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How Single Deck Blackjack Works


colourful single deck blackjack cards

Single deck blackjack is a variation of blackjack that uses one deck of cards. Most brick-and-mortar casinos no longer offer single deck blackjack as it is easier to count cards in this variation. However, many online casinos have it.

A lot of people prefer single deck blackjack due to its low house edge. Below we explain what you need to know about this variant to get by, including how to play and the best strategy to use. We also feature a list of casinos that offer it. So, read on to find out more!

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Single Blackjack Links

single deck blackjack

How to Play Single Deck Blackjack

The rules of single deck blackjack are pretty much the standard rules of the game present in almost all variations. No funny stuff here!

But, if you would still like a rundown, here are the basic rules of blackjack:

  • You aim to beat the dealer without going over a score of 21
  • Only one 52-card deck is used
  • The dealer needs to hit on soft 17
  • You can split your hand a maximum of three times
  • You can split double Aces once
  • A natural blackjack pays out 3:2
  • Insurance bets are available in this variation, and they payout 2:1
  • All other winning hands payout 1:1
single deck blackjack house edge

What is the Single Deck Blackjack House Edge?

The house edge of single deck blackjack is around 0.15% – which is extremely low! It goes without saying that a game with such a low house edge will have a few other drawbacks.

Firstly, the payout in some single deck games is lower than in other blackjack variations. Secondly, casinos don’t really award all that many “comp” or “VIP” points when you play these games.

Finally, if you prefer playing at blackjack brick-and-mortar casinos, you will have trouble finding the single deck variant.
single deck blackjack strategy

Best Single Deck Blackjack Strategy

As with pretty much any other form of blackjack, you need to use basic strategy in the single deck variant. Usually, there are a few changes to the rules of basic strategy for different variations.

Here are some of the changes you need to keep in mind with single deck games:

  • If you have a score between 8 and 11, and the dealer has a score between 5 and 9, you should double down.
  • If you have a score between 12 and 16, and the dealer has a hand with a low score, you should stand.
  • Finally, if you have got a hand with a score between 17 and 21, always stand.
single deck blackjack online

Should I Play Single Deck Blackjack?

Single deck blackjack has a very low house edge if you play the standard form of the game. Some casinos try to lower this advantage by introducing new rules to make up for this.

For example, although most casinos payout 3:2 for a natural, some will lower this payout to 6:5 in single deck.

Also, if rules of a single deck game have been manipulated to increase the edge, sometimes you can achieve a lower house edge in multihand blackjack games. That is if you know how to play that variant properly.

All this said, we still think a lot of single deck blackjack offers value for money if you find a good variant. You can’t argue with that house edge!

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