Best Blackjack Odds In Blackhawk

Laura Klusaite

To find the game with the best odds, we want to look at blackjack games with the best house edge. Single deck games where the dealer stands on soft 17 boast a house edge of just 0.18%. See above for more info on house edge.

Table Of Contents

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino table games. The object of the game is to have your cards total 21 or as near to 21 as possible without going over. Everyone plays against the dealer (the house). One of the most attractive features of the game of Blackjack is the low house edge compared to other games on the casino floor. Good players will face a house edge of around 0.5%, and even if you. The Ameristar Casino & Hotel is beyond a doubt the biggest and best casino in all of the historic city of Black Hawk, CO. With more than 200 rooms and suites in its lavishly appointed hotel, and with 57,000 square feet on the gambling floor and individual gaming stations well in excess of 1,500 slot machines, blackjack, craps, poker tables and so on, there is no shortage of opportunities to. Blackjack games that pay 2-1 for a blackjack are very rare. Reason: A 2-1 payoff decreases the house edge by a whopping 2.3% (approximate), which often results in a game with an overall positive expectation for the basic strategy player.Casinos sometimes offer 2-1 BJ promotions for a limited period of time. If you hear of one, run (don’t walk) to the casino to take advantage of this.

  • American Blackjack is a variant of the classic game of Blackjack
  • It has better odds than European Blackjack

Blackjack, respectably being the most popular card game at Casinos, has plenty of variants for you to choose from.

Whether you play online or visit the brick-and-mortar Casinos, you’ll come across American Blackjack tables.

How does American Blackjack differ from other variants? Is it worth your time and money? Find out once and for all in this article.

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Before we start…

Let’s get one thing straight. Many online Casinos don't call American Blackjack tables 'American Blackjack'.

But you can find American Blackjack tables by other names, for example, Atlantic City Blackjack or Vegas Strip / Vegas Downtown / Vegas Single Hand Blackjack.

The biggest difference between American Blackjack rules and other variants is how the cards are dealt for the dealer. And all of the mentioned games are dealt the same way as American Blackjack is.

American Blackjack vs European Blackjack

In European Blackjack, the dealer gets only one card and the second one comes only after the players make their moves.

In American Blackjack, the dealer gets both cards right away: one card face up and one (hole card) face down.

Let’s be honest now.

It seems like a minor thing to consider in the game of Blackjack. You may not even notice the dealing unless you really pay attention to it.

But it makes a difference in the house edge and the rules.

American Blackjack House Edge

Many things affect the Blackjack odds. It starts with the number of decks used, blackjack (a combination of + , or aka a natural) payouts, specific rules of when the dealer stands, and more.

Best Blackjack Odds In Blackhawk

The card dealing also makes a difference.

When the dealer gets an Ace or 10-value card as a face-up card, they can peek at their second card to see if it makes a natural (a two-card hand of 21 points in value).

If it does, unless you have a natural blackjack, too, you lose your wager before you decide whether to hit or stand on your dealt cards.

If it doesn’t, the game goes on as usual.

However, when it comes to the European Blackjack table, the dealer wouldn’t have a card to peek at.

So, you would make your move, perhaps double down and increase your wager, just to end up losing anyway against the dealer’s natural.

This small difference - option to avoid increasing wager in case of the dealer having a natural - counts for the 0.05 percent lower house edge in American Blackjack games.

While the house edge still depends on other factors, American Blackjack tables therefore usually have only 0.31-0.35 percent edge.

How to Play American Blackjack

One thing that doesn’t change much among Blackjack games is the basic rules.

No matter which variant of Blackjack you play, your goal is to beat the dealer. You can do so by having a higher-in-value hand while not going over 21.

You start American Blackjack game by making your bets. Like with most table games, they usually start at $1.

Both you and the dealer get two cards each.

