Blackjack Single Deck: Strategies and Tips to Improve Your Winning Odds

Blackjack Single Deck is a version of blackjack that uses only one deck of 52 cards. The biggest advantage of playing single deck blackjack is that players have better chances of winning compared to other versions. This version was very popular when Blackjack first started, but now it is harder to find in most casinos, especially online ones.

You should read the guide below to learn how single deck blackjack changes the game and how players can use smart strategies to improve their chances.

Blackjack Single Deck Explained

Single deck Blackjack means the game uses only one deck of cards. In most casinos, you will find Blackjack games that use multiple decks, usually four, six, or eight decks. Because of this, single deck blackjack is less common these days.

Some online casinos still offer single deck Blackjack, but there’s an important change to look out for. Instead of the usual payout of 3:2, they now use a payout of 6:5. This change reduces the player's advantage and makes it harder to win. It’s important to be aware of this, as it can feel like the casino is making things less fair for the player.

Note: Learn more about the 6 to 5 Blackjack to see the difference after comparing it with the 3:2 payout ratio.

You should always take time to learn the rules for both single deck blackjack online and in land-based casinos. Understanding the rules will help you avoid unwanted risks and make better decisions during the game.

The basic rules of Single Deck Blackjack are very similar to the rules of regular Blackjack. The game follows the same round progression and card values. The main goal for players is to reach 21 points or get as close to 21 as possible without going over (called "going bust").

Tips: Before learning about the differences and similarities between Single Deck and Multiple Deck Blackjack, it’s important to fully understand the rules of how to play Blackjack first.

Single Deck Blackjack vs Multiple Deck Blackjack: Which is the Better Choice?

Let’s take a closer look at how these 2 versions of Blackjack are alike and how they are different. 

In terms of gameplay, there is nearly no difference between Blackjack single-deck vs multiple. The rules, conditions, and all the value of Blackjack hands stay the same. Apart from the similarities, there are also many notable differences between the two versions, which can be mentioned including:

Number of decks

• Single Deck Blackjack: Using only 1 deck of 52 cards
• Multiple Deck Blackjack: Using more than 1 deck, usually 2, 4, 5, 6, or 8 decks.

The Chance of Getting a Blackjack

The more decks used in the game, the lower your chances of being dealt a blackjack. Here's how it works:

• With one deck: There are 4 Aces and 16 cards worth 10 points, giving you 64 possible blackjack combinations. Since there are 1,326 possible hands, the probability of getting a blackjack is 64 / 1,326, or 4.83%.
• With two decks: There are 8 Aces and 32 cards worth 10 points, providing 256 blackjack combinations. With 5,356 possible hands, the chance of getting a blackjack drops slightly to 4.78%.

Similar to the calculation mentioned above, if there are more and more decks, the odds of getting blackjack will gradually decrease.

Winning and Payout Rate

When the number of decks in Blackjack increases, it becomes a little harder for you to win. To make it fair, casinos change the payout to balance this out.

For example, in some casinos, the payout for a single-deck Blackjack has changed from 3:2 to 6:5. While some casinos still offer the 3 to 2 payout, it's becoming less common.

With this lower payout, players might feel like they're getting a worse deal because of their reduced advantage.

House edge

• Single deck Blackjack: The house normally has a lower benefit because players can use control to devise card-counting strategies effectively.
• Multiple Deck Blackjack: Since the house uses multiple decks, players have fewer circumstances of using statistical probability strategies.

Adjustment Rules

Single Deck Blackjack gives you a better chance to win because there are fewer cards to deal with. But to keep things fair for the casino, they often change a few rules in these games. On the other hand, Multi-Deck Blackjack usually keeps the same rules across most games.

Single Deck is great for players, but casinos might make some adjustments to make it harder. That’s why it’s always important to check the rules before you play.

Here are some key rules to look out for in Single Deck Blackjack:

• No doubling after a split: If you split a pair, you won’t be able to double your bet after split, which limits your chance to win more.
• No early surrender: You can’t give up before the dealer checks for blackjack, so you might lose the full bet instead of just half. 
• Dealer stands on Soft 17: The dealer has to stop when they get a soft 17 (Ace + 6), which makes it less likely they will improve their hand.
• Player limit: Usually, only 5 to 7 players can join the game. This helps the casino control the game speed and reduce card counting.
• No card counting allowed: Casinos use things like frequent shuffling and close watching to stop card counting. If they suspect you’re counting cards, they can ask you to leave.

Single deck Blackjack Chart: When to Hit or Stand, Split & Double Down

The 3 tables below show what moves to make based on the dealer’s face-up card. You can look at the details in each table to help decide whether to split, stand, hit, or double down for your hand:

Important Note: These methods are not optimal for all games, as plays vary with the dealer’s up card and house rules for single deck Blackjack.

Card Counting in Single-Deck Blackjack - Should or Should not?

Most modern casinos do not permit players to use counting-card techniques when joining single deck Blackjack:

Players can gain an edge if they already know how to use this blackjack single deck strategy in an effective way.

Single-deck Blackjack is one of the easiest versions for card counting because it only uses one deck. This makes it easier for players to keep track of the cards and remember which ones have already been dealt.

How casinos handle Card Counting in Blackjack single deck: 

Casinos don’t want players using card counting tricks to get an advantage. So, they use different rules and tools to make it harder. Here are some ways they do that:

• Changing the rules: For example, some casinos change the payout from 3:2 to 6:5 or make it harder to re-deal or hit extra cards. This makes it tougher for players to win big.
• Using Continuous Shuffling Machines (CSM): Normally, players try to keep track of the cards that have been played. But with a CSM, the cards get shuffled after every round. This makes it almost impossible to count cards.
• Watching players closely: Casinos often have teams that watch for players who might be counting cards. If they think someone is doing this, they can ask the player to leave the game.

Should players use single deck Blackjack counting? In short, although there is no official rule prohibiting it, almost all casinos disallow or discourage card counting tricks by adjusting the controls or implementing safeguards.

Note: Check out some of our featured and helpful card counting tips in our Card Counting Strategies to improve your chances of winning.

Tips for Playing Single Deck Blackjack

Here are some not-to-be-missed tips for players to optimize their playing experience in Blackjack Single Deck:

1 - The basic strategy needs to be adjusted: 

High and low card probabilities in single deck are different from multideck, so players need to adjust their strategy. For example, the player with 16 points and the dealer’s face-up card is a 10-point card. It is better to hit rather than stand due to a lower chance of busting.

2 - Consider the house edge: 

The house edge in single deck Blackjack can be inferior to in lower if the payout remains at 3:2. However, other rules like the dealer standing on Soft 17 can still affect your odds.

3 - Stay away from mandatory side bets: 

Some casinos might ask players to place unnecessary side bets, which can increase the house edge. Players should avoid those tables to keep their edge and improve their single deck Blackjack strategy.

4 - Monitor the playing conditions: 

Some casinos shuffle the cards continually during single deck Blackjack, which can lower your ability to count cards and predict the accurate result. If casinos keep shuffling too often, players might lose the value of their long-term strategies.

5 - Prioritize choosing casinos with good reputations: 

Players should always pick reputable casinos for fair games and fast payouts. Trusted casinos not only ensure that you will have a safe experience but also make it easy to withdraw money without any problems.

The Bottom Line

If you understand the rules of Blackjack single deck, you can choose the right table and play with a better plan. This will not only help you notice the differences between each type of Blackjack, but also practice new skills and become a better player over time.

It’s essential to keep trying new strategies in different versions of the game and you will get better step by step. With patience and practice, you will soon get closer to becoming a professional player.