One of the most famous casino games, Blackjack, still unfolds in a fair degree of mystery. Players who sit at the blackjack table to participate in the formal gameplay seldom ask themselves how many decks are playing Live Blackjack Games. In fact, it is a good question and one of those questions that may help you win a little more when you are well aware of how many decks you are dealing with.
The answer to this question is it depends on the casino. Luckily, each table at the casino will openly inform you of the number of decks. Remember that the fewer decks there are, the better your odds of winning become. Of course, keeping track of the 10s and picture cards in play is much easier if there are fewer decks.
Number of Decks Used in Live Blackjack Games:
Technically, there is no restriction or maximum limit to how many decks are used in Live Blackjack Games. However, the more the number of cards, the more the game’s complexity will increase. Modern live blackjack, which you enjoy in most online casinos, uses six to eight decks of the standard 52 playing cards. Depending on the number of decks, many casinos also introduce interesting blackjack variants.
It is essential to remember that a higher number of decks in the game also increase the house edge. Although the standard house edge in Live Blackjack Games is considered 0.5%, it applies when you play a single-deck game with player-friendly rules. In addition to this, card counting also becomes very hard in a 6 to 8-deck blackjack since the ideal number of decks is 1 or 2. It is not to say that you can’t count cards with more than one deck. Most beginners depend on single-deck strategies for card counting. On the other hand, pro players use multi-deck card counting strategies to keep track of the cards.
Of course, there are some deck-related rules in Live Blackjack Games that you need to follow to ensure a fair game for all. For example, the shoe penetration in live blackjack is 50% of the shoe, and also the same is changed after only four decks have been dealt. Don’t forget that there is a facility for auto shuffling on some tables. Most importantly, the cards burn; that is, the top or face-down card from the deck is removed before the hands deal. This burning occurs either at the shoe’s start or at some points before each new game round.
Impact of Each Additional Deck:
When you use good blackjack strategies, the theoretical house edge for the game of 21 is less than 1%. Of course, it depends on the game’s rules, making it the most player-friendly than other casino card games. However, the house edge can vary significantly depending on the number of decks you use per game. The rules that are in place also have a great effect on the house’s edge. Typically, the 0.5% house edge reserves for fewer deck games with player-friendly rules. As more decks add, the house edge becomes higher and higher. It grows even further by introducing new rules to give the house an extra benefit.
The major reason for the variation in house edge is that the more decks, the lower your chances are of drawing a natural blackjack. Of course, fewer decks give you a better chance. In addition to this, with fewer decks in use, the dealer also has a lower chance of drawing a natural blackjack against the player’s natural blackjack. It means there is a lower chance of a push-tie bet.
Why Live Blackjack Games Use Extra Decks?
There are good reasons why online casinos use, on average, 6 to 8 decks in Live Blackjack Games. The first and major reason is that a single-deck game needs the dealer to shuffle the cards frequently. Of course, this takes time, and time is money when gambling. Therefore, the live dealer blackjack uses up to 8 decks. So the dealer doesn’t have to stop often to shuffle the deck.
The other reason more decks use in-game is the house edge. The house edge will improve the casino when more decks add to the game. It is because it is difficult for the players to keep track of the cards. Additionally, it also makes card counting more difficult.
Conclusion:
It depends on you, whatever variant of Live Blackjack Games you choose. You need to remind yourself that you are playing to have fun. You will also want to focus on the things that are important to you. Usually, it means the size of the bets and side-bet options that you may be running simultaneously