You see your hand and its value. Also, one of the dealer’s cards. Based on this information you need to make your move:

Possible MoveMeaning
HitTo ask for one more card. The total bet stays the same
StandTo play with the current hand without asking for more cards. The total bet stays the same
Double DownTo ask for one more but last card. The total bet is doubled
SplitTo split cards of the same value into two hands. The total bet is doubled
Take InsuranceIn case the dealer has an Ace, to place a side bet which is won if the dealer has a natural. The total bet is increased by 0.5 of the original wager
SurrenderTo give up before seeing how the game plays out. The total bet is reduced by 0.5 of the original wager

Unless you surrender, after you make your last move, you see the dealer’s hole card. Then the dealer plays out their hand.

There are three outcomes of the game:

Possible OutcomeMeaning
Your hand beats the dealer’sYou win and get the payout
The dealer’s hand beats yoursYou lose your wager
Both you and the dealer has the same value handIt's a push. In this case, you may get your wager back or lose it nevertheless (specific tables may have different rules regarding the push)

American Blackjack Payouts

There are three types of Blackjack payouts: a natural win payout, other wins payouts, and insurance payout.

The same ones are available at American Blackjack tables, too:

  • a natural (blackjack) pays 3 to 2
  • insurance pays 2 to 1
  • beating the dealer other way pays 1 to 1

How to Win at American Blackjack

I've written it many times before and I’ll write it many times again: following the basic strategy is the best way to play Blackjack.

American Blackjack is no exception.

Whether you play American or European Blackjack, you see your cards and you see the dealer’s face-up card.

It’s enough to base your moves according to the basic strategy. Read more about the basic strategy here or download a pdf of printable basic strategy chart here.

Another thing that increases your chances of winning at Blackjack is card counting.

It’s a lot easier to learn than it sounds and you can use this card counting guide to do it like a pro.

However, card counters may find different Blackjack variants more convenient.

In American Blackjack online, the dealer uses up to eight decks of cards at the same time. In European Blackjack often only two while you can find Classic Blackjack games where only one deck of cards is used.

With fewer decks, it's easier to count cards. Especially when you’re a beginner.

American Blackjack Games Online

Now that you know how to play American Blackjack and how to beat the dealer at the game, are you ready to play?

If so, online Casinos are heaven for American Blackjack players.

As mentioned before, don’t look for games called exactly American Blackjack.

The developers tend to give Blackjack games various names but you’ll be able to recognize Blackjack that follows American Blackjack rules from the very beginning.

Read the info section of the game or place your first bet to see how the cards are dealt.

At many online Casinos (e.g. here) you can do it completely for free.

Of course, when you play for free you can’t win real money. But it’s a great way to practice online Blackjack basic strategy or the art of card counting.

Once you’re ready to play for real money (and win real money, obviously), top up your Casino account and place real money wagers.

After all, Blackjack is the best game you can play for real money. And once you’ll start playing American Blackjack, it won’t be long until you see why.

Spoiler alert: It has everything to do with Blackjack odds.

Good luck!

The promotion presented on this page was available at the time of writing. With some Casino promotions changing on daily basis, we suggest you to check on the site if it still available. Also, please do not forget to read the terms and conditions in full before you accept a bonus.
Simon Beasor

Table Of Contents

With simple rules and easy to learn strategies, the game of blackjack is one of the most popular card games in both Las Vegas Casinos and online around the world.

Blackjack side bets add a layer of complexity to the game, though at much greater risk.

In this article we’ll take a look at the different side bet options, how they are structured and what side bets pay.

  • What are Blackjack side bets?
  • Why play Blackjack side bets?
  • Common side bets at most Casinos
  • Other side bets to look out for
  • Are Blackjack side bets worth playing?

What are Blackjack side bets?

Blackjack side bets are additional bets placed during a standard game of Blackjack. They involve predicting which cards the player, and sometimes the dealer, will receive.

Wagers are made before any cards are dealt and each side bet is based on chance rather than skill, although you can count cards to help you choose the most likely combinations for your best side bets.

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Why play side bets?

One of the most attractive features of the game of Blackjack is the low house edge compared to other games on the casino floor.

Good players will face a house edge of around 0.5%, and even if you play quite badly, that edge only rises to around 2%.

