Single Deck Blackjack at Casinos

Aria Brown

7 min read

Single deck blackjack refers to all game variants in which only one deck of 52 cards is used, in comparison to the more common multi-deck games which use anywhere from 2 to 8 decks in play.

The assumption for many is that blackjack strategies such as card counting can be more easily applied with just one deck, making it super easy to win. However, the cards are reshuffled after every few rounds - in some casinos after each hand -  eliminating much of that perceived advantage.

That being said, this variant still has a lot of positive aspects including simple rules, quicker uncomplicated play, and a generally lower house edge.

With just one deck, players can better keep track of which cards have already been played, giving them a slight advantage. By following a basic blackjack strategy chart for the mathematically optimal decision (hit, stand, double down, or split) you can bring the house edge down to around 0.5%.

Table of Contents

Recommended Online Casinos for Single Deck Blackjack Play 2024

There's no sense in reviewing a game format without telling you where it's best to play. Hence our expert team has scoured the internet, and tested widely to come up with this recommended single deck blackjack casinos list.

1.		91/100 Read Review	$10,000+ 500 Free Spins	visit Lucky Dreams
2.		90/100 Read Review	$1,500 + 500 Free Spins	visit Playzilla
3.		89/100 Read Review	$1,250+ 125 Free Spins	visit Bizzo
4.		89/100 Read Review	$5,000+ 400 Free Spins	visit Just Casino
5.		88/100 Read Review	$2,500	visit Betandplay

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⏱The brands and bonuses above were last updated on 4. October, 2024. We test and check casinos regularly to provide up-to-date information. However, there may still be instances where there may be differences between a casino's newest offering and the listing on this site.

Single Deck Blackjack Basics

This game variant works no differently than classic blackjack, with the main difference being that only one deck of cards is used.

As it's not a trademarked concept, the game manufacturers are free to change individual rules. For example, there are versions in which the dealer has to stand on a soft 17, while in others they'll have to hit. Wins can be in the small details, so we recommend checking the rules of the version you've chosen. But let's start with the basics.

To begin, you'll take a seat at the blackjack table and make your bet. The cards are then dealt to all players around the table, clockwise. Players receive two cards face up, the dealer places one card face up, and a second card face down.

Using the up card as a cue, you can draw conclusions about the dealer's and adapt your strategy accordingly. And if the dealer's showing an ace, you can purchase insurance to cover yourself.

→ Tip: Whether it's advisable to hit, split pairs, or double down depends heavily on the dealer's up card.

Whether you can double down after a split is not clear-cut in single deck blackjack, as the individual game developer always has free rein here. Some providers, for example, only allow doubling down on certain point values. Similarly, house rules will vary for splitting. The norm is generally one split allowed, while very occasionally you may encounter up to three.

When it comes to card counting it's actually easier to do with a single-deck variant. Although there is generally no rule against this practice so long as you're not using an external device, many casinos don't look upon it favorably, and may even ban players identified as card counters. The key is therefore to do it subtly, exploring the different card counting systems to game the casino for the best results. Also keep in mind, that while easier to practice, the cards are frequently reshuffled to give some advantage back to the casino, so card counting here is not as easy as you may think.

There isn't a universally mandated shuffle frequency for single deck blackjack either. It depends on the casino's specific blackjack rules and procedures. In both online casinos and many land-based casinos, the cards are reshuffled after each round. In others, it's every few rounds, and many other casinos will use a cut card method in which a card is placed somewhere in the middle of a shuffled deck to act as a marker. When the dealer reaches that cut card, the remaining cards and the cut card itself are shuffled together.

Rules and special features:

• Played with a single deck of 52 cards.
• Deck is reshuffled at set, frequent intervals.
• Dealer checks for blackjack with a 10 or an ace.
• Buying insurance is possible.
• Late surrender is often available.
• Usually only one split allowed per round, sometimes up to three.
• Doubling is allowed.
• Doubling after a split is possible in many variants.
• 21 points are not counted as a blackjack after a split.

The other basic rule to note is that the card values are typical for blackjack. Number cards always have the same value as the digit printed on them. Face cards are worth 10 points each. And the ace can be counted as either 1 or 11. If you have an Ace, it's called a soft hand, as the card value can be changed as you play, to whichever's is more advantageous.

Play Single Deck Blackjack for Free

While this is probably the simplest form of the game, the demo version of single deck blackjack makes it easy to get an overview of how it looks and feels, study the rules, and at the same time determine whether this variant suits your personal taste.

If you're interested in trying out various blackjack strategies, playing for free in demo mode is also a great way to gain some practice and hone your skills. That way it won't cost you a thing, but you'll be able to figure out after a few test rounds when doubling down, splitting, and other moves make sense; and when it might be better to stand or fold.

