Number of decks do matter
The number of decks from which cards are drawn in blackjack very much affects your edge.
The fewer the decks, the lower it is for the house. Specific values depend on the actual rules and way hands are played.
Here are figures for strict Basic Strategy in games where dealers must hit soft 17, blackjacks pay 3-to-2, and bettors and can double on any initial two cards, double after splitting, resplit any pairs except aces, and surrender against anything except a blackjack. One deck: the house has essentially no edge; six decks: the casino has approximately 0.4 percent advantage; eight decks: the bosses have about 0.5 percent hammer.
Games with under six decks are rare. The usual options are six or eight.
May 5, 2008 | Category
Blackjack Experts Articles