Description
This Single Deck Blackjack game pays the full 3:2 for blackjack, not the reduced 6:5 payout found at many single-deck tables. It uses just one 52-card deck, giving you the classic single-deck version of blackjack while keeping the standard blackjack payout.
Playing with one deck changes the mathematics compared with six- or eight-deck blackjack, generally reducing the house edge when the other rules are comparable. There is a trade-off: the dealer hits soft 17, you cannot double after splitting, and you can split to a maximum of three hands. These are typical restrictions associated with single-deck blackjack and offset some of the mathematical benefit of using fewer cards.
You can double down on any first two cards, giving you more flexibility than our European Blackjack game, where doubling is restricted to hard 9, 10 or 11. The dealer also receives a normal hole card, unlike European Blackjack, where the second dealer card isn't dealt until players have finished acting.
With correct basic strategy, single-deck blackjack under similar rules is commonly cited as having a house edge around 0.15%, although the exact figure varies with the precise rules in play. That makes single-deck blackjack one of the lower-house-edge blackjack variants when played accurately.
Instructions
Single Deck Blackjack Strategy Tips
Use a Single-Deck Basic Strategy
Don't automatically use a strategy chart designed for a six- or eight-deck game. With only 52 cards in play, removing even a small number of cards has a greater effect on the composition of the remaining deck.
As a result, optimal decisions on some borderline hands can differ between single-deck and multi-deck blackjack. Use a strategy chart designed specifically for single-deck blackjack with a dealer who hits soft 17.
Remember That the Dealer Hits Soft 17
The dealer hits soft 17 (H17) in this game. That's an important difference from our Vegas Strip, Atlantic City and European Blackjack tables, where the dealer stands on soft 17.
Hitting soft 17 slightly favors the house compared with standing on it, so don't assume that every decision from one of those games carries across unchanged.
Take Advantage of Flexible Doubling
You can double down on any first two cards, rather than being limited to particular starting totals. This gives you opportunities to increase your stake when the situation is favorable.
This is especially worth remembering if you've played our European Blackjack game, where doubling is restricted to hard totals of 9, 10 and 11.
Know the Restrictions After a Split
Once you've split a pair, you cannot double down on the resulting hands. You can resplit pairs, but only until you have a maximum of three hands in play.
Split aces are more restricted: each Ace receives exactly one additional card, and Aces cannot be resplit.
Understand the Single-Deck Trade-Off
A single deck is mathematically favorable compared with using multiple decks when other rules are equal, which is precisely why real-world single-deck blackjack tables frequently compensate with less generous rules.
Here, those trade-offs include the dealer hitting soft 17, no doubling after a split and a tighter resplitting limit. The important distinction is that blackjack still pays the full 3:2.
Don't Confuse This Game With 6:5 Single Deck
Always check the blackjack payout when comparing single-deck games. A lower deck count can be attractive, but reducing blackjack from 3:2 to 6:5 significantly changes the value of the game.
This version keeps the standard 3:2 blackjack payout. Our 6:5 Single Deck Blackjack is a separate variant with different payout rules.
Single Deck Blackjack FAQ
Does this game pay 6:5 or 3:2 on blackjack?
Blackjack pays 3:2. This game keeps the full standard blackjack payout rather than reducing it to 6:5.
For example, a £10 blackjack wins £15 at 3:2. The site's 6:5 Single Deck Blackjack is a separate game.
Why does the dealer hit on soft 17 here but not on your other tables?
Single Deck Blackjack uses the H17 rule, meaning the dealer must take another card when holding a soft 17, such as an Ace and a 6.
Our Vegas Strip, Atlantic City and European Blackjack games instead use S17, meaning the dealer stands on all 17s. H17 slightly increases the house advantage and is one of the rule trade-offs commonly found at single-deck tables.
Can I double down after splitting a pair?
No. You can double down on any initial two-card hand, but doubling is not permitted after you split a pair.
This differs from our Vegas Strip and Atlantic City Blackjack games, which allow doubling after a split.
How many times can I split my hand?
You can resplit pairs until you have a maximum of three hands. This is tighter than the four-hand limit used in our Vegas Strip and Atlantic City Blackjack games.
Aces have an additional restriction: split Aces receive only one card each and cannot be resplit.
Is surrender available?
No. Surrender is not available in this version of Single Deck Blackjack. Your available actions depend on your hand but can include hitting, standing, doubling and splitting.
Why does Single Deck Blackjack reshuffle so often?
Because there are only 52 cards in the deck, a single-deck game reaches meaningful deck penetration much faster than a six- or eight-deck shoe.
This game reshuffles at roughly 50% penetration. Shallow penetration is commonly used at real single-deck tables as an anti-card-counting measure, because the composition of a single deck is easier to track than that of a large multi-deck shoe.
