Why Does The Number Of Decks Matter In Blackjack?

Today you’ll learn one of the most important things when playing blackjack at a land-based or online casino like King Casino. Less is more, i.e., the fewer decks in a blackjack game, the better the odds of getting a blackjack. However, certain rules may make a game with more decks appealing.

Of course, they used a single deck the first time blackjack was invented. However, the game has evolved a lot since then. Although this means more people can enjoy one of the best casino table games, it might lead to confusion for newbies.

Why does the number of blackjack decks matter? Let’s find out below.

Do Blackjack Odds Change With The Number Of Decks?

Yes, blackjack odds change depending on the number of decks in play. For example, you’re more likely to draw a blackjack (a 2-card hand totalling 21) with a single deck compared to 6 decks. We’ll look at the maths below.

In single-deck blackjack, we achieve the probability of drawing a 21 as follows;

There are 52 cards, i.e. 16 ten-valued cards –  K, Q, J, & 10, and 4 of each. In addition, 4 Aces are present.

Therefore, the probability of landing an Ace is 4 out of 52, i.e. 1/13. You can also land one of the 16 ten-value cards. As there are 16 of them, you have 16 out of 51 chance (51 to account for the removed Ace).

Double the result since we can draw either card (A, 10) or (10, A) at our turn. So, 1/13 X 16/51 X 2 = 4.83%.

The odds of drawing a blackjack from a single deck is 4.83%.

What if you play with two decks?

Two decks mean 104 total cards, i.e. 8 Aces and 32 10-value cards. So to get the odds, we’d follow the same method as above, i.e. 8/104 X 32/103 X 2 = 4.78%.

The odds of drawing a blackjack from two decks is 4.78%.

Therefore, blackjack odds change with the number of decks.

Does Playing Multiple Hands In Blackjack Increase Odds?

Not necessarily. Playing multiple hands in blackjack has advantages, depending on what you want to achieve, but it doesn’t increase the odds.

For example, some players find that multi-hand blackjack offers a more exciting session since you have more turns per round.

However, multi-hand blackjack could also pose risks. One prime example is your bankroll is used more per game than in single-hand blackjack because you have to place a bet on each hand. The more hands you play, the more money you could potentially lose.

How Many Deck Blackjack Has The Best Odds?

So, as you’ve seen above, single-deck blackjack has the best odds when it comes to getting a natural or blackjack. However, it depends on the game rules. Single-deck blackjack has 4.83% odds. Therefore, the chances of landing a blackjack are 1 in 20 hands.

Of course, the odds decrease when more hands are in play. For example, two decks put the probability of landing a blackjack at 4.78%. Most casinos use six decks in the game. A six-deck shoe puts the odds at 4.75%.

Although a single-deck game might offer better odds, ultimately, the house edge affects the overall game. Therefore, there is no guarantee that playing single-deck blackjack offers better chances of landing 21.

How Many Decks Do Online Casinos Use For Blackjack?

Online casinos use a Random Number Generator to shuffle cards. So, it’s easy to play blackjack with more decks since you don’t have to worry about the time taken to shuffle, unlike physical casinos where the dealer would be slower shuffling a six-deck shoe. It doesn’t matter how many decks you play at King Casino, the best online slot games casino.

In addition, you can’t see any other cards at the table, so you play solo. However, online casinos strive to maintain the game’s authenticity, so most tables offer six to eight decks. But the decks are automatically shuffled on each hand via the Random Number Generator.

Conclusion

Choosing which deck game to play in live blackjack can be tricky. However, players who encounter this dilemma should consider their personal preferences first and foremost; the differences in the odds are essentially negligible. 

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