Single Deck Blackjack Strategy Chart

Single deck charts

The charts below are for a single deck. Pick the one that matches whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17. If you are new to charts, read how to read a basic strategy chart first.

How single deck strategy differs

With one deck, removing a card changes the odds of what comes next more than it does in a shoe. That shifts a handful of plays compared with a 6-deck game. These are the ones to learn:

• Double hard 8. Against a dealer 5 or 6, double 8 in single deck. In a shoe game, just hit it.
• Double hard 9 against 2. Single deck doubles 9 against 2 through 6. A 6-deck game starts at 3.
• Soft hands double more. A,2 and A,3 double against a 4 as well as 5 and 6. Soft 17 (A,6) doubles against a 2 as well.
• A,8 against 6. Double soft 19 against a 6 whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17, and stand if you cannot double. In a shoe game that stands on soft 17 you never double it.
• Pairs split more. With 2,2 you split against a 3 even if double after split is not allowed. With 3,3 you split against an 8 when double after split is allowed. With 4,4 you split against 5 and 6 only when double after split is allowed, otherwise you double.
• 7,7 against 10. Surrender if allowed, otherwise stand.

Small plays like these are exactly what the trainer drills when you set the deck count to one.

Why fewer decks help you

Going from 8 decks to a single deck lowers the house edge by about 0.48 points. That is the largest effect the number of decks can have, though a 6:5 payout (+1.39 points) wipes it out several times over. The main reason is blackjack: with fewer cards, your chance of being dealt an ace and a ten rises, and you get paid 3:2 for it. Fewer decks also mean that if you hold a stiff hand, the cards you need to avoid are easier to exclude. See number of decks for the full picture.

The 6:5 trap

Many single-deck games advertise their deck count and pay 6:5 on blackjack instead of 3:2. That one rule adds 1.39 points to the house edge, far more than the 0.48 you gain from using one deck. A single deck game paying 6:5 is a worse bet than a 6-deck shoe paying 3:2.

Check the felt before you sit. If it says 6:5, walk away. We compare the two in 6:5 vs 3:2 blackjack.

Watch the other rules

Single deck games often take back what the deck count gives. Common restrictions include no double after split (it adds 0.14), dealer hitting soft 17 (it adds 0.22), and doubling limited to totals of 10 or 11 (it adds 0.18). Add them up before you decide a game is good.

Also expect shallow penetration or frequent shuffling, which makes card counting harder, although it still works better with fewer decks.

Common questions

Is single deck always better than a shoe?

Only if the other rules are equal. A single-deck game with 6:5 blackjack is worse than a 6-deck game with 3:2.

Can I use the 6-deck chart in a single deck game?

You will lose a little. The differences are small, but they are real, so use the single-deck chart when you can.

Do these plays change if the dealer stands on soft 17?

Yes, a few do. Use the S17 chart above when the dealer stands on all 17s. See dealer hits soft 17.

Practice it in the free trainer →