Player/House Advantage

The following player/house advantages are just approximate, the actual numbers change depending on how many decks of cards are used in the shoe, and also according to the set of rules used.

Without using a basic strategy the house has a 7% advantage

Using a basic Strategy the house has a 0.5% advantage

Card counting can give the player up to a 1% advantage

For more information concerning Blackjack strategy please refer to the Blackjack Strategy menu on right hand side of this page.

Blackjack Tips

Listed below are some of the things to keep in mind while playing Blackjack.

Blackjack is a game of strategy, a player following a strategy has much better odds, we recommend you follow the strategy charts.

The objective of Blackjack is to beat the dealer, not only to obtain a hand valuing 21.
Unless you are counting cards the “Insurance” or “Even money” bet is not recommended.

Set winning and loosing limits.

The fewer decks in the shoe the better it is for the player.

Allowing a dealer to hit on a soft 17 is worse for a player.

basic strategy
a simple playing strategy used to minimize the house edge without using complex techniques such as card counting, shuffle tracking, or dealer tells. Many basic playing strategies are the foundation to card counting, but these basic strategies are also suggested for non- card counters.

burn card(s)
cards that are taken out of the shoe without being dealt to the players or the dealer. After the cards are shuffled by the dealer, one or more of the cards may be "burned" before the cards are dealt.

bust
after being dealt an extra card, the player is said to "bust" if the new card causes the player's hand to total more than 21.

card counting
a system used to lower the house edge. Most systems assign "weights" to each card. The "count" indicates when the game is favorable or unfavorable for the player. Based on the count a player can place larger or smaller bets and/or make changes in playing strategy.

Click here for more information about card counting

cut card
a special card that is usually made of plastic that is used to cut the cards after the dealer shuffles.

double down
a player’s option to double the initial wager and to be dealt exactly one more card. The option to “double down” is only usually permitted after the player has been dealt the first two cards, however some casinos do permit the player to “double down” after splitting a pair.

Click here for more information about “Doubling Down”

double for less
a player’s option to increase the initial wager for less than two times the original bet. In this situation a player is Basically making a “double down” wager for a smaller amount than the original bet.

early surrender
a player’s option to surrender a hand and only loose half off the original wager even when the dealer has a “Blackjack”.

Click here for more information about Surrendering