The combination of chance and strategy in blackjack makes it an intriguing game for many players, but to play it correctly, you need a good understanding of the odds of winning blackjack and the payouts in the game.
If you want to play blackjack properly at an Ireland online casino, my guide will explain what blackjack odds are and how they affect payouts. I’ll also explore the odds in different online blackjack games you can find at a casino like Betiton Ireland, how to calculate these odds, and how to understand the house edge in a casino game.
By the end of this online blackjack guide, you’ll be able to understand the relationship between blackjack betting odds and payouts better to make better betting decisions in the game.
What Are Blackjack Odds?
So, what are blackjack odds? This refers to the likelihood of an outcome occurring in blackjack. For example, the odds of winning blackjack refer to how likely it is that you’ll beat the dealer, while the odds of getting a natural blackjack indicate how likely getting an Ace and a 10-value card is.
The blackjack winning odds fluctuate throughout the game and depend on multiple factors, including the number of decks, the game rules for each variant, and your strategy. The odds in blackjack also vary depending on the game’s house edge, which is slightly different for every type of blackjack casino game.
Playerβs Bust Probability
The blackjack odds differ depending on the outcome you’re looking at, so I’ll look at the odds of each possible outcome separately. The table below highlights the blackjack probability of busting if you choose to hit on your first two cards when playing at an Irish online casino.
π The Player’s Bust Probability | |
βοΈ Hand Value | π Probability |
11 or below | 0% |
12 | 31% |
13 | 39% |
14 | 56% |
15 | 56% |
16 | 62% |
17 | 69% |
18 | 77% |
19 | 89% |
20 | 92% |
21 | 100% |
As you can see, the higher your hand total, the higher the likelihood of busting if you choose to hit. If your hand is worth 11 points or less, you can hit without worrying about busting. If your hand has a value of 12 or higher, there’s a possibility of busting if you take another card.
Dealerβs Bust Probability
Next, let’s look at the probability of the dealer busting based on their visible card.
π Dealer’s Bust Probability | ||
π΄ Dealer’s Card | π Probability of Busting if Dealer Stands on 17 | βοΈ Probability of Busting if Dealer Hits on 17 |
Ace | 17% | 20% |
2 | 35% | 36% |
3 | 37% | 38% |
4 | 40% | 40% |
5 | 42% | 42% |
6 | 42% | 44% |
7 | 26% | 26% |
8 | 24% | 24% |
9 | 23% | 23% |
10 | 23% | 23% |
Remember, unlike you (the player), the dealer has to follow the game’s rules for hitting or standing; it’s not up to the dealer to decide in blackjack how to play their hand. If the rules state the dealer must hit on 17, they’re slightly more likely to bust.
What Are the Odds of Winning in Blackjack?
The blackjack odds of winning indicate how often you can expect to win. Below, you can find the outcome for each possible result.
π Player’s Odds of Winning | π Dealer’s Odds of Winning | π Odds of a Draw (Tie) |
42.22% | 49.10% | 8.48% |
As you can see from the table above, the dealer’s odds of winning are higher than the player’s because there’s always a house edge. These odds are based on a standard blackjack game for an average player.
It’s important to keep in mind that odds are always an estimate, so it doesn’t mean you’ll always win exactly 42.22% of the round you play. Moreover, with strategies like basic strategy, the odds will be slightly more in your favour.
What Is the Blackjack House Edge?
The term house edge refers to the casino’s advantage in any game. The house always has an advantage over the player because that’s how they make money. However, it doesn’t mean that the player can never win. With the right blackjack strategy and skills, you can reduce the house edge quite significantly in the game.
Since the house edge refers to the casino’s advantage, the lower this percentage is, the higher your advantage and the better your odds. What’s very important to understand about the house edge is that it’s an overall estimate for many game rounds. Due to the element of chance in the game, primarily the fact that you can’t predict what cards you’ll get, the house edge varies for every round.
House Edge & Payouts
The payouts in blackjack directly influence the game’s house edge because some tables offer lower payouts for the same head, giving the casino a bigger advantage. Most blackjack tables pay 3:2 for natural blackjack (Ace and ten value card), but some tables offer a payout of 6:5 or 1:1 (even money).
The table below compares the house edge for each type of payout. The best blackjack odds are found on tables which pay 3:2 for blackjack.
π Payout for Blackjack | π‘ House Edge |
π 3:2 | 0.50% |
π 6:5 | 1.90% |
π Even Money | 2.80% |
House Edge & Blackjack Variants
Blackjack variants have different rules regarding the number of decks used in the game, the way the dealer plays their hands, the rules for splitting and doubling cards, and the payouts for blackjack.
The table below lists the house edge for the most popular blackjack games in Ireland. The differences may seem minor, but to ensure the best blackjack casino odds, it’s important to consider choosing a game with a low house edge.
π Blackjack Variant | π‘ House Edge |
π Atlantic City Blackjack | 0.35% |
π European Blackjack | 0.39% |
β£οΈ Multi-Hand Blackjack | 0.63% |
π΄ Double Exposure Blackjack | 0.69% |
β₯οΈ Single Deck Blackjack | 0.58% |
π Blackjack Switch | 0.17% |
β¨ Super Fun 21 | 1.30% |
β οΈ Pontoon | 0.39% |
π Perfect Pairs Blackjack | 0.42% |
β¦οΈ Spanish 21 | 0.38% |
How to Calculate Blackjack Odds?
The casino blackjack odds can be calculated based on the probability of each outcome occurring. To calculate the odds, you’ll need to consider several factors according to the rules of the game variant you want to play.
Below is a list of game features to note before you can calculate the odds in blackjack:
- The number of decks in the game. It’s easier to start with a single-deck game to calculate the odds.
- The payout for blackjack (3:2 or 6:5).