However, while the odds of losing big are low, the odds of winning are also poor.

Blackjack is mostly an even money game, rising to 2:1 at best if you are dealt a Blackjack.

Side bets offer you the chance to play much longer odds for higher player wins – as much as 5,000:1 in one case.

However, it must be noted that the house edge rises significantly for Blackjack side bets, with most bets carrying a house edge of 10% or more.

In other words, side bets make it a lot easier to lose money on blackjack.

Common side bets at most Casinos

There are a number of common side bets that you will find at most Blackjack tables.

These are clearly marked with the odds either printed on the Blackjack tables or available as a hand out or a side menu in the online version.

You should check the pay outs carefully before placing your bets as they can vary considerably between different Casinos or online sites.

The three main Blackjack side bets are:

  • Insurance
  • Perfect Pairs
  • 21+3

Insurance – this is the most common Blackjack side bet and allows you to cover yourself against Blackjack if the dealer has an ace face up.

This bet involves half of your original stake and pays out at 2:1 if the dealer has Blackjack. The insurance bet reduces the overall house edge.

Perfect Pairs – this side bet uses the player’s cards only, and pays out if you are dealt two of a kind as follows:

  • Mixed pair (two of the same value but different suit and colour) – pays 5:1
  • Coloured pair (two of the same value and the same colour) – pays 12:1
  • Perfect pair (two of the same card) – pays 25:1

The returns can vary between different Casinos and different pay tables and the house edge will depend on both the pay out and the number of decks used and can range from just 2 or 3% up to 11% or more.

21+3 – this side bet involves the player’s two cards and the upturned card of the dealer. It will pay out for a number of different combinations:

  • Flush – (all cards are suited) – pays 5:1
  • Straight – (all cards consecutive) – pays 10:1
  • Three of a kind – (not the same suit) – pays 30:1
  • Straight flush – (consecutive cards same suit) – pays 40:1
  • Suited triple – (three of the same card) – pays 100:1

The house edge for the 21+3 side bet will vary depending on the number of decks used, standing at 8.78% for four decks, 7.81% for five decks, 7.14% for six decks and 6.29% for seven decks.

Other side bets to look out for

Best Blackjack Odds In Blackhawk Game

The Casino industry is highly competitive, and so new side bets are being invented all the time to try and attract new Blackjack players.

Some of these will flourish and become widely available, while others remain niche and can only be found in selected Casinos. Here are a few examples:

Best Odds In Blackjack

  • Royal match – pays 5:2 for any suited player’s cards and 25:1 for suited king and queen
  • Over/under 13 – pays even money for correctly predicting the sum of the player’s cards as less than or greater than 13. In most cases, exactly 13 will lose, but some Casinos will allow bets on exactly 13.
  • Super sevens – this bet pays out if one or more sevens are dealt in the player’s cards. One seven pays 3:1, two unsuited sevens pays 50:1, two suited sevens pays 100:1. If the third card dealt is also a seven, then the bet will pay 500:1 unsuited and 5000:1 suited. However it is important to make sure that the Casino will still deal a third card if the dealer has a Blackjack, as some Casinos will not do this.
  • Lucky ladies – this bet pays out if the player’s cards add up to 20, with an unsuited 20 paying 4:1, a suited 20 paying 10:1, a matched 20, same rank and suit pays 25:1, two queens of hearts 200:1 and two queens of hearts when dealer has Blackjack 1000:1.
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Are Blackjack side bets worth playing?

Blackjack side bets do not involve any skill and you are simply betting on the luck of the draw.

What’s more, the returns do not reflect the odds of each bet coming in, which gives the house a significantly larger edge.

Conclusion

Blackjack side bets are best viewed as a bit of extra complexity that adds up to a session at the Blackjack table.

However, you should not make them the main focus of your gameplay or your wagering, and you should be aware of the significantly increased house edge.

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The promotion presented on this page was available at the time of writing. With some Casino promotions changing on daily basis, we suggest you to check on the site if it still available. Also, please do not forget to read the terms and conditions in full before you accept a bonus.