However, by applying the basic strategy, you can lower the house edge to a mere 0.5%, which is why this casino classic is so favored among most players. The initial house edge in most blackjack games is 8%. If we transfer it to percentage rates, you will get a 10% house edge, or in terms of dollars, for $1 wagered, you will lose 10 cents. The true odds for each side will be 1:1, right? However, the casino will pay the winnings at odds of 0.9:1, and the difference is credited to house edge. Namely, the house edge represents the built-in advantage of any casino game that will ultimately ensure players lose more than they win.įor example, consider a simple thing as flipping a coin. The house edge is also closely related to odds and probability, but its significance needs to be clarified.

Having extra decks in the shoe, lowering the payouts in games, and implementing certain rules, such as banning doubling down after splitting, can all alter the odds in a blackjack game. This tells us that there is only one desired outcome and 51 other ways in which it won’t happen. The odds for getting a jack of hearts from a deck composed of 52 cards is 1 in 51, or 51:1. Let’s take single-deck blackjack as an example. In other words, they are a reflection of the probability of having a winning or a losing hand, if you look at it in terms of blackjack. They show us the ratio between the number of wanted outcomes and the number of ways in which the desired result will not occur. Let’s start by understanding what the odds are. Many people use odds and probability as interchangeable notions, but that’s not the case. This guide will tell you all you need to know about blackjack odds and probability so that you can bring your betting game to a whole new level.

Blackjack table explained