Top Strategies & Rules for Playing 4-Deck Blackjack

4-deck blackjack is one of a multitude of online blackjack variants that exist at online casinos. Traditionally, blackjack was played with one 52-card deck, but many games use multiple decks nowadays. In fact, some of the most popular blackjack tables use between four and eight decks.

In this blackjack guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about playing 4-deck blackjack online. We’ll review the best strategies and rules to remember and examine the 4-deck blackjack odds. You’ll also learn how to make the correct deviations from standard basic strategy to adapt it to a four-deck game. 

When to Surrender When Playing 4-Deck Blackjack?

First, let’s talk about the surrender option in 4-deck blackjack. The option to surrender your card is a useful move if you’re dealt a bad hand that you’re almost certain will lose. In this case, you can forfeit your cards and remove yourself from the game for that round. In return, half your original stake will be refunded.

Although it can be a wise move to make, the early surrender option isn’t available in every game. It depends on the specific rules of the blackjack table you’ve chosen. If it’s offered, you should also select a blackjack strategy chart that includes the surrender rule.

These are the two hands you should surrender according to a blackjack chart 4-deck rules.

• A hard 14, 15, or 16 if the dealer’s card is 10 or higher.
• A hard 5 to 7 and 12 to 17 if the dealer’s card is an Ace.

When to Split When Playing 4-Deck Blackjack?

If you’re dealt a pair (two cards with at least the same value), you can keep the pair as it is or split them to form a new blackjack hand. A card will be added to each hand to give you two pairs. You’ll also need another wager equal to your original bet to split a pair.

Below is a summary of which pairs to split and which to play as they are, according to a blackjack 4-deck strategy.

• Always split Aces and 8s.
• A pair of 5s or 10s should never be split.
• A pair of 2s or 3s should be split if the dealer’s card is 4 to 7. If you can split after doubling (DAS), split 2s or 3s if the dealer’s card is 2 or 3.
• If DAS is allowed, a pair of 4s should be spit if the dealer’s card is 5 or 6.
• A pair of 6s should be split if the dealer’s card is 3 to 6. If DAS is allowed, split if the dealer has a 2 as well.
• A pair of 7s should be split if the dealer’s card is 2 to 7.
• A pair of 9s should be split if the dealer has a 2 or 6 to 9.

When to Double When Playing 4-Deck Blackjack?

Doubling down is another move you can make when you’re dealt your first two cards. It’s normally done on a very strong hand you want to take advantage of by doubling the value of your initial bet. It’s similar to hitting because you’ll receive another card when you double, but it will also cost you another wager.

It should be done on strong blackjack hands only, and more importantly, you should always check what card the dealer has before doubling. Based on basic strategy, these are the only hands you should double down on:

• Double hard 9s if the dealer’s card is 2 to 6.
• Double hard 10s if the dealer has any card except a 10 or an Ace.
• Double hard 11s if the dealer has any card except an Ace.
• Double soft 13s and 14s if the dealer’s card is 5 or 6.
• Double soft 15s and 16s if the dealer’s card is 4 to 6.
• Double soft 17s and 18s if the dealer’s card is 3 to 6.

When to Hit or Stand When Playing 4-Deck Blackjack?

You can also choose to hit or stand with your first two cards. If you hit, the dealer will add another card to your hand. Unlike splitting or doubling, it won’t cost you an additional wager to hit. You may also choose to hit as many times as you wish, but if your hand exceeds a total of 21, you’ll bust and lose the game.

There are certain hands you should always hit on and others where you must consult a 4-deck blackjack strategy chart to find the most optimal move. We’ve summarised these hands in the list below:

• Hit any total up to a hard 11.
• Hit on a soft 17 or lower.
• Hit on a hard 12 if the dealer’s card is a 2, 3, or 7 to Ace.
• Hit on a hard 13 through 16 if the dealer’s card is a 7 or higher.
• Hit on a hard 18 if the dealer has a 9, 10, or Ace.

Standing is the simplest move you can make when playing blackjack because it means you want to keep your first two cards. As always, remember that soft totals and hard totals aren’t played in the same way. So, when consulting your basic strategy chart, remember to use the correct type of hand.

• Stand on a hard 12 if the dealer has a 4, 5, or 6.
• Stand on a hard 13 to 16 if the dealer has anything from 2 to 6.
• Stand on a hard 17 or higher.
• Stand on soft 18 if the dealer’s card is 2 through 8.
• Stand on soft 19 or higher regardless of the dealer’s card.

The House Edge in 4-Deck Blackjack

The casino’s advantage over players in blackjack is known as the house edge. It depends on several factors, such as the game rules, the dealer’s rules, your skill level, the payout for a natural blackjack, and the number of decks (6 decks, 8 decks or 4 decks) used.

The house edge in a game which uses four decks is around 0.50%, but as explained above, it varies depending on several factors. Remember that while using a basic strategy doesn’t eliminate the house edge, it can significantly increase your odds of beating the dealer.

Advantages and Disadvantages of 4-Deck Blackjack

Like any blackjack game, 4-deck blackjack has pros and cons. It’s important to be aware of these before choosing a blackjack table. What’s important to understand about these games is that the rules vary from one game to another. Many blackjack tables use multiple decks but offer different rules for both the dealer and the player.

With that in mind, here are some general pros and cons to consider for a 4-deck game.

➕ Advantages	➖ Disadvantages
✅ Using multiple decks allows casinos to offer faster-paced games.	❌ Counting cards is more difficult with four decks.
✅ You can apply a basic strategy with a few deviations.	❌ The house edge increases slightly with more decks in play.
✅ 4-deck games are widely available at online casinos.	❌ Some 4-deck blackjack tables pay 6:5 instead of 3:2 for blackjack.
✅ The game rules are usually simple and straightforward.	❌ –

Frequently Asked Questions About 4-Deck Blackjack