Blackjack is a game of chance that has been quite popular among gamblers over the centuries. The game has undergone some of the most influential changes in its gameplay and thus, it offers a variety of casino games variants for players as well. The gameplay is different in many aspects, however, one of the subtle differences lies in the number of decks used in the gameplay. Blackjack games are played with decks of card which can be just a single deck (52 cards) or could be multiple decks (even up to 8 decks at a time). So, what is the right option to go for?
Why Does It Even Matter?
Blackjack is a highly competitive game where many experienced players put in a huge amount of stakes in order to win substantial profits. Owing to the high level of competition, a lot many strategies are implemented by players in order to reduce the house edge considerably and by increasing their own chances of winning as well. Some of the strategies include keeping track of the number of decks that is being used in the game (for example, card counting is one of the most famous strategies that involves keeping a track of the types of cards that are being dealt and predicting the next set of cards that are going to be dealt further on, in the game. More the number of decks involved, the harder it is to keep a track of it all).
Different Strategies Implemented Based on the No. of Decks Being Used in the Blackjack
It is vital for players to know beforehand on the type of Blackjack variant they are about to step into. This means they need to know the number of decks that are being used in the game. This piece of information is important for them to decide upon when to make the standard moves such as hit, stand or double down.
There are cheat sheets available for the players to follow by, in order to help them to get an edge over the dealer and thus, reducing the house edge substantially as well. These sheets direct the players as to what they should be doing ideally when the dealer’s upcard that is dealt on the table has some specific outcomes.
One such move to make is the ‘double down’ action. This is the moment when the player decides to double his wager and in return, is only dealt with one final card. The highest card value that can be received in a game is at a maximum of 11. The second-best is a maximum of 10. Naturally, if a single deck is being used, then, the number of 10 value cards are limited. But if multiple decks are used, then, the number of 10 value cards increases significantly.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Two Sets of Gameplay?
One of the most significant advantages of using a single deck of cards in Blackjack is the chance for the player to count their cards. A single deck gives them a reasonable chance to predict the value of cards that would be dealt with in the future. The sheer less number of cards gives them the opportunity to memorise the cards that are about to be dealt and they can thus apply their own strategies to maximise their revenue as well. However, the disadvantage is that the house edge is higher and gives players a lesser chance to win considerably.
On the other hand, multiple deck cards impose a significantly daunting task of counting cards. Although a number of cheat sheet variants for Blackjack are available for the players to follow, it becomes difficult for players to follow them since a lot many cards are being dealt on the table. However, the greatest advantage is that it allows a number of high-value cards to be dealt with the players. It also reduces the house edge significantly, thus allowing players to increase their payouts as well.