Single Deck Blackjack - Play in Demo Mode

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Single Deck Blackjack Strategy Charts

If you're looking for an excellent way to improve your odds by making what is mathematically the next best move, following a single deck blackjack strategy chart is it.

However there are two things to keep in mind. One, it's important to understand that different rules may apply depending on the game provider. Also you'll need to remember that which strategy makes sense depends largely on what the dealer has to do on a soft 17, i.e. they're holding an ace and 6 card combo. Whether they need to hit or hold makes a difference in what you do next. So let's explore this latter part.

If the dealer has to stand on a soft 17, the following card strategy table applies:

Hard HandSoft HandPairs

	Dealer's Up Card
Player's Hand		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
	5	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
	6	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
	7	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
	8	H	H	H	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	9	DZ	DZ	DZ	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
	11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
	12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	Sur	Sur
	17 and more	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

	Dealer's Up Card
Player's Hand		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
	A,2	H	H	DZ	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	A,3	H	H	DZ	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	A,4	H	H	DZ	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	A,5	H	H	DZ	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	A,6	DZ	DZ	DZ	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	A,7	S	DH	DH	DH	DH	S	S	H	H	H
	A,8	S	S	S	S	DH	S	S	S	S	S
	A,9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
	A,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

	Dealer's Up Card
Player's Hand		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
	2,2	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	H	H	H	H
	3,3	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	H	H	H
	4,4	H	H	Sp	Sp	Sp	H	H	H	H	H
	5,5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
	6,6	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	H	H	H	H
	7,7	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	H	Sur	H
	8,8	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp
	9,9	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	S	Sp	Sp	S	S
	10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
	A,A	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp

Legend: H = hit, S = stand, Sp = split, D = double down, DZ = double down, if possible, otherwise hit, DH = double down if allowed, otherwise hold, Sur = surrender if possible, SD = split if double down is allowed / Note: face cards count as a value of 10.

To clarify, 10s and face cards should never be split. After all, with them in-hand, at 20 points, you're already extremely close to what you want to achieve. That means pretty high chances of beating the house.

Now let's take a look at the opposite scenario. If the dealer has to hit on a soft 17 the ideal strategy is:

Hard HandSoft HandPairs

	Dealer's Up Card
Player's Hand		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
	5	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
	6	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
	7	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
	8	H	H	H	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	9	DZ	DZ	DZ	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
	11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
	12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	Sur
	16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	Sur	Sur
	17	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	Sur
	18 and more	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

	Dealer's Up Card
Player's Hand		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
	A,2	H	H	DZ	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	A,3	H	H	DZ	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	A,4	H	H	DZ	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	A,5	H	H	DZ	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	A,6	DZ	DZ	DZ	DZ	DZ	H	H	H	H	H
	A,7	S	DH	DH	DH	DH	S	S	H	H	H
	A,8	S	S	S	S	DH	S	S	S	S	S
	A,9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
	A,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

	Dealer's Up Card
Player's Hand		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Ace
	2,2	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	H	H	H	H
	3,3	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	H	H	H
	4,4	H	H	SD	Sp	Sp	H	H	H	H	H
	5,5	DZ	DZ	DZ	DZ	DZ	DZ	DZ	DZ	H	H
	6,6	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	H	H	H	H
	7,7	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	H	Sur	Sur
	8,8	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp
	9,9	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	S	Sp	Sp	S	Sp
	10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
	A,A	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp	Sp

Legend: H = hit, S = hold, Sp = split, D = double down, DZ = double down, if possible, otherwise hit, DH = double down if allowed, otherwise hold, S = surrender if possible, SD = split if double down is allowed / Note: face cards count as a value of 10.

While strategies can increase your odds of playing your cards right, they will never fully eliminate the house edge, and blackjack will always remain a gamble. That means even if you follow the strategy perfectly, you can still lose. And even if you use no strategy at all, you can still win. That's the beauty of chance!

Single Deck Blackjack - A Comparison Between Different Game Providers

When it comes to online single deck blackjack, each provider designs it in its own way. The common feature is that the game is basically played with just one deck.

However, the rules can differ in their details slightly, so you'll need to pay attention. To illustrate these nuances, our experts have taken a look at three examples of single deck games from different providers and highlighted the discrepancies for you.

Play'n GO

Betsoft

Nucleus Gaming

Single Deck Blackjack Tips & Tricks

The tips and tricks for single deck play are pretty much the same as any blackjack game.

For instance, it's generally recommended to choose versions with a blackjack payout of 3:2, as opposed to those with a 6:5 payout rate. To understand the difference:

If you bet $10 and get a blackjack, with 3:2, your net profit will be $15 (excluding your bet), namely 10 x 3 = 30, divided by 2 = 15. The 6:5 odds are less lucrative because 10 x 6 = 60, divided by 5 = $12.

