What Are The Chances of Losing X Blackjack Hands In a Row?

Blackjack is a popular casino card game that players of all skill levels can enjoy, be they novices or more experienced. The one thing these players all may have in common is that they want to try and win as many hands as possible. 

However, like any casino game, you may lose some, and you may win some. So, what are the chances of losing more than one hand in a row?

This King Casino blog post explores the chances of losing streaks in blackjack with examples, and discusses how you can determine the odds of blackjack losing streaks. 

How Can You Determine The Odds of Blackjack Losing Streaks?

The best way to efficiently play any casino game is to understand the game rules, and because most players want to win when playing these games, understanding the probability of winning can be quite helpful.

We want to preface this by saying understanding the odds of losing in blackjack does not help increase your chances of winning. It can make the game potentially less frustrating if you hit a losing streak.

So, to determine the odds of a blackjack hand losing, you must understand what the chances of losing or tying for each possible hand are. For example, the general odds of winning a hand are 42.4%, and you have an 8.5% chance of getting a tie. That leaves you with a 49.1% chance of losing a hand, respectively.

However, these may be slightly different depending on a number of factors, including the house edge, the game’s rules and the strategy you employ. 

The house edge is usually between 0.5% and 2%. 

Blackjack Losing Streak Examples

Next, we are going to showcase the chances of losing a certain number of hands in blackjack consecutively. Let’s take a look at some examples below.

What Are The Chances of Losing Blackjack 5 Times In a Row?

Calculating blackjack odds requires simple maths. We will start by calculating the probability of losing blackjack 5 times in a row, using basic strategy and operating on the idea that you have a 49.1% chance of losing the hand.

So, how you would calculate it is: 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491= 0.028 = 2.8%.

What Are The Chances of Losing Blackjack 6 Times In a Row?

To calculate the probabilities of losing blackjack 6 times, we’ll use the same probability calculation form above:

0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 = 0.014 = 1.4%. 

What Are The Chances of Losing Blackjack 7 Times In a Row?

Let’s continue with the pattern and calculate the probability of losing blackjack 7 times in a row with a 49.1% chance of losing a hand:

0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 = 0.0068 = 0.6%

What Are The Chances of Losing Blackjack 8 Times In a Row?

Continuing with our examples above, if you calculate the chances of losing blackjack 8 times in a row, your answer may look something like this:

0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.491 x 0.419 = 0.0028 = 0.02%

However, it is important to remember that these calculations are based on theoretical situations. When playing the game in real life, too many factors, including the unpredictability of the game, can affect how often you may lose a hand.

Can You Lose 10 Times In a Row In Blackjack?

Yes, you can lose 10 times in a row in blackjack. However, if you have a basic understanding of the game’s rules and can use basic strategy, losing 10 times in a row can be extremely unlikely but not impossible.  

Using the same formula we applied above, the odds of losing 10 times in a row in blackjack are 0.0814%, which is a minimal number/ chance, but this is a game of chance. So, regardless, you could have a losing streak of 10 hands in a row.

How Many Blackjack Hands Can You Lose In a Row?

In theory, the number of blackjack hands you can lose in a row is infinite. In addition, given the fact that the outcomes of each blackjack hand are random and cannot be predicted, pinpointing exactly how many blackjack hands you can lose in a row would be impossible.

While the probability of losing blackjack hands in a row may decrease with each consecutive loss, there is always a chance that you may lose indefinitely in a row. 

How Common Are Losing Streaks In Blackjack?

Losing streaks are very common in blackjack and in all casino games. In fact, you are more likely to lose than win in the long run. That is because all casino games, including blackjack games, are designed with a house edge, which makes it so that, over time, you are more likely to lose than win.

However, blackjack has comparably better odds than other casino games, with the least house edge being 0.5% and the most being 2%, provided you have a basic understanding of the game’s rules. 

Remember to always gamble responsibly.

*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to this game are subject to change at any time.