American Blackjack: Better Odds to Beat the Dealer
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Blackjack, respectably being the most popular card game at casinos, has plenty of variants for you to choose from.
Whether you play online or visit the brick-and-mortar casinos, you’ll come across American Blackjack tables.
How does American Blackjack differ from other variants? Is it worth your time and money? Find out in this article.
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What is American Blackjack?
American Blackjack, at its heart, follows the same rules and gameplay as the standard blackjack game. It's a casino card game where players aim to beat the dealer by getting as close to 21 as possible, without going over.
There are a few subtle differences to other blackjack games, and it's these rule changes that constantly draw players to the American version, whether playing online or in the local casino.
Here's a breakdown of the specifics:
- The dealer hits on a soft 17 (a hand with an Ace that could be counted as 1 or 11 and totals 17). This gives the house a slight edge.
- Players can double down on any two cards. This can be a risky but potentially rewarding strategy.
- Insurance is offered when the dealer's up card is an Ace. This is a side bet that pays out if the dealer has a blackjack.
American Blackjack vs European Blackjack
American Blackjack is often compared to European Blackjack, especially when focusing on the differences in blackjack rules and the effect on the odds. Put simply:
In European Blackjack, the dealer gets one card only and the second card only comes after the players make their moves.
In American Blackjack, the dealer gets both cards right away: one card face up and one face down (called the hole card).
This may seem like a minor thing to consider in the game of blackjack, and you may not even notice how the cards are dealt, unless you really pay attention to it.
But it makes a difference in the house edge and the rules.
What's in a Name?
Let’s get one thing straight. Many online casinos don't call American Blackjack tables "American Blackjack".
So you might find American Blackjack tables that use different names, for example, Atlantic City Blackjack, Vegas Strip, Vegas Downtown or Vegas Single Hand Blackjack.
All these games are dealt the same way as American Blackjack.
American Blackjack House Edge
Many things affect the blackjack odds. It starts with the number of decks used, blackjack (a combination of Ax + 10x,Jx,Qx, or Kx aka a natural) payouts, specific rules of when the dealer stands, and more.
The card dealing also makes a difference.
When the dealer gets an Ace or 10-value card as a face-up card, they can peek at their second card to see if it makes a natural (a two-card hand of 21 points in value).
If it does, unless you also have a natural blackjack, you lose your wager before you decide whether to hit or stand on your dealt cards.
If it doesn’t, the game goes on as usual.
However, when it comes to the European Blackjack table, the dealer wouldn’t have a card to peek at.
So, you would make your move, perhaps double down and increase your wager, just to end up losing anyway against the dealer’s natural.
The option to avoid increasing your wager in case the dealer has a natural accounts for the 0.05 percent lower house edge in American Blackjack games.
You can see the difference in house edge between the two versions, in this table:
| Blackjack Game | Odds | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| American Blackjack | 3:2 | 0.61% |
| European Blackjack | 3:2 | 0.39% |
How to Play American Blackjack
One thing that doesn’t change much among blackjack games is the basic rules.
No matter which variant of Blackjack you play, your goal is to beat the dealer. You can this by having a higher value hand while not going over 21.
We'd recommend reading our full How to Play Blackjack guide, but you can also follow these simple steps:
- You start American Blackjack game by making your bets. Like with most table games, they usually start at $1.
- Both you and the dealer get two cards each.
- You see your hand and its value. Also, one of the dealer’s cards.
- Based on this information you need to make your move:
| Possible Move | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hit | To ask for one more card. The total bet stays the same |
| Stand | To play with the current hand without asking for more cards. The total bet stays the same |
| Double Down | To ask for one more but last card. The total bet is doubled |
| Split | To split cards of the same value into two hands. The total bet is doubled |
| Take Insurance | In case the dealer has an Ace, to place a side bet which is won if the dealer has a natural. The total bet is increased by 0.5 of the original wager |
| Surrender | To give up before seeing how the game plays out. The total bet is reduced by 0.5 of the original wager |
Unless you surrender, after you make your last move, you see the dealer’s hole card. Then the dealer plays out their hand.
