If you placed a $10 bet and got blackjack on a multi-card game with 3:2 payout you’d walk away with $15, whereas you’d only get $12 for a single-deck game with a 6:5 payout. In fact, you will notice that when playing a single-deck game of blackjack many casinos only offer a 6:5 payout for blackjack, while multi-deck games offer 3:2. Many casinos have reintroduced the single-deck blackjack game, but don’t be fooled into thinking that playing a single-deck game will give you better odds. Not only is it more difficult for players to count cards with multiple decks in use, but using multiple decks also increases the house edge slightly. In recent years, however, casinos have moved towards multiple deck games to make it harder for players to count cards, a strategy which has gained popularity over the past few decades. Long ago, single-deck blackjack was the standard and the only game in town. In fact, the house edge is just 0.15% when players stick to blackjack games with a single deck. Single deck blackjack has often been looked at as the holy grail of the game because it offers players the best chance to win profits.
What’s the difference between single and multiple deck games and what are the advantages or disadvantages? Those of you who are new to the game of blackjack may have noticed that some blackjack games are played with one deck of cards while others are played with 2, 4, 6 or even 8 decks of cards.
