5 Blackjack Games with the Best Odds and Winning Payouts
Posted by: Garry Harrison
The online Blackjack game is one of the most popular casino games worldwide. The rules of this timeless classic are easy to understand and give you better chances of winning, making it a hit amongst online and brick-and-mortar casino players. With a blend of strategy, patience, and luck, anybody can stand a chance to beat the house.
With time, more versions of Blackjack online have gained popularity due to their distinct advantages and better odds of winning. Although the game's objective is straightforward— to beat the dealer by having a hand value closer to 21 without exceeding it. Blackjack rules and strategies make the versions even more fun. Let us explore which versions have the best odds in Blackjack and how to calculate the winning payouts to allow you to maximize your bets.
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What are the Odds in Casino Games?
Before we explore the best Blackjack games with maximum odds, let us discuss the odds. Odds refer to two things from a player’s perspective:
- What are your chances of winning that particular game?
- How much will you earn on your bet if you win the game?
In Blackjack, you will usually come across two sets of odds: the player’s, i.e., your odds of winning, and the dealer’s. Both are important for us as they clearly show how profitable the game is and what a safe bet is.
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What are the Payouts in Blackjack?
Payout rates show the player's likelihood of winning the game and how much returns they can expect. It represents the amount of money a casino pays out relative to the amount the player has spent.
Traditionally, a payout rate of 3:2 is the norm for Blackjack games. It means for every INR 100 you bet on a round, winnings will be 3/2 times 100, which is INR 150. If you beat the house, you will take home your original bet plus the winnings, i.e., INR 250. If you lose the game, you lose your bet. The payouts can be lower— like 6:5 if the game is played with a single deck.
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What Factors Influence Your Blackjack Odds and Payouts?
A casino can impose several rules and strategies that can affect your returns and give you weaker odds of winning. The casino can lower your payouts and diminish your earnings per bet. The house can also decide to play with multiple decks (usually six decks), which makes it harder for players to keep track of cards. Rules like splitting hands make the game more complex and exciting and keep the odds varying.
Some rules give the player an upper hand over the house. For example, some versions of Blackjack online make it compulsory for a dealer to hit on soft 17, while the dealer has to stand in other versions. You can also double down on your bet up to 100%, which gives you a chance of better winnings if you have a strong, winning hand. All these factors offer different versions of Blackjack with varying odds of winning.
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1. Classic Blackjack
The classic or American version of Blackjack is popular in most casinos today. Played with a single deck of 52 cards, classic Blackjack is known to have the highest odds of winning. The Blackjack win probability in classic Blackjack is 42.22%.
Also, with only 52 cards in play, the chances of getting a perfect 21 are an astonishing 4.75%. Traditional versions mostly offer a 3/2 payout, and the house edge is typically 0.61%, which means for every INR 1000 you wager, the house will receive INR 6.1
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2. European Blackjack
European Blackjack differs very slightly from the classic version. Instead of one, the dealer deals from two decks of cards. The dealer receives his hole card only once the player has decided what to do with their cards. Additionally, the dealer does not hit after a soft 17.
All these rules balance each other out, giving it great odds— a winning probability of 42%. Even though the odds are slightly lower than classic Blackjack, the European version is more profitable as the house edge is just 0.39%, meaning your profits will be greater.
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3. Blackjack Switch
Blackjack Switch is just another version of classic Blackjack, only played with two hands, allowing you to switch between them. For instance, if you have one hand of 2 and 10 and the other of 4 and 11, you can swap the 4 in the second hand with ten and form a perfect 21.
After considering all possible hand combinations, it has the same winning odds of 42%. The house edge for the switch is lower than classic Blackjack at 0.58%, but the payout is significantly less at 1:1 instead of 3:2. With the option to switch, players have higher chances to make a perfect 21, resulting in lower payout.
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4. Face Up 21
Face Up 21 is a relatively easy version of Blackjack that is perfect for beginners. The odds may not be as high as classic Blackjack, but the risks are low. In this game, all cards are face up, allowing you to see the dealer’s card and decide your move.
However, remember that a tie does not end in a push but a loss. Here, the house edge is high at 0.85%, and the probability of winning is 42%. The payouts are typically ratioed at 1:1 for a Blackjack.
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5. Free Bet Blackjack
Free bet Blackjack is a unique variation that lets you make specific additions to your hand for free. You can split your hand, double down, or increase your bet in the middle of the hand if you have a hard 9,10, or 11.
If your hand wins, the original wager and the free bet pay off, but if your hand is weaker than the dealer’s, you lose only the original wager. The house edge here is the highest so far at 1%, but the payout ratio of 3:2 for Blackjack somewhat evens it.
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The bottom line here is that Blackjack is a fast-paced game. With only two cards being dealt, it tests your luck and skills like no other game. However, there are always nuances, and the basic Blackjack strategy you can learn will give you an edge over your competitors. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a newcomer at Blackjack, understanding the probabilities and odds before starting a game is important.
The classic Blackjack version is played worldwide and has many players, making it a profitable choice for many people. Try the Switch or Free Bet to look beyond the classic. Ensure you have calculated the risks and place your bets according to your and the dealer's odds. So, sit back and enjoy the thrill of Blackjack if you know your numbers well!