Ready to play blackjack like a pro? Not so fast. Up till now, you know the basics of blackjack. That being said, you must be thinking of ways that can help you better your blackjack odds. Not to worry! We’ve taken the time to also cover the topic in our ultimate blackjack guide.
Player’s Winning Probability Table
Remember, the key to winning is by familiarizing yourself with the winning probabilities and blackjack odds, of the cards dealt, irrespective of what’s unfolding at the blackjack table. Let’s start this off with player and dealer’s probability table. This features the different hands that can be placed, as well their probability. In the long run, this will give you more insights about the bet types you can place and to ultimately make the dealer go bust.
| HAND VALUE | PROBABILITY |
|---|---|
| 11 or lower | 0% |
| 12 | 31% |
| 13 | 39% |
| 14 | 56% |
| 15 | 58% |
| 16 | 62% |
| 17 | 69% |
| 18 | 77% |
| 19 | 85% |
| 20 | 92% |
| 21 | 100% |
Dealer’s Winning Probability Table
| HAND VALUE | PROBABILITY WHEN STANDING ON SOFT 17 | PROBABILITY WHEN HITTING SOFT 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Ace | 17% | 20% |
| 2 | 35% | 36% |
| 3 | 37% | 38% |
| 4 | 40% | 40% |
| 5 | 42% | 42% |
| 6 | 26% | 44% |
| 7 | 24% | 26% |
| 8 | 23% | 24% |
| 9 | 20% | 23% |
| 10 | 23% | 23% |
Blackjack House Edge in Canada
So, let’s talk about everybody’s favorite topic; the infamous house edge. As discussed at an earlier stage in our blackjack rules guide, the house edge is the advantage the casino has over the casino. Whilst there is some truth in the saying the house always wins, this shouldn’t stop you from playing blackjack or any other casino game for that better.
That said, let’s now take a look at the house edge table for the following blackjack variants: Blackjack Switch, Free Bet Blackjack, European Blackjack, Vegas Strip Blackjack and Spanish Blackjack.
House Edge of Blackjack Variants
| Variant | Return to Player Percentage (RTP %) |
|---|---|
| Blackjack Switch | 0.16% |
| Free Bet Blackjack | 0.52% |
| European Blackjack | 0.42% |
| Vegas Strip Blackjack | 0.35% |
| Spanish Blackjack | 0.38% |
Reducing the House Edge
You’ll be delighted to know that although the house advantage will always be present in any casino game, there are ways to go about it. For starters, you can start by using the blackjack basic strategy.
Not only will you better your blackjack odds, but you can also keep the house edge as low as 0.5%. For instance, if you deal a Soft 17 (consist of an Ace and a 6), you can compare it to the blackjack cheat sheet to gain more insight about the dealer’s up card. In this way, you can plan your next move. Bottom line: if you want to reduce the house edge, think about the very basic of all blackjack strategies. We can guarantee you’ll get you’re money’s worth out of this.
For more information about when to split, double, hit or when to surrender; please check out our dedicated Blackjack Strategy page.
Blackjack Return to Player at Canadian Online Casinos
In order to stand a chance to beat the dealer, you need to familiarize yourself with another important term. Ever heard of the Return to Player Percentage? In short, the RTP is the percentage used to determine the payout you will receive. Ultimately, the percentage is used to indicate the expected return of all your bets. As a rule of thumb, anything between 95% or higher is great. In this way, you are guaranteed a solid payout.
So, the question is, which blackjack games have the best RTPs? And how can you better your odds? You’ll be happy to know we’ve collected all the information needed about the best blackjack games that have high RTPs.
Return to Player Percentage of Blackjack Variants
| Variant | Return to Player Percentage (RTP %) |
|---|---|
| Blackjack Switch | 99.84% |
| Free Bet Blackjack | 98.45% |
| European Blackjack | 99.58% |
| Vegas Strip Blackjack | 99.65% |
| Spanish Blackjack | 99.62% |
Blackjack Payouts
Understanding the way blackjack payouts work is essential. Not only will you gain a better understanding of the game, but you can also better your blackjack odds. In this way, you can get some general insights of risks and return rates whilst playing the game. Without further ado, let’s break it down together.
It’s fairly straightforward to calculate the blackjack payout. You simply have to multiply the base value times your original stake. The total payout depends on your bet. Some general blackjack payouts include to following:
- 3:2 payout: 3:2 is the payoff you can get for a blackjack. In order to win the 3:2 payout, you must have an Ace, a Face-card or any of the four 10 cards. Seeing as a face card amounts to 10 in blackjack, this combination is known as natural 21 or simply, blackjack. So let’s say you placed CA$100; in this case you’ll win CA$150.
- 1:1 payout – when you beat the dealer’s hand without a blackjack. If you place a bet of CA$20 you’ll get back another CA$20.
- Push: if you and the dealer have the same value, you neither win nor lose.
- 2:1 Payout (Insurance): You can take the side bet when the dealer’s face up card is an Ace. In this case, the insurance bet is half your blackjack bet. For example, if you place a CA$200 bet, the insurance is CA$100. If the dealer wins, you’ll still get paid on your insurance bet. In this case, if you place a CA$100 bet, you win CA$ 200. However, if the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack, you will lose both the blackjack bet and the insurance bet.
Blackjack Odds FAQs
How do Blackjack odds compare to other casino games?
Blackjack has some of the best odds to date. In fact, its house edge can stand as low as 0.5% -1% if you use the blackjack basic strategy correctly.
How can I improve my odds when playing blackjack?
First off, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with odds and probabilities of both the player and dealer. In this way, you can determine which number or face cards can improve your odds to ultimately beat the dealer. Additionally, you can also use blackjack strategies such as the blackjack basic strategy and card counting.
How do blackjack odds differ when playing online in comparison to live blackjack and land-based casinos?
Although we can’t deny that a casino night out in Las Vegas is truly magical, playing online brings a whole different ball game to the table. For example, the range of live blackjack games allow you to truly immerse yourself in a thrilling environment. You’re not distracted by anyone else; it’s just you and the dealer on the live stream. Additionally, you have more options to customize your experience to your liking. From choosing your very own casino room to adjusting the cutting-edge multi-angle camera, nothing compares to live dealer games.
What is the house edge?
The house edge is the mathematical advantage the casino has over the player. Although it is present in every single casino game, there are ways to go about it. That said, blackjack has decent house edge compared to other casino games like roulette and poker. In fact, you can use the blackjack basic strategy to keep the house edge at mere 0.5%. Alternatively, you can opt for more advanced techniques such as card counting.
What is RTP?
The Return to Player Percentage (RTP) is the percentage used to determine the payout you will receive. Ultimately, the percentage is used to indicate the expected return of all your bets. As a rule of thumb, anything between 95% or higher is great. In this way, you are guaranteed a fair payout percentage.
Kayleigh reviews online casinos and sportsbooks while coordinating training initiatives for new recruits at Casimoose.ca. She excels at sharing her love for the iGaming industry and puts her past experience to good use. With a background working for the biggest gambling brands online and a strong analytical ability, Kayleigh developed a natural gift in breaking down each component of online casinos, betting sites as well as their offerings and hasn't looked back. Outside of Casimoose, she's a proud Ontarian with a love of sports and entertainment.