6:5 vs 3:2 Blackjack: What the Payout Costs You
The difference in one line
When you are dealt a natural blackjack, a 3:2 table pays you $3 for every $2 you bet. A 6:5 table pays $6 for every $5. It sounds like a small difference, but it is not.
Payout table
| Your bet | 3:2 pays | 6:5 pays | You lose per blackjack |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $15.00 | $12.00 | $3.00 |
| $25 | $37.50 | $30.00 | $7.50 |
| $100 | $150.00 | $120.00 | $30.00 |
Why it adds up
A blackjack comes about once every 21 hands (4.8% of the time). Over 210 hands you can expect roughly 10 blackjacks. At $25 a hand, a 6:5 table pays you $75 less across those ten than a 3:2 table would.
In terms of house edge, 6:5 adds 1.39 percentage points. Compare that with the other rules in the rules guide: dealer hitting soft 17 adds 0.22, and no double after split adds 0.14. A 6:5 payout is worth more than six of those combined.
Perfect basic strategy at a good 3:2 table gives the house roughly 0.5%. Add 6:5 and you are close to 2%, the same as the average player who does not use basic strategy at all. The rule cancels out the benefit of learning to play well.
The single deck trap
Casinos often pair 6:5 with a single deck, because players associate one deck with good odds. A single deck takes off 0.48, but 6:5 adds 1.39. The net is still worse than a typical 6-deck 3:2 game. See single deck strategy.
6:5 also hurts card counters, since a counter's main source of profit is the extra blackjacks that come when the deck is rich in tens and aces. A lower payout takes away much of that.
How to avoid it
- Read the felt. It will say "Blackjack pays 3 to 2" or "6 to 5."
- Do not assume that a single deck table pays 3:2.
- If your only choices are 6:5 tables, consider whether to play at all, or play at the lowest limits for entertainment only.
Practice and compare
In the trainer, load the single deck 3:2 preset and then the 6:5 preset. The Settings screen shows the house edge for each, so you can see the gap yourself.
Common questions
Is 6:5 ever acceptable?
It is always a worse deal than 3:2. If you play it, keep the bets small and treat it as entertainment.
Does basic strategy change at 6:5?
Not by much. You still play the chart, but you lose more over time.
Why do casinos offer it?
It raises their profit per hand, and many players do not notice the difference.
What about insurance at 6:5 tables?
Insurance is still a bad bet. See the insurance page.