There are three outcomes of the game:
| Possible Outcome | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Your hand beats the dealer’s | You win and get the payout |
| The dealer’s hand beats yours | You lose your wager |
| Both you and the dealer has the same value hand | It's a push. In this case, you may get your wager back or lose it nevertheless (specific tables may have different rules regarding the push) |
American Blackjack Payouts
There are three types of Blackjack payouts: a natural win payout, other wins payouts, and insurance payout.
The same ones are available at American Blackjack tables, too:
- A natural (blackjack) pays 3 to 2
- Insurance pays 2 to 1
- Beating the dealer other way pays 1 to 1
How to Win at American Blackjack
It's as true now as the first time it was written: following the basic strategy is the best way to play blackjack.
American Blackjack is no exception.
Whether you play American or European Blackjack, you see your cards and you see the dealer’s face-up card.
It’s enough to base your moves according to the basic strategy. Read more about the basic blackjack strategy here or download our printable blackjack cheat sheet.
Another thing that increases your chances of winning at blackjack is card counting.
It’s a lot easier to learn than it sounds and you can use this card counting guide to do it like a pro.
However, card counters may find different blackjack variants more convenient.
In American Blackjack online, the dealer uses up to eight decks of cards at the same time. In European Blackjack often only two while you can find Classic Blackjack games where only one deck of cards is used.
With fewer decks, it's easier to count cards. Especially when you’re a beginner.
Play American Blackjack Games Online
Now that you know how to play American Blackjack and how to beat the dealer at the game, are you ready to play?
If so, online casinos are heaven for American Blackjack players.
As mentioned before, don’t look for games called exactly American Blackjack. The developers tend to give blackjack games various names but you’ll be able to recognize blackjack that follows American Blackjack rules from the very beginning.
Read the info section of the game or place your first bet to see how the cards are dealt.
The Best Online Casino for American Blackjack - US
American Blackjack is widely available at real money casinos, and in the US, we favor the games on offer at FanDuel Casino.
Not only do you get a plethora of blackjack variants, but there are also live blackjack games to enjoy at FanDuel Casino, and they currently have the best bonus available at real money casinos in the US.
The Best Online Casino for American Blackjack - UK
When it comes to the UK, 888casino sits top of the tree for their version of American Blackjack. Not only can you play up to 1, 3 or 5 hands at a time, but the game features 'Turbo Mode' for rapid play, and changeable table colours.
You can also choose to play American Blackjack Side Bets at 888casino, which includes the option to play the standard game with the addition of making specific side bets on each hand.
The Best Online Casino for American Blackjack - Elsewhere
If you're not based in the States or UK, we recommend playing at JackpotCity Casino, which is available in a number of locations worldwide.
The blackjack selection at JackpotCity Casino includes American Blackjack variants like Vegas Downtown Blackjack, and Atlantic City Blackjack Multihand, as well as other versions, and a live dealer blackjack platform.
Play American Blackjack for Free
Of course, when you play for free you can’t win real money. But it’s a great way to practice online Blackjack basic strategy or the art of card counting. many social casinos (sometimes referred to as 'sweepstakes casinos' offer free blackjack games alongside the usual free slots.
For our money, Chumba Casino stands out as the best provider of free blackjack games, so are well worth checking out, especially as you can get free coins as a welcome bonus!
American Blackjack FAQs
How do you play American Blackjack?
Like the classic blackjack game, the goal of American Blackjack is to get as close to 21 as possible, without going over, and beat the dealer's hand.
What is the difference between European Blackjack and American Blackjack?
In European Blackjack, the dealer gets one card only and the second card only comes after the players make their moves. In American Blackjack, the dealer gets both cards right away: one card face up and one face down (called the hole card).
Does the dealer hit or stand on a soft 17 in American Blackjack?
In American Blackjack, the dealer hits on a soft 17, meaning they will take another card if their hand totals 17 with an Ace counted as 11. This gives the house a slight edge.
What is the house edge in American Blackjack?
The house edge in American Blackjack is around 0.6??% making is slightly better than the house edge offered by European Blackjack.
How do you win at American Blackjack?
There are many strategies you can learn to improve your odds when playing American Blackjack. A good starting point is to learn basic blackjack strategy, which tells you when to hit, stand, double down, or split based on your hand and the dealer's up card.
This article was originally published in 2019, it was last updated in January 2024.