What is the House Edge in Blackjack?

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Dave | November 3, 2023 | Updated on: January 8th, 2024

Blackjack is well known for being one of the casino games with the most favourable house edge percentages. Blackjack players can attest to this. Because the house edge is low, the overall odds against you decreases and you stand a better chance to win.

For those new to the game, blackjack house edge refers to the advantage that the house has over you as the player in any given blackjack game. This advantage can also be termed ‘edge’ hence the phrase ‘house edge’. You have no control over this aspect of the game and is something you simply have to accept and try to overcome.

The house edge is presented as an actual percentage figure which can differ from game to game. In blackjack, the house edge is 0.5%. In other casino games like online roulette, the house edge can go as high as 5.26%. In addition to a fixed blackjack house edge percentage, there are also other ways in which casinos try to gain the upper hand over players like you. In blackjack, for example, the dealer which acts as the casino rep is the last player to act around the blackjack table during a round. This means that the dealer gets to see your cards and all the mistakes you’ve made. He will then try to outplay you based on the cards you have and the mistakes you’ve made.

Blackjack house edge

Blackjack House Edge

You have to bear in mind that there are different blackjack game variations and the house edge can differ in each of these. The blackjack rules found in the game can be a deterrent to the kind of house edge percentage you must expect in the game. Therefore, we always advise our players to choose a game where the house edge is not steep, that way you can optimize your chances of winning big.

Reducing the House Edge

Fortunately, the house edge can be reduced with the help of an effective blackjack strategy. There are basic strategies that you can use, and there are more advanced ones. Either way, using a strategy will only prove to be beneficial in the long run.

Card counting is one of the strategies you can use to reduce the blackjack house edge. This is quite a difficult thing to master and, and can be very redundant when you are playing blackjack online. But, it’s a good option if you are serious about reducing the house edge.

Using a blackjack chart to better understand the odds in the game is another good strategy. Have a look at the table below for a better understanding of how probable it is for you to win based on the hand you have.

Blackjack Hand	Odds of Winning
21	100%
20	92%
19	85%
18	77%
17	69%
16	62%
15	58%
14	56%
13	39
12	31%
11 and lower	0%

What is the House Edge in Blackjack?

Blackjack House Edge

Reducing the House Edge

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