# Another blackjack question: which rule set is better?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-blackjack-question-which-rule-set-is-better/290052>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 14, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-blackjack-question-which-rule-set-is-better/290052 "2005-02-14T18:40:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-blackjack-question-which-rule-set-is-better/290052/1 "2005-02-14T18:40:56Z")

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Suppose two types of tables in your casino:

1. Single deck. Double-down after split permitted. Blackjack pays 6:5

2. Double deck. No DDAS. Blackjack pays the normal 3:2.

All other rules are the same.

Which provides the player with the better advantage? And does it matter if the table is crowded, so the single-deck player only sees two hands between shuffles?

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**Author:** ![Petey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f1d935/32.png) [@Petey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petey)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-blackjack-question-which-rule-set-is-better/290052/2 "2005-02-14T18:57:36Z")

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A good site, [The Wizard of Odds](http://www.wizardofodds.com/blackjack) has this to say:

> [@](#):
>
> Beware 6-5 Single Deck Blackjack
> 
> Many casinos in Las Vegas have prominent signs saying “Single Deck” blackjack. However on a much smaller sign it says “Blackjack pays 6 to 5.” Aside from the 6-5 rule the house edge would be 0.05%. However the 6-5 on blackjacks costs the player an additional 1.39%, for a total house edge of 1.44%. At some tables a player blackjack always wins, which lowers the house edge by 0.21% to 1.23%. Either way this is by far the worst blackjack game in the city and I urge you to avoid it.

[another link](http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/leisure/2003/nov/13/515853930.html)

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**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-blackjack-question-which-rule-set-is-better/290052/3 "2005-02-14T21:08:51Z")

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Thanks for the links, Petey. Good info. Although it doesn’t weigh the difference between single deck and double-deck, it sounds like the 6:5 game is to be avoided like the plague.

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**Author:** ![ScoobyTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@ScoobyTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScoobyTX)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-blackjack-question-which-rule-set-is-better/290052/4 "2005-02-14T22:11:25Z")

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Single deck is slightly better, by the numbers, but I’ve found that double deck is better if counting. In a single deck game, the house will only deal a couple of rounds between shuffles (sometimes 3 if there are less than 5 spots played). That means that only about 40-50% of the cards get dealt. With double deck, most places will shuffle at 2/3 to 3/4 of the way through the pack.

I’ve played the 6:5 single deck before, but would I treated the blackjacks as soft 11s (i.e., double down) if the dealer was showing anything other than a 9, 10 or A. The net result was that I won about the same as if I was paid 3:2 on the BJ. (This was based on a very small sample size. I’d be interested in seeing a simulation of this strategy.)