a tie, and in this scenario, the bet is returned with no winnings. If you or the dealer don’t have a natural blackjack, you have a few options for your next action:
- Hit: Ask for an extra card.
- Stand: Draw no more cards.
- Double Down: Place a bet equal to your initial wager and the dealer will give you another card, which is left face-down until the betting round is settled.
- Split: When you have two cards of the same value, you can opt to split them and play with two separate hands. The outcome of each hand is treated separately, as is the bet.
- Surrender: You can fold your original hand before drawing extra hands, and half of your bet is returned.
As for the card values, each card is counted as its original number, but face cards have a value of 10. The Ace is a bit different, as it is up to you to decide whether it counts as 1 or 11—also known as a “soft total”.
How Many Decks Do Casinos Use?
Thankfully, there is no uniform answer to this question, as the number of decks on the blackjack table depends on the software provider in question. However, more often than not, you will come across six or eight-deck blackjack titles at crypto casinos.
That doesn’t mean you won’t find single-deck blackjack games at crypto casinos. For example, NetEnt has a nicely crafted single-deck game of blackjack that you can try out for real money anytime you prefer.
Multiple Decks or Single Deck
It is worth remembering that a single-deck blackjack game is a bit risky for online casinos, as it increases the chances of card counting. On the surface, even though it may seem that single-deck or double-deck blackjack games are appealing for punters, the more experienced ones even prefer to play blackjack with eight decks, as it adds a bit of pace and excitement to the game that is impossible to match with fewer decks.
Moreover, single-deck blackjack variants require the dealer to shuffle the deck after every round—if you play live versions. However, more decks allow for a few hands before the dealer has to shuffle again.
How Does the Number of Decks Affect the House Edge?
Besides counting cards, operators are not fond of single-deck blackjack online casino games due to the lower house edge. The logic here is quite simple: the more cards in the blackjack game, the greater the casino’s advantage. The standard house edge of 0.5% applies to playing a blackjack game on the casino floor with just one deck, and unsurprisingly, it rises with every deck added.
More decks make it near impossible to implement card counting techniques, which is not illegal, but casinos scowl it.
Know How Many Decks in Blackjack Are Used and Start Playing Now
Overall, as you can see, blackjack variants come with one to eight decks, which adds a bit of versatility for crypto casino players. Traditional titles fall under the family of single-deck games, but most casinos nowadays prefer six to eight decks. The use of several decks can greatly affect the odds of the game and make it more difficult for players to use card-counting strategies, but that doesn’t mean you cannot come across single-deck variants.
FAQ
How many decks are used in blackjack games at crypto casinos?
This will depend on the software provider in question, but more often than not, you will come across blackjack variants with six or eight decks.
Why are single-deck blackjack games rare to find?
It all has to do with the house edge. Multiple decks mean a higher house edge, which is favored by casinos.
Can I count cards in multi-deck blackjack games?
Theoretically, counting cards in multi-deck blackjack games is impossible. It is also one of the reasons why casinos don’t prefer single-deck blackjack titles.
