Blackjack rule variations: which tables cost you more
Two blackjack tables side by side can differ in cost by more than 1% per hand. The rules printed on the felt decide it before you play a single card.
Reviewed Oct 14, 2026
Answer first
90s| Rule | Change in house edge | Better for you |
|---|---|---|
| Blackjack pays 6:5 instead of 3:2 | +1.39% | 3:2 |
| Dealer hits soft 17 | +0.22% | Stands on all 17s |
| No double after split | +0.14% | Double after split allowed |
| No late surrender | +0.08% | Surrender offered |
| 8 decks vs 1 deck | +0.5% approx. | Fewer decks |
| Double on 10–11 only | +0.18% | Double any two cards |
Key numbers
What the felt is telling you
In short
Key takeaways
- Find “Blackjack pays 3 to 2” on the felt. A 6:5 table costs about 1.39% more per hand.
- Dealer stands on soft 17 is better than hits soft 17.
- Double after split and late surrender each help you slightly.
- Fewer decks help, but a single-deck 6:5 game is still worse than a 6-deck 3:2 game.
On the felt
One blackjack, two payouts
Your hand
Natural blackjack on a $10 bet
3:2 table
Pays $15
6:5 table
Pays $12 — $3 less on every blackjack
Blackjacks come about once every 21 hands, so a 6:5 table quietly takes about 1.4% more of everything you bet.
Two tables at $25 for 4 hours (80 hands an hour)
| Table | House edge | Expected loss |
|---|---|---|
| 6 decks, 3:2, S17, DAS, surrender | 0.26% | $21 |
| 6 decks, 3:2, H17, DAS | 0.64% | $51 |
| 6 decks, 6:5, H17 | 2.03% | $162 |
| Single deck, 6:5, H17 | 1.45% approx. | $116 |
Edges assume basic strategy for each rule set. Wizard of Odds rule calculators give exact figures.
Sequence
Check a table in 30 seconds
Step 01
Read the payout line
Look for “Blackjack pays 3 to 2”. Walk past 6 to 5.
Step 02
Find the soft 17 rule
The felt says “Dealer must stand on all 17s” or “hit soft 17”.
Step 03
Ask about doubling
Can you double after a split, and on any two cards?
Step 04
Ask about surrender
Late surrender lets you give up half your bet on bad hands.
Step 05
Count the decks
A shoe holds 6 to 8 decks; pitch games are dealt by hand from 1 or 2.
Floor rules
Rule shorthand on cards and websites
Know before you sit
- S17 / H17
- Dealer stands on, or hits, a soft 17 such as ace-6.
- DAS
- Double after split allowed.
- LS
- Late surrender: give up half your bet after the dealer checks for blackjack.
- RSA
- Resplit aces allowed.
- CSM
- Continuous shuffling machine. Cards go back in after each round.
Why rules add up
Each rule moves the edge by a small amount. Stack three bad ones, such as 6:5, hit soft 17 and no double after split, and a 0.5% game becomes a 2% game.
At $25 a hand and 80 hands an hour, the gap between 0.5% and 2% is $30 an hour. Reading the felt before you sit is the cheapest skill in blackjack.
Rule sets also vary by bet size. In many casinos the higher-limit pit offers 3:2 and stand on soft 17 while the low-limit tables on the main floor use worse rules.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Rules and edge
What is the difference between 3:2 and 6:5 blackjack?
On a 3:2 table a $10 blackjack pays $15. On a 6:5 table it pays $12. Because blackjacks come about once every 21 hands, 6:5 raises the house edge by about 1.39%, more than any other common rule.
Does dealer hit soft 17 matter?
Yes. When the dealer hits soft 17, the house edge rises by about 0.22% against a basic strategy player. The rule is printed on the felt. Tables that stand on all 17s are better for you.
How many decks is best for blackjack?
Fewer decks lower the edge, by roughly 0.5% from 8 decks to 1 with the same rules. But casinos often pair single-deck games with 6:5 payouts, which wipes out that gain. Compare all rules, not just decks.
What is the lowest house edge in blackjack?
With good 6-deck rules (3:2, dealer stands on soft 17, double after split, late surrender) and basic strategy, the edge is about 0.26%. Typical Las Vegas Strip tables run 0.5–0.7%.
Is double after split important?
It lowers the house edge by about 0.14%. You use it when you split eights or nines and get a 10 or 11 on a new hand. Most shoe games allow it; some single-deck games do not.
02At the table
How do I know which rules a table uses?
The felt shows the blackjack payout and the soft 17 rule. Other rules, such as doubling and surrender, are on a small sign or available from the dealer. Asking before you buy in is normal.
03More questions
What is the best blackjack rule set?
Look for 3:2 blackjack, dealer stands on soft 17, double on any two cards, double after split, resplit aces and late surrender. With basic strategy that is near 0.3% on six decks.
Is single-deck blackjack better?
With the same rules, yes, by about half a percent. But many single-deck games pay 6:5 on blackjack or restrict doubling. Those changes usually make them worse than a good six-deck game.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds — Blackjack house edge calculator Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 14, 2026Edge by rule set
- Nevada Gaming Control Board — Regulations · accessed Oct 14, 2026Approved table game rules
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER
- UNLV Center for Gaming Research — Nevada table game reports Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Blackjack win percentages in Nevada