- Splitting, resplitting, and doubling rules.
- Dealer’s rules: does the dealer hit or stand on 17?
To calculate the odds of any outcome, you’ll need to divide the desired outcome by the total possible outcomes to get the probability. The probability can then be converted to the odds as a percentage by multiplying by 100.
For example, let’s say you want to calculate the odds of being dealt a King of Spades. With only one King of Spades in a standard 52-card deck, the calculation should be as follows:
1 Γ· 52 = 0.0192. Therefore, the odds are 1.92% (0.0192 x 100).
If I had to calculate the probability of drawing a King with any suit, the calculation would be as follows for a single-deck game with four King cards.
4 Γ· 52 = 0.0769. This gives you odds of 7.69%.
Blackjack Side Bets Payouts
Side bets in blackjack are additional wagers that can be placed along your initial wager for a chance to win an additional payout. Most side bets involve predicting the kind of cards you and the dealer will receive.
Blackjack side bets offer significantly higher payouts than the regular blackjack wager, but they also have the lowest odds.
Perfect Pair Payouts
Side Bet | Payout |
π Mixed Pair | 5:1 |
π Coloured Pair | 10:1 |
π Perfect Pair | 30:1 |
21 + 3 Payouts
β£οΈ Flush | 5:1 |
β£οΈ Straight | 10:1 |
β£οΈ Three-of-a-Kind | 30:1 |
β£οΈ Straight Flush | 40:1 |
β£οΈ Suited Trips | 100:1 |
Super Sevens Payouts
β¨ Super Sevens (Single) | 3:1 |
β¨ Super Sevens (Pair) | 50:1 |
β¨ Super Sevens (Set) | 500:1 |
β¨ Super Sevens (Suited) | 5000:1 |
Lucky Ladies Payouts
π Lucky Ladies (Queen of Hearts/Dealer Blackjack) | 1000:1 |
π Lucky Ladies (Queen of Hearts) | 200:1 |
π Lucky Ladies (Matching) | 25:1 |
π Lucky Ladies (Suited) | 20:1 |
π Lucky Ladies (Any) | 4:1 |
Royal Match Payouts
π Easy Match | 2.5:1 |
π Royal Match | 25:1 |
Other Bets Payouts
πΈ Bet | π Potential Payout |
ππΌ Insurance | 2:1 |
ππΌ Over/Under 13 | 10:1 |
ππΌ 5-Card Charlie | 5:1 |
ππΌ 6-Card Charlie | 10:1 |
ππΌ 7-Card Charlie | 30:1 |
ππΌ Pair Square | 15:1 |
ππΌ Super Sevens | 3:1 β 5000:1 |
Odds by Blackjack Version
Understanding how the house edge influences your casino odds in blackjack is key to choosing the correct game variant.
Below, I’ve listed the top five blackjack game variants in Ireland that offer the blackjack best odds of winning.
π Blackjack Variant | π‘ House Edge |
π American/Classic Blackjack | 0.50% |
π European Blackjack | 0.40% |
π Blackjack Switch | 0.73% |
β¨ Vegas Strip Blackjack | 0.48% |
π Atlantic City Blackjack | 0.35% |
The lower the house edge in the game, the higher the probability of winning, so it makes logical sense to choose a version of blackjack that offers a low house edge. However, there are other factors to consider besides the game’s house edge.
For example, European Blackjack has a very low house edge, but the player rules aren’t as favourable as the American variant. Splitting and doubling rules are much more restricted, and the dealer doesn’t check for blackjack.
There’s also the payout for blackjack to consider. For example, Blackjack Switch has a favourable house edge, but the dealer pushes on a 22 rather than busting. Also, the payout for a natural blackjack is only even money.
In variants without a hole card, the house edge also increases by 0.11%. Finally, the number of decks is another crucial factor to consider along the game’s house edge. This is because the blackjack online casino‘s advantage increases between 0.18% and 0.50% when multiple decks are used.
How to Improve Your Odds When Playing Blackjack?
Besides choosing the right game variant by choosing player-friendly rules and a low house edge, you can also use the knowledge of blackjack odds at a casino to improve your chances of winning. This is especially important when you’re dealt a tricky hand with low winning odds.
I’ve listed the toughest starting hands where you can use blackjack odds. My following tips can increase your chances of winning on tricky hands, but please remember they don’t guarantee you’ll win.
- Hard 16 β This is one of the worst starting hands in blackjack. Some blackjack players say you should split, while others believe standing is the best option. However, if you follow basic strategy, you should hit if the dealer’s card is a seven or an eight.
- 12 against dealer’s 4 β Another tricky hand is a total of 12 when the dealer shows a four. The best move in this case is to stand. The dealer has a fair chance of busting because they must hit until they reach at least 17.
- 15 against dealer’s 10 β A difficult starting position is a hard 15 when the dealer’s card is a 10. The odds of winning if you hit are 22%, while standing gives you odds of 23%. Since the difference is so minimal, my advice is to risk hitting because a 15 is almost certain to lose against the dealer once they reveal their hole card.
Frequently Asked Questions about Blackjack Odds
The odds of winning in a standard blackjack game are 42.22%. However, the blackjack odds always depend on the specific blackjack rules, the house rules, and the number of decks, among other factors.
Blackjack has a very low house edge compared to other table and card games, so it’s considered to have good odds for players. However, there’s always the casino’s edge to keep in mind.
The highest possible blackjack payouts is usually 3:2, which is won if you get a natural blackjack (in most games). There are also blackjack side bets with much higher payouts but very poor game odds.
If you’re playing the same blackjack variant at a top-tier online casino like Betiton Ireland, the house edge percentage should be the same.
The bust cards in blackjack are most likely to cause you to bust and lose the game. Statistically, these are the cards from two to six.
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