You should also pay attention to the betting limits that apply. Beginners are advised to play at tables with a low minimum bet, which gives them the opportunity to get a feel for the game without taking a high financial risk. If this is you, then only when you feel confident and have the bankroll to back you, should you up your ante, and play higher stakes game.

While there's no definitive trick to winning, with a little experience, the basic strategy for single deck blackjack can be a good tool to maximize your chances, while minimizing losses. However, to employ strategy effectively, you must pay attention to the rules that apply to the dealer, in particular what they have to do on a soft 17, as that will impact your recommended next move.

Single Deck Blackjack FAQs

1. What are the advantages of single deck blackjack?
2. Are there any disadvantages of single deck blackjack?
3. Is card counting a good strategy in single deck blackjack?
4. Is splitting pairs of cards allowed in single deck blackjack?
5. Can I double down in single deck blackjack?
6. What is the ideal strategy for single deck blackjack?
7. Is single deck blackjack available on mobile?

1. What are the advantages of single deck blackjack?

There are a number of advantages of single deck blackjack, especially for skilled players. For example, with just one deck, you can keep better track of cards, giving you a slight advantage, and even potentially lowering the house edge.

Similarly, because there are fewer cards in play, card counting, a technique used to gain an advantage, is easier in single deck blackjack.

Some would also say the basic strategy is more favourable here as well compared to multi-deck games, as the composition of remaining cards is easier to estimate.

Plus, since there's only one deck, there are fewer cards to analyze, potentially leading to faster gameplay, which some players prefer.

2. Are there any disadvantages of single deck blackjack?

There aren't really any concrete disadvantages to choosing single deck blackjack.

However, if we're going to stretch you could say that these games may be harder to find as casinos may be less likely to offer them due to the potential player advantage. Also, some casinos might offer single deck games with even money instead of 3:2 blackjack payouts to compensate for the lower house edge. And if you're playing this version at a land-based casino to take advantage of the easier card counting, management may take note and potentially kick you out.

3. Is card counting a good strategy in single deck blackjack?

Card counting can be a good strategy in single deck blackjack, and it would seem like an obvious path, but there are some important things to consider.

The main one is that it's not as simple as it seems, as most casinos will shuffle after every round or every few hands, or even in between, reducing your advantage. Also, while online no one can notice what you're doing, there are many land-based casinos where they're on the lookout for card counters, and may land you in hot water, even if not illegal.

4. Is splitting pairs of cards allowed in single deck blackjack?

Usually, pairs can be split in single deck blackjack, just like in most other versions of the card game.
However, this is usually only allowed once. In rare cases, a casino might allow splitting more than once per hand, and potentially up to three times.

In addition, most providers have a rule that after splitting aces, only one more card is dealt per hand.

5. Can I double down in single deck blackjack?

Each version of the game has its own rules when it comes to doubling down. In most cases, it is permitted to double your bet. However, depending on the provider, this option may be limited to certain point values, such as 9, 10, or 11.

As such, it's important to read the rules of the game you have chosen so you can better manage your bets.

And even if not overly limited, you'll need to seriously contemplate if this is the correct strategy, say on a soft 17 to a dealer's low up card.

6. What is the ideal strategy for single deck blackjack?

The strategy tables that we provided above are an excellent tool for helping you determine how to respond correctly in different scenarios. By memorizing them (or glancing at them if you're still learning), you can better understand when it makes sense to split pairs, double down, or stand.

Remember though, your own hand and the dealer's up card are always decisive for your actions.

7. Is single deck blackjack available on mobile?

Gambling on smartphones and tablets is now par for the course. Almost all developers use HTML5 technology when designing their games to enable access from any mobile and local device. A casino app download is rarely necessary, and certainly not at any of our recommended casinos. They all provide mobile single deck blackjack as part of the browser-based online casino experience - meaning it's all super easy and intuitive like any decent website, and game, should be.

Single Deck Blackjack Summary

Unlike Spanish 21, Double Exposure, or even the American version of the game, single deck blackjack requires little explanation, and involves no learning curve as it's as simple as its name.

By playing for free from the demo version above you can determine that for yourself. Or start at a low stakes table at one of our recommended casinos, if you're already comfortable with the concept of the game.

Visit Playzilla to play Single Deck Blackjack

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Single Deck Blackjack was tested and reviewed by Aria Brown

I am trained as a tax consultant, mostly because my father insisted that I get a normal job. Luckily, I listened to my heart and followed my passion in writing. Today I work as an online editor while traveling the world, which is why I'm rarely in my hometown, Toronto. By pure chance, I discovered the online casino review industry about ten years ago, and I have been testing and reviewing gambling sites since then. Personally, I prefer Blackjack and Poker games. I think the skills and strategies involved make them much more interesting than slots.