How Blackjack Rule Changes Affect Hourly Rates

Blackjack can be the best game to play in a casino. However, the rules must be loose for the player to have a fair chance.

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A full blackjack table deals about 70 hands per hour, according to the Wizard of Odds. A four-handed game is about 85, while a heads-up match deals about 200 hands every 60 minutes. This article covers how those rules affect your hourly rates based on these three scenarios. If you are at a table with a continuous shuffling machine, add 20% to these numbers. The calculations assume a six-deck game and use the theoretical expected loss.

Some rules have a negligible effect on player hourly losses, especially at full games. Others can drastically alter a session, especially heads-up.

6/5 blackjack

The worst blackjack rule at games with a minimum of $5 or higher is a 6/5 payout. That adds 1.4% to the house advantage. This is how it affects hourly rates at typical bet amounts when compared to the same rules with a 3/2 payout:

Full table

$5: $4.90
$10: $9.80
$15: $14.70
$20: $19.60
$25: $24.50
$50: $49
$100: $98

Four players

$5: $5.95
$10: $11.90
$15: $17.85
$20: $23.80
$25: $29.75
$50: $59.50
$100: $119

Heads-up

$5: $14
$10: $28
$15: $42
$20: $56
$25: $70
$50: $140
$100: $280

Blackjack table at Hollywood Lawrenceburg in Indiana — Blackjack table at Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg

Dealer hits soft 17

Most blackjack games hit soft 17. Some high-limit games and one in regional markets stand on it. The dealer standing on soft 17 benefits the player. The dealer hitting soft 17 adds 0.22% to the house advantage. Here are the hourly losses when that rule is in effect when compared to the dealer standing on soft 17.

Full table

$5: $0.77
$10: $1.54
$15: $2.31
$20: $3.08
$25: $3.85
$50: $7.70
$100: $15.40

Four players

$5: $0.94
$10: $1.87
$15: $2.81
$20: $3.74
$25: $4.68
$50: $9.35
$100: $18.70

Heads-up

$5: $2.20
$10: $4.40
$15: $6.60
$20: $8.80
$25: $11
$50: $22
$100: $44

No double down after splitting

Most blackjack games permit doubling down after splitting. The ones that do not add 0.14% to the house edge of a six-deck blackjack game. It is a little worse on single and double-deck games.

Full table

$5: $0.49
$10: $0.98
$15: $1.47
$20: $1.96
$25: $2.45
$50: $4.90
$100: $9.80

Four players

$5: $0.60
$10: $1.19
$15: $1.79
$20: $2.38
$25: $2.98
$50: $5.95
$100: $11.90

Heads-up

$5: $1.40
$10: $2.80
$15: $4.20
$20: $5.60
$25: $7
$50: $14
$100: $28

Double down only on 9, 10, or 11

Allowing double down on only 9, 10, and 11 adds 0.1% to the house advantage. Many of these games do not permit doubling down after splitting, either. These games do not exist in Las Vegas, but other markets have them.

Full table

$5: $0.35
$10: $0.70
$15: $1.05
$20: $1.40
$25: $1.75
$50: $3.50
$100: $7

Four players

$5: $0.43
$10: $0.85
$15: $1.28
$20: $1.70
$25: $2.13
$50: $4.25
$100: $8.50

Heads-up

$5: $1.40
$10: $2.80
$15: $4.20
$20: $5.60
$25: $7
$50: $14
$100: $28

Double down only on 10 and 11

This is a tighter rule than the above one that allows doubling down on 9. This adds 0.18% to the house edge. It also often comes with the inability to double down after splitting.

Full table

$5: $0.63
$10: $1.26
$15: $1.89
$20: $2.52
$25: $3.15
$50: $6.30
$100: $12.60

Four players

$5: $0.77
$10: $1.53
$15: $2.30
$20: $3.06
$25: $3.83
$50: $7.65
$100: $15.30

Heads-up

$5: $1.80
$10: $3.60
$15: $5.40
$20: $7.20
$25: $9
$50: $18
$100: $36

Surrender and re-split aces

Surrender and re-split aces to four hands each removes about 0.075% from the house advantage. The list below shows the added losses when one of these two loose rules is not offered. Double the loss amount if neither is available.