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Single Deck Blackjack: Strategy Charts, Rules & Odds

As the name suggests, single-deck blackjack is a blackjack game played with a single 52-card deck. Single-deck blackjack is a rare breed these days. You will have difficulties finding it at both land-based and online casinos. Nevertheless, this variation still roams around, and if you ever stumble upon it, you should know the rules.

List of US Online Casinos That Offer Single Deck Blackjack

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Wild Casino

Accepts US players
Bonus Offer: $5,000 Welcome Bonus
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Ignition Casino

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Bonus Offer: $3,000 Welcome Bonus
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  • Blackjack
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  • 300+ games
  • Crypto-friendly casino
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  • Bonus galore for different verticals

Cafe Casino

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Bonus Offer: 350% up to $2500
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  • Accepts cryptocurrencies
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  • Kahnawake Licence
42 casinos found based on your search.
One Deck Blackjack Casinos

That’s why we made this comprehensive guide in which we will teach you the rules of single-deck blackjack, what things to pay attention to when playing, and what strategies you can apply.

Single Deck Blackjack Rules

Single deck blackjack has several variations, but the game’s object is the same as in any blackjack game — you aim to reach or get as close to 21 without going over it and have a higher hand value than the dealer.

Other rules depend on the exact game variation, but you can generally split a hand up to three times (except for aces with only one split), and the dealer must hit on soft 17. Payouts are also regular, with blackjack paying 3:2, insurance 2:1, and all other winning bets 1:1.

One noticeable feature of single-deck blackjack is dealing the cards face down. This prevents card counting, which is a much more effective strategy when only a single deck is in play.

How to Play Single Deck Blackjack: Tips and Tricks 

Every card in single-deck blackjack significantly impacts the game and gives valuable information to the player. This makes it easier to win in single-deck blackjack, but if you know what to do.

Now, a single-deck game generally has a lower house edge than a multi-deck one, but you should be extra careful when picking a game to play. Casinos know this as well, so they may try to lure you in by offering a game with a single-deck but shift some of the other rules in their favor.

For instance, some single-deck games feature a 6:5 on blackjack instead of 3:2. This largely affects the house edge and makes it so you’ll be better off playing an 8-deck 3:2 game than a single-deck 6:5 one.

Another thing that affects the house edge is the insurance bet, raising it to a whopping 5.9%, so you should generally avoid taking it. As for surrender, you can use it in specific scenarios. For instance, surrendering would be the optimal move if you’re holding a pair of 7s while the dealer is showing a 10.

Single Deck Blackjack Strategy Chart for Betting

The number of decks in blackjack affects probability, which is why you can’t apply a single strategy chart to every variation. Single-deck blackjack has its own strategy charts, one for when the dealer hits and the other when they stand on soft 17.

Here’s what they look like.

Single Deck Blackjack Chart: Dealer Hits on Soft 17

Image of Single Deck Blackjack Chart For Dealer Hits on Soft 17
Image of Single Deck Blackjack Chart For Dealer Hits on Soft 17

Single Deck Blackjack Chart: Dealer Stands on Soft 17

Image of Single Deck Blackjack Chart For Dealer Stands on Soft 17
Image of Single Deck Blackjack Chart For Dealer Stands on Soft 17

Another strategy you can apply to single-deck blackjack (or virtually any version of the game) is card counting. This strategy helps you recognize opportunities when the odds shift in your favor and considering that there are fewer cards in single-deck blackjack, card counting becomes somewhat easier.

Still, card counting is something you must practice and be careful when applying, as the casinos are not very fond of it. Most land-based casinos stopped offering single-deck blackjack to avoid this problem, so you might have better luck finding it online.

Single vs. Multi-Deck Blackjack

Any game of blackjack that features more than one deck is technically a multi-deck game. Multi-deck blackjack usually has four, six, or eight decks in play. The more decks there are, the harder it becomes for you to count cards and effectively apply a strategy.

That’s why so many players search for single-deck games. When playing optimally, single-deck blackjack has a house edge of just 0.15%, whereas multi-deck games have a house edge of between 0.46% and 0.65%.

Interestingly enough, the house edge in single-deck blackjack is slightly higher than in multi-deck ones (5.9% compared to 5.8%), but insurance is a wrong move, so this should not be a concern.

Lastly, single-deck blackjack leaves more opportunities for doubling down and being aggressive. This is because there are fewer 10-value cards in a single deck, reducing your chances of busting. 

Conclusion

Single-deck blackjack is the most advantageous version of blackjack, which is exactly why it’s so difficult to find it. Even if you run into a single-deck game, you must be careful about other rules that might give the house an advantage, like the 6:5 payout we discussed.

In any case, we hope that you’ve learned something new about blackjack while reading this guide. If you wish to learn more, feel free to look for more interesting blackjack topics on our website.

FAQ

What are the rules of single-deck blackjack? Aside from using just a single deck, specific rules of single-deck blackjack include splitting up to three times (only once with aces) and dealer hitting on soft 17, although some versions have them stand on soft 17. Other rules may vary as well.
Do single-deck blackjack games exist in land-based casinos? Single-deck blackjack games have become extremely rare due to their low house edge. Casinos don’t make much money off this version of the game, so they either remove it completely or change some of the other rules in their favor.
What’s the best strategy for single-deck blackjack? Like any other blackjack game, single-deck blackjack has its own strategy chart. We shared it in our guide, so feel free to take a look.
Is card counting effective in single-deck blackjack? Yes, card counting can be very effective in single-deck blackjack because it’s easier to keep track of the cards in a single deck compared to four, six, or eight decks. However, be careful, as the casino might ban you if they catch you counting cards. Also, online games use auto reshuffling after every round, so it might be difficult to apply card counting to them.

About the Author

Author Hi all! My name is Jayson Peter, and I am the Chief Editor here at Casino USA. I have always been a huge fan of casinos, but I noticed that there are not a lot of websites out there that discuss the gambling industry in enough detail, so that’s how the idea for CasinoUSA.com was born. With my extensive knowledge of the industry and the help of my team, I am ready to give you an insight into the exciting world of casino gambling in the United States.