It is no secret that many casino enthusiasts enjoy playing blackjack due to the low house edge of the game. This means that they have pretty good chances to rack up great payouts while playing the casino classic.
The best part is that by using the ultimate blackjack strategy, players can actually improve the odds and further lower the house edge. In order to enjoy a fruitful game of 21, however, here are the blackjack odds explained.
What are Odds and Probabilities in Blackjack
Just like other casino games, blackjack also has odds that show what are the chances of winning the game. Depending on the type of blackjack you play and the presence or lack of additional rules, it is possible that the odds may change. If you want to look at the blackjack odds from a mathematical perspective, we can talk about probabilities. These are the calculations which are based on the cards of players and the face-up card of the dealer, the rules utilised in the game, as well as the number of decks. These help to determine what are the winning and losing chances of players under different circumstances.
It can be said that odds are the easier way to express the winning probability in blackjack. They become really useful when you also compare the payouts of a certain blackjack variation. This way you can understand whether the game has true odds. Those are determined as such when the payout of a bet is the same rate as the one shown by the winning probability.
House Edge
When we are talking about odds and probabilities, it is inevitable to mention house edge as it carries a similar meaning. If you compare your bet to the value that is expected to be won, you will get the house edge percentage of the blackjack game you are playing. If we take for example a bet of £100 and the expected payout is £95, then the house edge is 5%. This term can also be explained as the advantage of the house, i.e. the casino.
Depending on the blackjack variant that you choose to play, the house edge may differ and be affected in various ways. While the standard payout for blackjack is 3 to 2, if you came across a version which offers 6 to 5, this will only increase the house edge with 1.3%. There are also other rules that will give the house a bigger advantage. Those include not having the opportunity to surrender, playing with 8 decks, rather than with 1, the dealer hits a soft 17, players are not allowed to double after splitting or they are allowed to double only a total of 10 or 11, players are not allowed to split aces or to re-split them.
How to Improve Blackjack Odds
In order to play with the best chances of sweeping great wins, make sure that you pick the best blackjack variant. Even if a game such as Blackjack Switch may sound good thanks to its special feature, the usual 3:2 payout will be reduced and players will be paid 1:1 for a blackjack. This automatically makes this game less advantageous for players who seek more lucrative gambling experiences. On the other hand, if you come across a blackjack variant that offers a late surrender and the dealer stands on 17, you will enjoy a game with a house edge as low as 0.30%.
The best way to improve your gameplay and lower the house edge of blackjack, even more, is to learn how to use basic blackjack strategy. It will allow you to figure out the best move under different circumstances which will improve your chances of winning, hence you will enjoy better odds.
You can also print cheat sheets which will help you use basic blackjack strategy while you are playing. Make sure that you are using the right chart which applies exactly to the variation that you play. Choosing the most advantageous version of blackjack and utilising the ultimate strategy will definitely make your experience more rewarding.
