Multi-Deck v Single-Deck Blackjack Strategy: What You Need To Know

Paul R
October 9, 2020
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multi-deck v single-deck blackjack

While blackjack is blackjack, there are subtle differences when it comes to playing with a single-deck compared to a multi-deck game.

You should take a slightly different approach to both games, despite the rules of the hand closest to 21 being the same.

Below you’ll find some of the key considerations to take when playing multi-deck and single deck blackjack…

Multi-Deck v Single-Deck Strategy

The most important thing to establish between the two is knowing what to play and when to play it.

You should consider standing a splitting at different times depending on the cards you’re dealt with and what the dealer is showing as a face-up card.

Hitting & Standing in a Single-Deck Game

The table below is where you should consider hitting, standing, and doubling down when playing with a single deck…

Dealer’s Face Up Card

Player’s Total
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
A
Hard 5
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 6
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 7
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 8
H
H
H
DD
DD
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 9
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 10
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
H
H
Hard 11
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
Hard 12
H
H
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 13
S
S
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 14
S
S
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 15
S
S
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 16
S
S
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 17
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Hard 18
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Hard 19
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Hard 20
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Hard 21
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S

Key: 

  • H: Hit
  • DD: Double Down
  • S: Stand

Hitting & Standing in a Multi-Deck Game

If you are playing a multi-deck game, however. You may wish to hit and stand on the following card values…

Dealer’s Face Up Card

Player’s Total
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
A
Hard 5
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 6
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 7
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 8
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
Hard 9
H
DD
DD
DD
DD
H
H
H
H
H
Hard10
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
H
H
Hard11
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
H
Hard12
H
H
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
Hard13
S
S
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
Hard14
S
S
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
Hard15
S
S
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
Hard16
S
S
S
S
S
H
H
H
H
H
Hard17
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Hard18
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Hard19
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Hard20
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
Hard21
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S

Key: 

  • H: Hit
  • DD: Double Down
  • S: Stand

Doubling Down in Single-Deck v Multi-Deck

There are slightly more opportunities to double down in single-deck blackjack in comparison with multi-deck as there are ultimately fewer cards with a value of 10, which makes it more difficult to go bust when you do so.

Multi-deck there can be as many as eight decks in the game, which essentially means there are 128 cards with a value of 10 in play, not including the Ace as a value of 11. 

Single-Deck v Multi-Deck: Which to Choose?

Most online casinos and mobile casinos will have both multi-deck and single-deck available to play, and there pros and cons to both. 

With single-deck blackjack, it is much easier to track the cards that have come out and allowed you to analytically think about what cards have a higher percentage chance of being drawn. 

Multi-deck blackjack is more common in online casinos, with a wide range of variants, and it also has a slightly lower house edge than the single-deck version. 

Ultimately, it’s about testing them both out and finding the right game for you. Before you play either though, it is well worth noting the tips above to ensure you’re giving yourself the best possible chance of a payout.

Author Paul R